Georgie Waterman Awards
Since 1999, Interpretation Australia has celebrated the life of interpreter Georgie Waterman by awarding the Georgie Waterman Award to an outstanding interpreter.
Two Awards are administered by the Georgie Waterman Award Board of Trustees: the original Georgie Waterman Award and the new Interpreters' Encouragement Award to recognise individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the development of interpretation in Australia. Both Awards are peer-nominated. More information is available on nominating someone here.
The Georgie Waterman Award recognises individuals who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the development of the profession of interpretation in Australia.
The Interpreters’ Encouragement Award is given in recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of interpretation in Australia. First presented in 2008, this award celebrates inspiration, creativity, innovation and audience awareness.
Awardees receive the following:
- A symbolic component: a ‘commemorative object’ to be of lasting personal benefit to the recipient,
- twelve months’ membership IA, and
- Complementary registration at the next IA conference or workshop, to encourage the presentation of a paper or workshop.
Award winners will be expected to use their skills and experience in appropriate and creative ways, reflecting the manner in which Georgie Waterman promoted interpretation. While the active component adds a level of complexity to the organisation of the Awards, it is intended to encourage professional exchange within states (for the Interpreters' Encouragement Award) and between States (for the Georgie Waterman Award) and to create opportunities for exchange of ideas outside the annual conference.
About Georgie Waterman
Georgie Waterman was the first field-based interpretation officer employed by Victoria's National Parks Service. Her enthusiasm and commitment to presenting natural and cultural heritage was an inspiration to visitors and to the many rangers and other interpreters she trained and developed during two decades working and travelling throughout Australia.
Georgie was intensely interested in others, fostering the involvement of park staff and local communities in presenting their heritage, and developing in them a genuine sense of ownership and partnership. She had a particular sensitivity to Aboriginal people, and a personal commitment to encouraging and empowering them.
There was a special magic in the combination of thorough professionalism and spontaneous fun that was Georgie’s trademark. Always creative and often truly innovative, she explored the cutting edge in face to face programs, ranger training, publications, display and sign technology, junior ranger programs, theatre, special events and a lot more.
When Georgie died in 1996, many friends and colleagues wanted to honour her memory through a special award. The Georgie Waterman Award has been established to stimulate the further development of the profession of interpretation in Australia.
The Georgie Waterman Award recognises sustained, outstanding individual contributions to the development of the profession of interpretation in this country. It is based on a process of peer nomination, and will not necessarily be presented every year.
Georgie Waterman Award Sponsors
For many years the Award was sponsored by Georgie Waterman's family. Interpretation Australia is very grateful for their longstanding support.
In 2011, the Georgie Waterman Award is being sponsored by Armsign.