The unflappable Jan Olley is the 2025 Byron Shire Community Member of the Year.
Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, presented Jan with her award on 5 August in front of friends and family at the Byron Shire Community Awards.
The annual Community Awards recognise local champions, with nominations and selections made by members of the community. This year, Council received 95 nominations across eight categories.
"Jan Olley's contribution to the protection, awareness and preservation of birds in the Byron Shire is truly exceptional," Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, said.
"Jan, well known for her hat and the binoculars around her neck, was a founder of Byron Bird Buddies some 20 years ago, a conservation group committed to the preservation of habitat for resident and migratory birds including their roosting, breeding and feeding areas.
"Jan is a fierce advocate for the birds and so very respected, in the community, at Council and by many other agencies such as the NPWS and BirdLife Australia.
"Last year the Bird Buddies spent 270 hours doing surveys for conservation, with Jan leading the charge.
"You'll find Jan at workshops, stalls, developing educational materials, doing guided walks, bird counts and environmental clean-ups.
"Her knowledge is immense, she shares it so willingly and she advocates passionately for the birds, with strong support from her fellow volunteers.
"Jan Olley is a powerhouse, and thanks to her, and the other Byron Bird Buddies who carry out bird surveys all year round, we have incredible, important, recorded data on bird life in the Byron Shire over many years.
"Congratulations Jan – it's an honour to be able to present you with this award as a very small, but heartfelt token of our sincere appreciation," Mayor Ndiaye said.
The award winners in other categories were:
Young Community Member of the Year – Billie Rettenmaier
21-year-old Billie Rettenmaier lives and breathes community spirit and is a keen volunteer with WIRES, protecting and rehabilitating injured wildlife.
She's also a volunteer with the Newrybar Rural Fire Brigade, offers young children free music lessons and is a regular face at community gardens.
Access and Inclusion Award – Pauline Menczer
Local legend Pauline Menczer is well-known for her love of the beach and her work to make it accessible for people of all abilities.
She's often seen with a wheelbarrow and spade at Torakina, shovelling sand around the wheelchair beach mat and she has a large range of accessible equipment that she loans to the community.
The former World Number One surfer gives back to the sport by voluntarily coaching surfers living with disability.
Caring for Country – Lisa Sandstrom
Lisa Sandstrom is an organiser of Save Wallum, a campaign to protect a parcel of land at Brunswick Heads from development.
Lisa is a regular face at the Mullumbimby Community Markets every week, raising awareness and money for the Save Wallum campaign.
Creativity Award – Virginia Reid and Anouska Samantha Gammon
There were two winners in this category.
Virginia Reid has taught at the Byron Community College for more than a decade and mentored many people in their creative journeys well beyond the classroom through exhibitions, performances and showcases.
Virginia's own work is well known in the Byron Shire – exhibited in the Byron Hospital and at the Byron Writers Festival.
Anouka Samantha Gammon is the person behind the highly regarded Bangalow Theatre Company, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing innovative, breath-taking and professional theatre to the Northern Rivers.
Her other passion is sharing her love of theatre with young people through her company BANG Academy of Performing Arts.
Contribution to Health and Wellbeing Award – Dianne Browne
Di Browne is keeping the Byron Shire active and feeling great, one person at a time and the community loves her for it.
Di is a motivator, passionate about promoting the social, mental and physical benefits of keeping active and being connected.
She runs Pilates classes that are affordable for everyone, Chair Pilates for older people as well as hiking, arts and crafts, health retreats and social activities.
In Business for Good Award – Perigee Farms
Perigee Farms is a community-oriented organic farm committed to sustainable agriculture, providing local employment opportunities and environmental stewardship.
They use regenerative farming techniques and hire locals, some with limited to no farming experience, preferring to teach them about sustainability with a focus on personal growth.
Community Initiative of the Year – Sound Shell Piano and Community Care by Laura Upsall
It was the appearance of an old piano at the Sound Shell at Brunswick Heads that piqued the interest of Laura Upsall.
To keep the ivories tinkling she brought in local piano tuner, Norman Appel, to maintain the piano which was a much-loved part of the town, but it needed replacing.
Laura entered the ABC's Play It Again competition and this year won a new piano for the community, much to the delight of locals and visitors.
