2024 Australia day Ambassador's
Mr. Geoff Coombes OAM - Co-Founder of Tour De Cure (Jindabyne/Cooma Ambassador)
In 2007, Geoff Coombes OAM co-founded cancer charity Tour de Cure (TdC). A community that started with just 29 people in year 1 and grew to over 15,000 participants each year, TdC has raised over $118 Million and contributed to more than 145 scientific cancer research breakthroughs. The Tour de Cure has come through Monaro region on several occasions sharing their BE HEALTHY schools cancer prevention message in Cooma and Jindabyne.
Geoff is motivated by the power of community to come together and support those in need, encouraging individuals to be the best versions of themselves.
He believes that our health is our greatest asset and connections to like-minded people, who share in each other’s joys and struggles, and who are committed to supporting worthy causes are crucial to building strong communities.
Recognising this ongoing need inspired Geoff to create STRYDE4, an organisation that delivers a unique opportunity for Australian charities, corporates and communities to come together and collaborate through a variety of community based health programs, partnerships and events.
Geoff's first STRYDE4 event is launching on the 4.4.2024
STRYDE4 DAY will see up to 6,000 participants take part in a 21km walk or 14km ocean paddle from Bondi to La Perouse supporting Mental Health, Cancer, Indigenous, Disability, Families & the Environment. He hopes to raise over $2Million in the inaugural event.
You are all invited!
Ms. Linda Sparrow - 2024 Australia's Local Hero Finalist / Bangalow Koalas (Bombala Ambassador)
Koalas are one of Australia’s most loved native animals. Tragically, they’re also an endangered species, largely due to land clearing and bushfires.
Linda Sparrow is determined to help restore her local koalas’ habitat. The co-founder and president of Bangalow Koalas dedicates much of her time and energy to securing grants and donations to cover the costs of establishing a koala wildlife corridor through New South Wales’ Northern Rivers region.
Since 2019, Linda’s efforts have led to the planting of more than 336,000 trees on more than 119 planting sites. The grassroots organisation aims to plant 500,000 trees by the end of 2025.
Linda has encouraged local landowners to make their properties available to be part of the koala corridors, which will also be home to other native species.
Her achievements were acknowledged by The Australian Geographic Society in 2022 when it named her the Conservationist of the Year.