07/08/2026
🪸 CONGRATULATIONS, TONY FONTES! 🪸
We’re thrilled to congratulate Tony Fontes on being named the inaugural Great Barrier Reef Festival Community Champion! 🌊💙
Tony has spent over four decades exploring, working on and advocating for the Great Barrier Reef, and his passion for the reef and the Whitsundays has never wavered.
From his years as a dive operator and instructor to his work in reef conservation, marine advocacy and environmental education, Tony has consistently used his knowledge and experience to help protect the places we’re lucky enough to call home.
He has played an important role in bringing reef issues to the community, encouraging better understanding of our marine environment and advocating for the long-term health of the Reef and the Whitsundays.
It’s exactly the kind of ongoing contribution that the Great Barrier Reef Festival Community Champion Award was created to recognise — someone who quietly gets on with the work of protecting, inspiring and championing our region and its incredible natural environment. 🪸
💙Every reef needs its champions — and we’re proud to have Tony as our first. 💙
And a very special THANK YOU to Brett from Whitsunday Laser Creations for generously donating this beautiful piece for the Community Champion Award.
Whitsunday Conservation Council
