PRESS RELEASE: Australia’s 2023 Overall Tidy Town award winner, Gascoyne Junction, WA, demonstrates regional Australia’s commitment to sustainability.

Keep Australia Beautiful has announced the Western Australian finalist, Gascoyne Junction as the winner of the 2023 Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards, at an event hosted by the 2022 winner King Island, Tasmania on Friday 19 May 2023.

Running nationally since 1990, the Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability 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. The Tidy Towns name has always been synonymous with community pride, cohesion and above all, community action. The awards reach beyond tourism to encourage, motivate and celebrate the sustainability achievements of grassroots rural and regional communities across Australia.

Gascoyne Junction was also winner of the Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention, Environmental Sustainability – Water and Community Health, Wellbeing and Interest categories, joint winner with Euroa, Victoria in the Environmental Communication and Engagement category and highly commended in the Heritage and Culture and Environmental Sustainability – Energy categories.

The Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards judging panel said that the remote town, with a population of only 70, “is a true example of what communities can do when focused on strong community, innovative sustainability and self-reliance.

“A very active and dedicated community of volunteers play an enormous role in ensuring Gascoyne Junction flourishes and maintains its standing as a caring and dedicated community.

“The collective effect of this success has provided an incentive to continue to work together to achieve a common vision for a better environment, an enhanced quality of life and a sustainable future for all residents and visitors to Gascoyne Junction.”

Val Southam, Chief Executive, Keep Australia Beautiful commended all the finalists in this year’s Awards.

“We are fortunate to be associated with some of the most dedicated and enthusiastic people in the world through the Australian Tidy Towns Sustainability Awards competition, which is largely run by volunteers.

“It is clear from the quality of projects entered in the National Awards Program that communities are passionate, committed, driven, and dedicated to making their communities special in every way.

“This is the true Tidy Towns spirit.”

The winners’ book and photographs are available at www.sustainablecommunities.com.au.