The awards were presented at WESSA’s 90th annual general meeting at Skukuza in the Kruger National Park.

In celebration of its 90 year anniversary of Caring for the Earth, WESSA presented awards in a number of additional categories this year. The 90 Lifetime Conservation Achiever Awards category, which was introduced for the occasion, provided a unique opportunity to acknowledge a number of living individuals who have dedicated their lives to conservation in South Africa. One of them is Stan Madden – founder of the Marievale Bird Sanctuary.

Stan’s nearly 70 years association with the Blesbokspruit began in 1948 when he joined the staff of the Marievale Consolidated Mines.

A wetland which attracted thousands of migrant and resident birds had been created in the area by the mine building roads and embankments across the Blesbokspruit.  A ‘Duckshoot and Dance’ event was held annually by the mine from about 1948 to 1959 when, as a result of which Stan’s persuasion, the shooting was discouraged and in 1963 management prohibited shooting on mine property.
Between 1968 and 1971, when it became apparent that the mine would close, Stan fought for the area to be declared a Nature Reserve.  He motivated mine management  and  Nature Conservation officials, resulting in an area of approximately 500ha being donated in 1971 and in 1976 a further donation of 385ha was made by the mine and accepted by the then Transvaal Provincial Administration Nature Conservation Division for the establishment of a bird sanctuary which today is the internationally recognised Marievale Bird Sanctuary, now  known as the Marievale Nature Reserve.

He was made an Honorary Transvaal Nature Conservation Officer in 1975 and until 1983 was the Honorary Warden of the then Marievale Bird Sanctuary. In 2006 BirdLife SA honoured Stan with the Eagle award in recognition of his ongoing inspirational leadership in conservation and in January 2007 he was invited by the West Rand Honorary Rangers to be one of the leaders at an educational bird census in the Kruger National Park.

In 2008 he was honoured by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa for his ongoing efforts and achievements. Stan’s passion for wildlife and his determination to preserve natural areas is only surpassed by his willingness and love of teaching young and old about the wonders of nature. He has presented many bird identification courses and is still actively involved in co-ordinating the bi-annual CWAC counts done in the Nigel and Springs areas.