Dear %%First_Name%%

Welcome to the first edition of the new-look Reef Check Australia newsletter. This issue introduces our new team members, heralds the start of a new survey season, profiles one of our valued supporters, introduces our latest education project and celebrates the arrival of some new grants!

We hope you enjoy finding out what we’ve been up to recently and what our plans are for the near future. Thanks again for all your support and keep spreading the Reef Check Australia word!

We’d love to hear what you think about our newsletter so do let us know if you have any comments or contributions by emailing us at support@reefcheckaustralia.org

Jos Hill
Managing Director

It’s a new year, the heavens have opened, the stinger suits are out - it must be time for a new Reef Check survey season! In preparation, our new team of enthusiastic Townsville trainees have completed their theory tests and battled through 3m viz on Maggie to achieve their recognition as qualified Reef Check Australia surveyors.

Meanwhile, up in Cairns/Port Douglas, more volunteers are set to complete their fish and video transect specialities to become fully trained Reef Checkers.

Well done one and all!

Sponsor Profile | 1770 Reef Explorers

Jada Cavanaugh’s select operation, 1770 Reef Explorers, works in partnership with Reef Check Australia to offer an extra dimension to the Great Barrier Reef experience. With marine ecology information packages on board, snorkelers can take part in useful reef health research whilst enjoying the stunning underwater scenery.

As our first dive operator sponsor,1770 Reef Explorers are creating a fantastic opportunity to raise a consistent source of funds for Reef Check Australia projects by contributing $5 from every passenger. We hope that this new relationship proves to be very successful for both partners and that more operators will come on board in the future.

Jada says about the new partnership: “I’m very proud to be working with Reef Check Australia and very proud to mention them on my vessel's tours! Every time I take my passengers out to the Reef I feel comforted to know that they’re out there to help the very reef we care so much about. Thank you and keep up the very good work!”

1770 Reef Explorers take small groups on memorable trips out to secluded Green (Protected) Zones, just over an hour from 1770 Marina on their 10m cougar cat. All snorkel equipment and wetsuits are provided and a tasty organic lunch is served on deck.

With their strong environmental focus and enthusiastic, knowledgeable team, 1770 Reef Explorers offers a unique adventure on the Great Barrier Reef. Visit www.1770reefexplorers.com.au to find out more.

The Australian Government’s Coastcare program has officially recognised the great work done by Reef Check Australia. This year, we have managed to secure four Caring for our Country Community grants through successful applications to fund ongoing and future projects.

Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative that seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.

These grants will help to support our following projects:
1. Community coral trout monitoring
2. Reef IQ: Youth education program
3. Reef Check coral reef health database
4. Reef Check South East Queensland

Many of our projects urgently need additional sponsorship to achieve their full potential. If you are interested in partnering with Reef Check Australia and would like to find out about the sponsorship opportunities available, please visit our Sponsorship webpage.

With further funds successfully secured from the last round of Caring for Our Country Coastcare Grants, Reef IQ, our educational program for young people, is now moving into the next stage!

Over the next few months we will be carrying out focus groups with teachers and young people to ensure our materials are fun and engaging; and to help us further protect Australia’s beautiful coral reefs through behavioural change.

If you are a teacher or a young person aged 7-12 years old and are interested in participating in one of these focus groups please contact Jo Roberts at education@reefcheckaustralia.org for more information.

A very warm welcome to some valuable new members of staff at Reef Check Australia HQ!

Dr. Marie-Lise Schläppy has joined us from Switzerland as Science Operations Manager to offer some much needed help, co-ordinating all the important science matters and managing the implementation of the research projects that are the fundamental basis of the data we provide. Marie-Lise answers to science@reefcheckaustralia.org.

Nick Greenwood and Joel Stibbard are settling into their roles, volunteering as Project Officers, setting up and running all the surveys for the 2009 season. If you’re planning to join our survey trips this season, you’ll be hearing from them very soon on surveys@reefcheckaustralia.org once they’ve untangled all the survey tapes!

Newly enlisted volunteer managing Communications and PR is Gemma Routledge, who hopes to revolutionaise the website and get Reef Check Australia all the press attention it deserves. She’d love to hear from you with any great ideas to communications@reefcheckaustralia.org

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Reef Check Australia is a registered not for profit organisation and is a registered Environmental Organisation. Reef Check Australia is entitled under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 item 6.1.1 of subsection 30-55(1) to receive tax deductible donations. Any individual, company, trust or charity that makes a donation will receive a receipt for use in the preparation of their tax return.

PO Box 404, Townsville, QLD 4810. Tel +61 7 4724 3950. Reef Check Foundation Ltd. (Australia) ABN: 46 108 200 933. Registered Australian charity with tax deductible gift recipient status.