The success of Earth Day in May has earned CQUniversity Emerald staff a 2012 Opal Award for Engaged Service at the Vice-Chancellor's Staff Awards event recently.

The project was run by CQUniversity Emerald Operations and Project Manager Cr Gai Sypher and Administration Officer Jessie Phelan.

Thanks to CQUniversity's
CQUniversity Operations Manager Cr Gai Sypher (second from left) with Don Burke and other VIP guests at the expo.  partnership with the local Science Centre and Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning (CHRRUP), the three-day celebration managed to raise the profile of environmental awareness and educate the community about ways they can contribute to a better environment.

Special guests included ABC Radio's Gardening Talkback host Tom Wyatt and gardener/environmentalist Don Burke from Burke's Backyard.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Community & Engagement) Professor Pierre Viljoen said Earth Day was an excellent example of community engagement, with CQUniversity working with all levels of the community to lead a successful project.

Cr Sypher said the Emerald campus was excited to have won the award and organisers were already looking at bigger and better plans for 2013. 

"It was so much fun doing the project and plans to continue the project for next year are already underway," she said.

The success of Earth Day has also been recognised by the Central Highlands Development Corporation. CQUniversity Emerald was announced as Business of the Month.