1985 Churchill award

Larry Turner 1998

To study the use of community volunteer organisations in the operation of national parks - USA

From the book Conservation for "Life" by Verne McLaren AM - unpublished

Over the years there have been many changes to the staff at National Park Headquarters, but the longest serving officer Dene Cordes has served from 1968 and still serves [1991]. I was particularly pleased that Dene was appointed Community Liaison Officer in charge of the Community Liaison Unit, Dept. of Environment and Planning, to coincide with the formation of consultative committees. Dene was well suited to this new position because of his excellent public relations qualities. Dene has always been held in high esteem and I believe this position is one of the most important positions in the N.P.W.S. In 1984, Dene won a Churchill Fellowship to study community involvement in parks in the U.S.A. and Canada. He has since put his knowledge gained from those countries to valuable use in South Australia with the setting up of “Friends of Parks” which cover the bulk of this State. The Friends groups have worked wonderfully well under the direction of Dene who has been dubbed; “The Father of Friends of Parks.”

Contribution from Graeme Adcock

Dene was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship in 1985 to travel to the USA to study the use of community volunteer organizations in the operation of national parks. From that time he committed himself to the Churchill Fellows Association of SA (CFASA) undertaking all leadership roles on the committee (treasurer, secretary, vice-president and president) during many years of service. His incredible drive, communication skills and team focus resulted in the CFASA being a driving force in SA for the promotion of the common interests of Churchill Fellows; fostering the spirit of Churchill Fellowships; providing for contact between Fellows, and Fellows and the public; assisting in the orientation of new Fellows and furthering the interests of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. His commitment and efforts were recognized when he was awarded ‘Life Membership’ of the Association. He is one of only 5 people in SA who have been recognized by Life Membership in the 45+ years of the Association. In 1992 Dene, whilst president of the association, was the driving force and researcher behind the publishing of a historical record of the first 25 years of the Churchill Fellows Association of SA. The book is entitled ‘South Australian Churchill Fellows – The First 25 years’. Dene continues to contribute to the Association in many ways, even though not on the committee, and is affectionately known as one of the ‘elder statesmen’ of the CFASA.