24 October 2019
Liverpool City Council took home two awards from the Keep Australia Beautiful awards last week, but it was a family of keen recyclers from Prestons who stole the show.
The Silva family, otherwise known as The Bottle Kids, Isabella, 11, Giovanni 10, Valentina, 8 and Romario, 7, won the Return and Earn Litter Prevention award for their local initiative collecting bottles from friends and neighbours.
Council also won the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage award for the Pride of Place Aboriginal Cultural Exhibition at Carnes Hill Library and the Heritage and Culture award for the Peace Comes to Liverpool Centenary of Armistice exhibition at Liverpool Regional Museum.
Mum to the bottle kids Colette Silva said from small beginnings, collecting bottles from grandparents, they now offer the service to all of Prestons.
"This year we have recycled 17,858 bottles from 28 families, 11 businesses and 27 events," Mrs Silva said.
"It was a bit intimidating seeing all the other nominees on the list for the award. We thought how could we even be up there with everyone else, we are just four kids. When they announced us as the award winner it was amazing."
Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said the Silva family was a great example to everyone.
"What a wonderful achievement," Mayor Waller said.
"It's lovely to see the Silvas' passion for the environment and entrepreneurial skills recognised through the Keep Australia Beautiful awards."
Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said she was incredibly proud of both of Council's award-winning projects.
"The Pride of Place Aboriginal Cultural exhibition is a permanent space set up in Carnes Hill Library telling the story of our first people, through Aboriginal artefacts, artworks and signage," Mayor Waller said.
"The design is an example of detailed and in-depth collaboration between Council, archaeological experts and the Aboriginal community.
"It's a beautiful professional exhibition that tells the story of the local Aboriginal community in their words.
"Peace Comes to Liverpool was an ambitious project of seven public programs, two book launches a heritage bus tour and children's workshops, produced in partnership with Moorebank Heritage Group.
"Held in the centenary year of the signing of the 1918 Armistice, Peace Comes To Liverpool commemorated those soldiers who passed through the camp gates at Holsworthy to be remembered with honour, respect and pride for the sacrifices they made."
