Invasive Species Council

ISC annual awards, 2003

At our AGM on 28th August 2003, the Invasive Species Council in Australia presented two inaugural awards for 2003 - the Froggatt and the Austin:

Inaugural Froggatt Award, 2003
The ISC Froggatt Award is presented annually in recognition of the early warning, preventative action, awareness raising or management of an invasive species in Australia.

Winner of the inaugural Froggatt is Barbara Waterhouse, Team Botanist with the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy.

Barbara's dedicated work for over a decade has been vital in directly stopping some of the world's worst weeds from establishing in Australia. Firstly as part of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, and later the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), her work with quarantine survey teams in northern Australia and Papua New Guinea has helped establish the crucial early detection systems now in place.

Barbara started working in the north in 1990 on what was to have been a short term contract to look for weeds on the move into Australia from New Guinea and Indonesia. She loved the work, the job evolved and she stayed on.

Barbara's greatest satisfaction has been in identifying major weeds before they've 'taken off' and become entrenched. In 1994, while having a day off, she identified an infestation of Siam Weed, Chromolaena odorata near Mission Beach in northern Queensland. A South American species, Chromolaen is a lantana-like shrub/climber capable of invading pastures and rainforest. It is one of the worldÕs worst weeds. Within weeks of the discovery the source infestation had been found and eradication had begun.

She has also been instrumental in early identification in Australia of Mile a Minute Vine, Mikania micrantha, Koster's Curse, Clidemia hirta, and the pretty but noxious water weed Yellow Burr-head, Linmocharis flava.

As well as making assessments of possible weed invaders and then looking for them, Barbara provides advice to AQIS entomologists and plant pathologists on native plants which could act as hosts for invading insects and plant diseases.

Barbara is a big advocate for early detection and response to new weeds, facilitating complete eradication in some cases. She believes more needs to be done from the community as a whole but says 'there has been tremendous change in public understanding and in institutions over the last several years in developing early detection and response'.

A big part of Barbara's success in detecting invaders has been working with local networks of naturalists and land managers. She encourages people to send in specimens of possible weeds and either identifies them herself or gets quick identifications with the help of the Queensland Herbarium.

Congratulations to Barbara for winning the inaugural Froggatt!

about the award
The Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) was introduced into Australia at Edmonton in North Queensland in 1935 to control the Grey Backed Cane Beetle and the Frenchie Beetle which were devastating northern Australia's sugar cane industry. The Toad was introduced with no research or testing to see if it was specific to or suitable for control of these beetles.

As is so often the case, release of the Cane Toad was against the advice of some naturalists and scientists. These included a former New South Wales Government Entomologist named Walter W. Froggatt. Although their protests resulted in a brief moratorium on the release of toads, releases resumed in 1936.

The Toad had minimal impact on the beetles and has since become a widespread pest in north east Australia having significant impacts on indigenous fauna and ecosystems. It continues to invade across the top end, recently entering Kakadu National Park. To this day, research conducted, particularly into biological control, always meets the public question, "Will it become another Cane Toad?".

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Inaugural Austin Award, 2003
The ISC Austin Award is given annually in recognition for the most senseless introduction of, misguided promotion about, or foot-in-mouth comment regarding an invasive organism in Australia.

The inaugural Austin Award goes to the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta).

The red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) was discovered in Australia in 2001, when nests were found on more than 700 properties in Brisbane.

If not eradicated, these ants will cost the Australian economy $6.7 billion over the next thirty years, according to federal government estimates. A $130 million eradication campaign is underway.

about the award
This award is presented in recognition of Thomas Austin, the person responsible for the first successful introduction of the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) into Australia in 1859 at Winchelsea, Victoria.