Published on Wednesday, 29 May 2024 at 12:35:57 PM
Please attribute information below to Shire President, Cr Wayne Fewster.
It is with immense pride the Shire of Gingin congratulates senior staff member Bob Kelly who received the prestigious Dr Richard Lugg Award for Sustained Excellence in the Advancement of Public Health at the 17th International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) World Congress held in Perth on Friday 24 May.
Mr Kelly was presented the award by Simon Millman MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister for Health, in front of several hundred delegates from over 22 countries at the congress, making him one of only four recipients to have received the honour since its inception in 2009.
The Dr Richard Lugg Award recognises contributions of an individual environmental health professional who has undertaken outstanding service in the field of public and/or environmental health over a sustained period of time.
“It’s an absolute privilege and honour to receive this award,” said Mr Kelly. “I first met Dr Lugg at the Mt Lawley Technical School many years ago where he taught a group of young, eager students including myself as we were undertaking our Royal Society of Health Diploma. This was the qualification to become a ‘health inspector’ as it was called back in the day. I think I can say I’ve now received my pass mark!”
Nominating Bob for the award was fellow Shire colleague Tanya Anderson, Coordinator Resource Recovery & Environmental Health, who managed to keep his nomination a secret in the weeks leading up to the event.
Mrs Anderson said: “Since working with Bob in the public health space the past few years I have observed the positive impact he has made with his extensive knowledge and experience, not only to me as a mentor, but to my colleagues and the wider environmental health and disaster recovery industry – and I knew he would be a perfect candidate for this award. I also undertook the nomination as a gesture of appreciation for Bob’s support of my career.”
Mr Kelly, who is the Shire’s Executive Manager Regulatory & Development Services, has had a distinguished local government career in public health spanning 35 years. During this time, he also undertook Red Cross humanitarian deployments in Somalia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Rwanda, South Sudan, North Kenya, India, and Bougainville to improve the quality of life for victims of war and disaster, and this service earnt him the Red Cross International Service Medal in 2021.
“Getting this award is a very big deal and we are extremely proud of Bob,” said Shire CEO, Aaron Cook. “Ever since he commenced employment with us back in 2013 Bob has led and facilitated a number of public and environmental health initiatives for the Shire of Gingin region, including an improved and more robust Stable Fly program, improvements to facilities at the Guilderton Caravan Park including the expansion of its septic system which has been a particularly complex project, and progression of the Shire’s Waste Reform Program to meet the State Government’s Waste Avoidance & Resource Recovery Strategy 2030. ”
Hosted by Environmental Health Australia, the 5-day IFEH World Congress focussed on ‘Environmental Health in the new era’, and explored knowledge on the latest issues, techniques, and technology in environmental health as well as practical approaches to sustainable environmental health management.
Shire of Gingin media contact:
Meredith Taylor
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING OFFICER
T: (08) 9575 5150
E: meredith.taylor@gingin.wa.gov.au
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