White Pages Covers Program

White Pages® explores an ecotourism escape in the Daintree

April 14, 2011

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Kewarra Beach residents, Pam and Ron Birkett have been selected to appear on the cover of this year’s Cairns Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® book which will be distributed throughout the Cairns District, Cooktown, Port Douglas, Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands, Innisfail, Mission Beach, Tully and surrounding towns from 16 April 2011.

Each year, Sensis, the publisher of the Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^®, recognises the contribution of local residents in the community by featuring them on the cover of its books.

The theme for this year’s covers, Australians Creating a Better Future, recognises people throughout Australia who have made a positive contribution to their community through projects or initiatives that help to make a better future for Australia. These projects have contributed environmentally, economically and/or socially to the local community and will benefit the next generation of Australians.

Pam and Ron’s selection recognises their work in establishing an eco-tourist destination within the Daintree Rainforest.

After visiting the rainforest 25 years ago, the Birketts dreamt of building a self-funded, environmental centre at the world heritage-listed area. This dream became a reality in 1989, when the Daintree Discovery Centre (DDC) opened.

Since then, the Birketts have transformed the Centre into an eco-tourism facility that provides interactive environmental information about the Daintree Rainforest to its visitors. Central to their environmental agenda is reducing, neutralising and eventually offsetting their carbon emissions.

In their quest to create a world class facility, the Birketts have also become one of the leading employers in the Daintree, continuously supporting and providing local employment opportunities.

“Protecting the environment is really important to us. We built the Centre to not only further this cause, but to help others better understand the impact of such things as carbon emissions and we are so honoured to be recognised for our work,” said Pam.

Ron and Pam’s efforts to improving and maintaining DDC as a leading tourism operator has seen them recognised with many local and international awards, including Queensland’s Top Tourist Attraction in 2009 and Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame inductees in 2008.

Did you know? The last three local people to appear on the Cairns Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® cover were:

2010/11: Redlynch resident Paul Hockey featured on the cover under the theme Courageous Australians. Paul was selected for his ‘never say die’ attitude, setting the record as the first disabled person to courageously reach the summit of Mt Everest.

2009/10: Cairns resident Ludij Peden featured on the 2009/10 Yellow Pages^® and White Pages^® cover under the theme Creative Australians: Inspiring our Communities. Ludij has volunteered her time to a number of community projects, including the Cairns Arts Society, Uniting Church and Rotary Club of Cairns North.

2008/09: Cairns resident and restaurateur Craig Squire was the 2008/09 Celebrating Australian Flavour theme cover hero, recognised for establishing Australian Tropical Foods which unites tourism with niche food products.