Conservation project yields reward
When Keith Bradby started work on one of Australia's biggest and most ambitious conservation projects, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.
But more than a decade later, he is confident that the envisaged 1000km of uninterrupted bush corridor across southern WA will become a reality.
Mr Bradby, chief executive of the Gondwana Link project, said he expected the link, which will create habitat for animals from the forests of Margaret River to the Great Western Woodlands near Kalgoorlie, would be substantially finished by 2025.
He said almost 20 groups were now actively involved.
Mr Bradby is one of this year's recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to conservation and the environment.
He has been involved in the conservation of biodiversity and community development in WA for almost 40 years but joined Gondwana Link in 2002.
Mr Bradby said today's announcement was an honour and gave him an opportunity and an excuse to reflect on four decades of work.
He said he was also proud that he could now travel overseas and see the achievements of conservation projects that Gondwana Link had inspired.
Phoebe Wearne
