By Alesha Capone
Hoppers Crossing teenager Phoebe Edwards has been recognised as an outstanding environmentalist.
Phoebe, 16, received the Young Leaders gong at Keep Victoria Beautiful’s annual Sustainable Cities Awards earlier this month.
Phoebe said she felt “proud and fulfilled” to receive the Young Leaders award.
“I felt like my work was being recognised and I felt very grateful to Keep Victoria Beautiful and the other organisations I work with,” she said.
Phoebe has an extensive list of environment-related volunteer work under her belt, including as a member of Beach Patrol 3030 and as a Melbourne Aquarium ambassador.
“My favourite part is meeting people with the same interests as me and sharing ideas on how to save the environment,” she said.
Phoebe has also secured grants for her school, Wyndham Central College, to use for conservation and sustainability, and last year she completed work experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo.
Phoebe said she applied for the Melbourne Aquarium Ocean Youth Ambassador Program, at the suggestion of her teacher.
“I’m also working with VCAL students at my school to build a boat so we can clean up Port Phillip and the Docklands, and it’s also about raising awareness of using fiberglass in boats, as it doesn’t break down,” Phoebe said.
While undertaking work experience at the zoo, she created a mobile phone recycling box, for the Zoos Victoria They’re Calling on You program.
The box is currently at Phoebe’s college, and she is planning to also take it to a local primary school.
