Britton Timbers is proud to report that Director Ross Britton, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia last month.
Region Close to His Heart
By Rachel Freeman
The beautiful Arthur-Pieman area has been home to Ross Britton’s family for more than 100 years, so it’s no wonder he cares so deeply for it.
Mr Britton has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to conservation and the environment, and the community.
Over the years, Mr Britton has been a member of numerous committees and advisory boards tasked with making recommendations to Parks and Wildlife and the government. From 1990 to 2012 Mr Britton has served as chairman to many committees and coalitions involved with protecting the area. From 1994 to 2010 he was a representative for the forestry and timber industry.
Mr Britton’s contributions also involve his work with the Lions Club of Circular Head. Since 1969 he has been a charter member and, over the years, has served as president, zone chairperson and deputy district governor.
Mr Britton believes the main issues facing the Arthur-Pieman area are the tracks, Aboriginal heritage, flora and fauna, and weeds. “When I first started going to the area, there were tracks everywhere,” he said. “It was a real eyesore, you really had to see it to believe it.”
With one main track Mr Britton believes that people going through would be safer, there would be less damage to the local flora, less weeds would be spread throughout the region and there would be less damage to the Aboriginal heritage.
“When people first started tracking through there, they weren’t recognising the Aboriginal hut depressions and middens so they were damaging them,” Mr Britton said.
“There is a lot of important Aboriginal culture and heritage there that we don’t want to damage.”