Lisa Blair calls for community climate action as she accepts Australia Day honour
by Carolyn Grant 26 Jan 08:30 PST
Australian solo sailor, Lisa Blair © Sydney International Boat Show
Australian multi record-breaking solo sailor Lisa Blair has received an OAM in the Australia Day honours, saying she is grateful for the recognition to keep shining a light on her Climate Action Now campaign to protect the ocean.
As the holder of 8 world records achieved on incredible and brave solo sailing voyages, she has been recognised for her "services to sailing" in Australia.
Lisa's sustainability journey first started in 2012 while sailing around the world in the Clipper
Round the World Yacht Race when she encountered floating plastics in wild and remote ocean locations. She has since embarked on hugely ambitious and inspirational trips including 2 record sails around Antarctica on her yacht named "Climate Action Now" to draw attention to, and survey ocean issues, including microplastics.
'I am so incredibly honoured to be recognised in such a way alongside the other incredible award recipients today'.
"There is the saying it takes a village to raise a child, and I feel that holds true for me. It takes a country to set world records, so thank you to Australia for your support, my family for always backing my projects, to my sponsors and all the people who have donated their time to support me as a volunteer, without you, none of this would have been possible.
So far, together we have set 8 world records in ocean sailing, completed valuable science in the Southern Ocean, reached millions with the Climate Action Now campaign and presented to over 100 schools reaching thousands of students," she said.
Announcing her new sustainability project she declared "This is just the beginning as I work towards the Arctic Impact Project where I intend to build a sustainable boat from Basalt rock and Bio resins and sail it solo, non-stop and unassisted around the Arctic Circle."
Lisa is the Sustainability Ambassador for the Boating Industry Association and is also an Ambassador for the March Ocean Lovers Festival where she will be collaborating with the two organisations to have her boat on display in Darling Harbour on March 15 & 16 for the Festival. You can meet Lisa there, visit her yacht and find out about her voyages and her campaigning. And her film Ice Maiden will screen at the festival in the Bondi Pavilion with a talk on March 22. Tickets via the website.
"With this award, I challenge you to take one action to help our planet. What is one thing you can do in your home or community to minimise your impact? What is your Climate Action Now," Lisa said. You can let Lisa know what your Climate Action is on her website.