REVEALED: Far North’s Aussiest Aussie as voted by you

Cairns Post readers have voted and the Aussiest Aussie has been revealed out of a list of people from croc wranglers to mythical creatures and cowboy politicians. SEE YOUR TOP TEN

Andreas Nicola

@AndreasNicola97

less than 2 min read

January 30, 2022 - 7:46AM

The Cairns Post

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There’s nothing more Aussie than saving turtles according to readers as the Far North’s Aussiest Aussie has been revealed.

Turtle saviour Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre co-founder Jennie Gilbert has been voted as the Aussiest Aussie for all the turtles she has rehabilitated and the time she has spent volunteering, fundraising and promoting the save the turtle cause.

Ms Gilbert said it was an absolute privilege to be voted as the Aussiest Aussie.

“It’s absolutely fantastic, I’d like to thank everybody that voted for me but it’s voting for the turtles,” she said.

Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre founder Jennie Gilbert. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s really nice they’ve stepped up to vote to say this is a vote for the marine environment in turtles.

“I am only the spokeswoman ... the turtles are the champions.”

Ms Gilbert said the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre had come along way after starting off with two people. The facility now has 95 volunteers.

“We have Fitzroy Island, Cairns Aquarium, JCU and a satellite one at Mission Beach,” she said.

“The greatest part about it is that it’s a great team. Everyone that does it is a volunteer.

“We have a wonderful team of volunteers and a great support from businesses around Cairns and the general public.”

Ms Gilbert said she was honoured to be crowned as the Far North’s Aussiest Aussie, and said the one thing she loved about Australians was how supportive they were.

Turtle Rehabilitation Centre director Jennie Gilbert releases Leila the green turtle into the wild at Green Island in June 2021. The turtle was named after Leila Trott, the late skipper of Ocean Free who drowned off Green Island in 2016. Picture: Stuart Ireland – Calypso Productions

“I think in Australia people are very supportive of each other, people rally together to help each other and help wildlife,” she said.

“What I like about Cairns is about being part of an FNQ community that helps each other.”