Activist Amy Glade is Redland City Council Australia Day Award finalist

A vociferous advocate for conservation and community initiatives, Ms Glade has been nominated as a finalist for the Redland City Council’s Australia Day Awards in both the senior citizen, and the environment and sustainability categories.

In 2016 Ms Glade was recognised with a tribute seat in an Elmhurst Street park at Capalaba.

Ms Glade said she had started to plant and care for trees and shrubs at the park when a neighbour complained of being unable to take her grandchildren there, due to the condition of play equipment and lack of shade.

For many years, Ms Glade objected to numerous developments around the Redlands and pushed for green spaces to be protected over the years.

She said her efforts were to protect the lifestyle, health and wellbeing of residents.

“There have been many battles with the Redland City Council about preserving the very things that bring quality of life to people when it appears the council has been intent on destroying the area with endless land clearing and allowing concrete to spread like some rampant disease or wild fire, just like the Gold Coast,” Ms Glade said.

She was recognised by Redland City Council in June 1995 when she received a presentation from then Redland Shire mayor Eddie Santagiuliana.

“It has the words, ‘For your personal contribution in preserving and enhancing the Redland environment’ and remains closest to my heart and value, knowing what I did to deserve it,” Ms Glade said.

Other certificates she has received for her efforts were from the former federal MP for Bowman Con Sciacca, who died in 2017, former member Michael Choi and former premier Peter Beattie. 

She also worked on efforts to stop waste ending up in creeks, volunteered with the Valantine Creek Bushcare Group, Koala Action Group, Birkdale Progress Association and Wildlife Preservation Society Bayside branch, and has been involved with the Capalaba Bowls Club and the bowls club at the Redlands Sporting Club.

In 1986, she volunteered at Finlandia Village to help residents. She set up a choir group which performed on special days during the year, bringing happiness to the group and their families.

“We collected one wheelchair-bound member from the dementia unit who knew words to Finnish folk songs the choir liked to sing,” Ms Glade said.

Ms Glade was also a member of the Bayside branch of the Cake Decorators Association.

She was married to Paul, who passed away in 2009. 

The full list of finalists for the Redland City Council’s Australia Day awards are:

Citizen of the Year

Young Citizen of the Year

Senior Citizen of the Year

Local Hero Award

Community Organisation Award

Cultural Award

Environment and Sustainability Award

Sports Award

Reconciliation Award

Winners will be announced at an awards presentation later this month.