Bessie Rischbieth Conservation Award Recipient 2006

Bob Goodale

Robert Goodale, or Bob as he is widely known, is an exceptional man. He is the embodiment of environment conservation throughout a lifetime.

Bob’s work in sound conservation practice encompasses five decades of caring for the land, the things that grow in it and move upon it.

Since July 1980 Bob has been involved in protecting Lake Richmond.  He has helped to secure its Australian Heritage Listing, is part of the Recovery Team for the Thrombolites in the lake and continues to provide management and secure funding for its ongoing protection and enhancement.

Bob is currently the Chairman of Preserve Point Peron, an incorporated community group seeking to prevent Point Peron, a very ecologically valuable area, being turned into a canal development.

In 1996, spurred on to reclaim their home which had become an unofficial environment centre with phone calls and visitors all hours of the day and night, Bob and his wife Anne began researching community interest in an official environment centre.  The groundswell of response was impressive.  Enthusiastic community members came together, drawn to Bob’s inspiring vision of a unique, purpose built environment centre.

Within 3 year the Naragebup Rockingham Regional Environment Centre was fully operational.  The first purpose built environment centre in Western Australia, Naragebup now has in excess of 25 000 visitors each year, learning all aspects of the environment and conservation.  During the past 9 years this multi-award winning institution has proved itself to be a sustainability icon for the region. Bob has been the unopposed Convenor of Naragebup since its inception.

Bob has shown unswerving dedication to the protection of the planet, through on-ground activities, award winning environment films and photographs, TV appearances, newspaper/magazine articles, advising on committee’s, assisting stakeholder groups, holding public courses, presenting to organizations and groups and lobbying across the community sector for greater awareness for the vital importance of the environment and the principles of sustainability.