City renames reserve in honour of the late Robert Cameron Clay

The City of Armadale recently renamed part of Reserve 61071, Lot 51 Riverside Lane, Seville Grove as the Cam Clay Reserve, in acknowledgement to the late Robert Cameron Clay’s enormous contribution to the environment.

Mr Clay’s ashes were also placed at the base of a newly planted Melaleuca Lateritia, which is the City’s flora emblem.

Armadale Mayor Henry Zelones OAM, JP said Cam, as he was fondly known, devoted much of his life to volunteering in his community and enjoyed a long association with many different organisations, especially anything related to the environment.

“It is only fitting that Cam’s name should be immortalised in this currently unnamed reserve as he was heavily involved in the revegetation project which aimed to enhance water quality in the river and provide habitat for native aquatic and terrestrial fauna,” he said.

“Through Cam’s contributions, liaising and coordination of his fellow volunteers for the planting days, the aims and outcomes of the project were achieved.

“His involvement with the community didn’t stop there – Cam enjoyed a long association with the Bedfordale Volunteer Bushfire Brigade and was recognised with a life membership; he was Deputy Chair of the City of Armadale Bushcare and Environmental Working Group; Chairperson of the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group for 12 years and Chairman of the Neerigen Brook Creek Committee; Treasurer of the Southeast Regional Centre for Urban Landcare for 10 years.

“He was also a proactive and much loved member of Roleybushcare and was part of the group responsible for injecting trees to prevent dieback and husbanding the local bush reserves in the hills.

“In 2011 Cam was recognised for his environment contribution and was named the winner of the City’s Citizen of the Year (25 years and over) and held the position of Honorary River Guardian through the Swan River Trust.

“Cam was truly a strong leader in all aspects of caring for the environment in which he lived and loved. He volunteered in many capacities and with many community groups over a great number of years and will be long remembered as a champion for the environment and for anything that related to land care and waterways.”