Bessie Rischbieth Conservation Award Recipient 1995 

Shyama Peebles

Shyama Peebles has campaigned long and hard on pollution issues and especially the nuclear dump issue against enormous odds of extreme isolation in an unsupportive environment/community, and at enormous emotional and financial expense.

After living and working for Aboriginal communities around Warburton and Laverton, Shyama moved to Kalgoorlie in 1981, to find the air in Kalgoorlie heavily polluted with sulphur dioxide.  Also there was a uranium processing plant and tailings dam only 5kms from town.  In 1982 she took on the role of spokesperson for the community group, ‘Goldfields Against Nuclear Energy.’ In 1985 this group became known as ‘Goldfields Against Serious Pollution’ or ‘GASP.’

In 1992, Syhama retired from work and from GASP, but when radioactive waste started to arrive at Mt Walton, the National Radioactive Waste Dump issue re-emerged and Rhoen-Poulenc came back on the scene, so did Shyama.  She was appointed to the Mt Walton Community Liaison Group and lobbied against the Federal Government’s plans for a national radioactive waste dump.

She is also well known for her indefatigable energy and wry Celtic humour.