Volunteer award honours Jim’s decades of service to Waihī Beach
For nearly 30 years, Jim Cowern has quietly worked behind the scenes to help protect Waihī Beach’s environment, preserve its history and make his community a better place to live. Now his decades of dedication have been recognised with the Volunteer Star Award for Waihī Beach.
Jim was nominated by ECHO Walking Festival organiser Vicki Lambert, who describes him as “an absolute legend” for his commitment to the community.
Vicki says Jim has spent years guiding ECHO Walking Festival walks, clearing tracks and sharing his extensive knowledge of Waihī Beach’s history, native plants and wildlife. He has also played a leading role with Coast Care Waihī Beach, Predator Free Waihī Beach, the Waihī Beach Environmental Society and local graffiti removal projects. Born and raised at Waihī Beach, Jim says volunteering has always been about caring for the place he calls home.
“I’ve been involved with Coast Care for over 25 years, probably close to 30 years,” Jim says.
Living just metres from the beach, he has watched the coastline change over the years and has devoted countless hours to dune restoration, planting native species and helping create stronger natural dune systems.
He says healthy dunes provide the best long-term protection for the coastline.
“People can see the benefits of building up the dunes and planting them,” Jim says. “It’s just a no-brainer that you carry on and build dunes.”
Jim has also represented Waihī Beach beyond the local community, attending Coast Care conferences and working with environmental groups to promote best practice in coastal restoration.
His commitment has extended well beyond practical volunteering. Over many years, he has prepared submissions to councils on coastal planning and environmental issues, advocating for dune protection and sustainable management of Waihī Beach’s coastline.
Jim says speaking up through formal submissions has been another important way to help protect the beach for future generations.
Alongside his environmental work, Jim has become a familiar face at the ECHO Walking Festival. For more than 25 years, he has helped lead guided walks, introducing visitors and locals alike to the area’s rich history and natural environment.
He says researching forgotten stories and sharing them with others has been one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering.
“A lot of the history of Waihī Beach was almost lost,” Jim says. “I’ve been lucky to find information and share those stories with people.”
Jim says seeing participants discover new connections with the area has made the many hours of preparation worthwhile.
Although ongoing health treatment has recently limited his ability to volunteer as much as he would like, Jim remains passionate about the causes he has championed for decades. He says this year marked the first Coast Care planting day he has been unable to attend in many years, something he found difficult after such a long involvement. Despite that setback, Jim hopes to continue supporting environmental projects and advocating for Waihī Beach whenever he can.
The Volunteer Star Award recognises not only Jim’s willingness to roll up his sleeves but also the lasting impact he has had on the community through almost three decades of service.
As Vicki puts it, “He’s committed and passionate about his hometown. He is always keen to help and gets stuck into any project, and gets his hands dirty. He’s a bit of a legend.”
To learn more about volunteer opportunities across the Bay of Plenty, visit the Volunteering Services website www.volunteeringservices.org.nz or call 07 987 0920.
