By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA identity June Colley has been recognised for her tireless efforts in creating a more inclusive and accessible Noosa.
Ms Colley was the recipient of the Best Individual Award at Spinal Injuries Australia’s fifth annual Inclusive Community Champions Awards last week.
The awards were presented at the Noosa Council Art Gallery with Councillor Frank Pardon and Spinal Injuries Australia general manager of community development John Mayo.
Noosa Council was also recognised with two distinguished awards for both Gympie Terrace and the Hastings Street streetscapes.
Cr Pardon accepted the awards on behalf of the council and praised Hasting Street business community, who he said played an integral part in creating an inclusive Noosa.
“Long time Noosa businessman Jim Barrado played a crucial part in the refurbishment of Hastings Street and he deserves a lot of recognition,” Cr Pardon said.
The Noosa Acquatic Centre also picked up an award, along with the RACV Resort, Gympie Music Muster and Bushy Brown’s Adventure Ski Park.
Ms Colley has been a passionate campaigner for the inclusion of all groups for many years and while she has seen the Noosa landscape improve, she still has some concerns.
She said there were still issues within the community around assisting those in need to access services and experience life.
She has recently made head roads at all the major local corporate businesses and said she found that the staff were keen to assist anyone who needed assistance.
“I know that small businesses are also very helpful,” she said.
“To progress this project Noosa Council formed an ‘equitable access working group’ the membership of the committee included carers, vision impaired residents, people in wheelchairs, resident’s with walking sticks, crutches as well as other residents with a range of difficulties.
“And some parents with young children were invited to have a say, council staff were of course also on board.
Ms Colley said the working group members were all invited to visit each area of the shire and highlight the problems they had found difficulty in accessing, including entrances to shops.
“The Noosa National Park is now much more accessible for a majority of people,” she said.
“Starting with Tewantin all the towns throughout the shire were streetscaped… Gympie Terrace could be regarded as the ‘jewell in the crown’ along with Hasting Street and the boardwalk.
“This project highlights just what can be achieved when the whole community works together… and that is what Noosa is all about.”
