KINGSTON SHINES BRIGHT AT THE AUSTRALIAN TIDY TOWNS SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
MEDIA RELEASE - 22 MAY 2025
Pictured: A few of the wonderful and dedicated Kingston SE Small Steps Ladies
Kingston District Council on behalf of the Kingston community was one of 6 finalists chosen from across Australia who competed in the Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards competition in 2025. The Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards began in 1968 in Western Australia and have been running nationally since 1990. These awards have evolved to encompass projects and initiatives with a focus on environmental sustainability and resource management to reflect a growing awareness of the importance of community-led environmental action.
This nomination in the Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards followed on from the success in the KESAB 2024 Sustainable Communities Awards whereby the Kingston District Council lodged an extensive submission in 2023 that included such initiatives as the extension of the RV Park to accommodate additional visitors during the Murray River floods, coastal adaptation strategies, community health & wellbeing, and Kingston SE Small Steps and the Kingston Community School.
Kingston was represented in several categories at the national awards with the dedicated assistance, passion and support of many local volunteers, including Liz Wingard and the Kingston SE Small Steps team, who are some of the most dedicated, passionate people in all the Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards programs across the country.
The national awards were presented in Beechworth Victoria on the 2- 4 May 2025 and Council was proudly represented at the event by Liz & Rick Wingard, with Liz being nominated in the ‘Dame Phyllis Frost Local Hero’ category where she received a ‘Special Acknowledgement’ for the many years of work she has personally done in Kingston to create, support and drive a circular economy, reduction in plastics and litter control within our township.
Kingston received special acknowledgement in the following Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards categories;
WINNER – LIVEABLE COMMUNITIES
Community Wellbeing Participation Initiative – Kingston District Council
After the devastating Black Summer bushfire at Keilira in 2019/20, the community faced a lack of mental health, resilience, and preparedness resources. To address this, the council initiated the Community Wellbeing & Participation Initiative, a grant-funded partnership with the Primary Health Network and Federal Government. Its objectives were to enhance community participation, preparedness education, and mental health support. Originally an 18-month program, it was extended with additional funding through 2023 and beyond. Key outcomes include the employment of a parttime Community Development Officer, the delivery of low-cost or free activities and events, enhancing community preparedness for future fire events and an improvement to general health and wellbeing in the Kingston area.
HIGHLY COMMENDED – CIRCULAR ECONOMY & WASTE REDUCTION
Kingston Circular Economy / Waste Reduction
The community of Kingston is actively working to protect its vulnerable coastal environment from the effects of climate change and tourism. The community has implemented a suite of innovative initiatives to save materials from landfill. With two notable programs being Kingston SE Small Steps and the Lions Club Seaside Thrift Store Launched in 2019, Kingston SE Small Steps is tackling single-use plastics by repurposing fabric for shopping and produce bags, raising awareness about the environmental impact of disposable plastics. The Kingston SE Lions Seaside Thrift Store is a thriving non-profit venture that resells donated materials and distributes excess items to other charitable organisations and schools, contributing to waste reduction and community support.
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT – DAME PHYLLIS FROST LOCAL HERO
Elizabeth Wingard
Elizabeth (Liz) Wingard is a do-er. She sees opportunities and seizes them, embracing everyone on the journey to positive change. One of Liz’s notable contributions is the establishment of Kingston’s Small Steps, a group dedicated to tackling sustainability challenges through small, impactful measures. By repurposing fabric to make reusable bags, the initiative has successfully reduced the use of single-use plastics and helped alleviate the strain on landfills. Liz is also dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing, offering advocacy and support to individuals affected by Parkinson’s and Crohn’s Diseases through various initiatives and resources.
ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD – YOUNG LEGENDS
Kingston Community School
“Deeds not words” is Kingston Community School’s motto. They have spearheaded numerous sustainability initiatives aimed at mitigating the environmental impact of waste and climate change. This includes participation in the Plastic Free July movement, where they encourage locals to Refuse/ Reduce/Recycle, implement waste separation systems, and gather materials for Precious Plastic recycling, transforming plastic caps into pens and surfboard combs. Furthermore, the school oversees the local RV’s CDL collections, with the proceeds supporting their sustainability program. They have also established a local seed library in collaboration with the Community library, Council, environmental groups, and other educational centres to promote waste reduction, upcycling, recycling, and education. The impact of these initiatives is also evident in positive changes seen throughout the broader community.
The Kingston District Council wish to acknowledge all towns, volunteers and community members who participated in the Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards 2025 and congratulate Launceston, Tasmania as the overall winner.
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Contact:
Ian Hart
Chief Executive Officer, Kingston District Council
E | ceo@kingstondc.sa.gov.au
M | 0408 809 712
Kristen Wilks
Community Development Officer, Kingston District Council
E | kwilks@kingstondc.sa.gov.au
M | 0400 162 477
Liz Wingard
Kingston SE Small Steps