The Wattle Day Association is proud to announce that the Golden Wattle Award 2024 winner is Ms Mikla Lewis OAM in recognition of her outstanding and inspirational work over more than forty years that has instilled her love of nature into a commitment to environmental conservation that has benefitted so many.
During those years Mikla established WIRES, Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation; a wildlife sanctuary from bare cropping paddocks and a community native plant nursery that has produced millions of seedlings for planting to rehabilitate farming land.
Her conservation work includes numerous workshops, surveys and field days such as annual wattle walks over the last 15 years. These have raised awareness of the benefits of planting Australia’s Acacia species to improve soils, agricultural production and conserve local plants and wildlife.
When asked about her reaction to receiving the award, Mikla Lewis said, ‘I am deeply honoured to receive this award. As a committed environmentalist over many years, I have tried to use my passion and knowledge to inspire others to also care and act for the environment, while setting an example by rewilding our place’.
‘In everything I have done I’ve promoted the use of wattles as champions of the Australian landscape, as their life-giving and regenerative qualities are unsurpassed by any other plant.’
Media contacts:
Dr Suzette Searle
President Wattle Day Association Inc.
M: 0452680554
E: Wattleday.president@gmail.com
Ms Mikla Lewis OAM
M: 0476 797 603