Spring into nature connection
August 29, 2023
What’s buzzing with ACT for Bees?
February 13, 2024
In 2023, ACT for Bees and Other Pollinators founder Julie Armstrong was announced as an ACT Local Hero nominee in the 2024 Australian of the Year Awards. The nomination recognised more than a decade of work inspiring people to protect bees and other pollinators through education, advocacy and community action.
When the awards were presented, the ACT Local Hero title was awarded to the very deserving Selina Walker in recognition of her outstanding contribution to reconciliation and the Canberra community. We warmly congratulate Selina on this well-earned honour.
For Julie, simply being nominated was both humbling and unexpected.
"I am deeply honoured to be nominated for ACT Local Hero. There are many unsung heroes in our community who contribute so much, so it is a privilege to be recognised alongside them."
While the award recognised Julie's contribution, it also helped shine a spotlight on something much bigger: the importance of protecting the bees and other pollinators that our natural environment and food systems depend on.
A decade of growing a movement
When Julie founded ACT for Bees in 2014, her goal was simple—to help people understand that even small actions can make a difference for pollinators.
Over the years, that simple idea has grown into a thriving community of volunteers, gardeners, educators, researchers, government agencies and partner organisations working together to create a more pollinator-friendly Canberra.
The nomination acknowledged many years of dedication, including the development of the Love Food? Love Bees! education program with cool.org, which has reached more than 770,000 students, as well as Julie's work advocating for pollinator-friendly planning, community education and habitat protection across the ACT and beyond.
But achievements like these are never the work of one person.
Every workshop delivered, every community planting day, every school visit, every native flower planted and every conversation about pollinators has been made possible by people who care enough to get involved.
As Julie reflected at the time:
"The nomination is a testament to the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators. It also recognises the incredible support of our volunteers, partners and community, who have helped ACT for Bees and Other Pollinators grow into the organisation it is today."
Looking back with gratitude
The nomination came during an exciting period for ACT for Bees and Other Pollinators. As the organisation approached its tenth anniversary, awareness of pollinators was continuing to grow. More schools were getting involved, more community groups were creating habitat, and more people were discovering that even a small garden can become a haven for native bees and other beneficial insects.
Looking back now, the nomination remains an important milestone—not because it was about awards, but because it recognised the value of community action.
It reminded us that protecting pollinators is something everyone can contribute to, whether by planting native flowers, reducing pesticide use, sharing knowledge or simply taking the time to notice the remarkable diversity of insects around us.
The whole ACT for Bees and Other Pollinators team is incredibly proud that Julie's work was recognised through the ACT Local Hero Awards, and equally pleased to have shared the occasion with so many inspiring people making a difference across the ACT.
To everyone who has volunteered, partnered with us, attended an event, planted for pollinators or helped spread the message over the years—thank you. This recognition belongs to all of you, and it inspires us to keep growing a future where bees and other pollinators can thrive.