Harold Sternbeck AM
Harold Sternbeck was active in the FMA from 1972, Chairman from 1991 to 1999 and Deputy Chairman in 2003 to 2004. In recognition of his extenive service to the FMA and his prowess as a persuasive public speaker the FMA established the Harold Sternbeck Medal to be awarded to an outstanding presenter at the Annual Conference.
Harold passed away in July 2010.
Background
- Harold J Sternbeck as a Cessnock businessman, well-known Auctioneer and principal of a Real Estate and Stock & Station business. Owned grazing properties at Wollombi and Mount View
- Chairman of the Real Estate Institute of NSW, Hunter Valley Branch, Newcastle Division since 1988 and represented the small business sector on the Hunter Water Corporation’s Consultative Forum.
- Became a member of Cessnock Lions’ Club in 1954 and remained an active Lion for the rest of his life. Was honoured to receive the “Melvyn Jones Fellow” Award by the Lions’ Clubs’ International Foundation in 1993 and was later made a Life Member of Cessnock Lions’ Club. In August 2000, H J Sternbeck Lions’ Park was officially opened in Cessnock to mark Harold’s contribution to his community.
- Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in January 1996 for services to conservation and to Local Government, through the Hunter Valley Conservation Trust/Hunter Catchment Management Trust and Cessnock City Council.
Council Service
- Elected as an Alderman of the Cessnock City Council in 1962 until 1987. During this period, he served as a Councillor of Northumberland County Council (Planning) and Hunter Valley County Council (Electricity).
Hunter Valley Conservation Trust / Hunter Catchment Trust Service
- Elected as a Local Government Trustee of the Hunter Valley Conservation Trust in 1968 – which later became the Hunter Catchment Management Trust. Elected Deputy Chairman in October 1972 and served continuously in that role until appointed Chairman from 1 January 1990 until the Trust was reformed to become the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in January 2004. The Hunter Valley Conservation Trust was a major semi-government authority responsible for land, water and soil conservation and catchment management in the Hunter Valley. It was the first such organisation in NSW and served as a model for others.
- Assisted in establishing the framework for the transition of the Hunter Trust into the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA in 2004.
- Founding Chairman of the Trust’s Williams River Total Catchment Management Committee which provided a strategic plan for natural resource management of a major water catchment for Newcastle (commended by Dr Peter Crawford as being the first of its kind in NSW).
- In the drought of 1992, chaired the first meetings of irrigators, coal mine representatives and government agencies who were ‘at war’ over the release of saline water by mines into the Hunter River. These meetings resulted in a co-operative trial release of saline water flushed by water from Glenbawn Dam and led to the establishment of the Hunter River Salinity Trading Scheme.
- In 2003 received the Thiess National Riverprize, on behalf of the Trust, for its achievements in co-ordinating catchment improvements throughout the Hunter at the International River Symposium held in Brisbane.
Floodplain Management Authorities Service
- A member of the Executive of the NSW Floodplain Mitigation Authorities (now the Floodplain Management Authorities) since 1972. Was elected as Chairman from 1991 until 1999, and Deputy Chairman from 2003 to 2004.
- As FMA Chairman, Harold led several deputations to lobby various Federal and State government ministers for better floodplain management funding. In pursuing FMA interest, Harold was able to meet many Ministers, including John Kerin, Simon Crean, John Howard, John Anderson, Mark Vaille, Mark Latham, Sen Bob Collins, Sen Ian MacDonald, Bob Carr, George Souris, Richard Amory and many others.
- During Harold’s period as Chairman, the FMA expanded from 39 to over 60 member Authorities, and funding from Commonwealth and State Governments increased from $5.6 million to $10 million per year.
- In 2005 was appointed the first Life Member of the Floodplain Management Authorities of NSW and continued until shortly before his passing to contribute to local, state and national floodplain management issues.
- In 2000, the Floodplain Management Authorities decided to award a medal at the Annual Conference of the FMA to the best paper presented provided that the paper showed excellence of the highest order. The medal was named “The Sternbeck Medal” in recognition of Harold’s contribution to floodplain management. Criteria for awarding the Medal include professional excellence of content, presentation of published paper, delivery of paper at the conference within the allocated time and handling of questions from peers. Harold presented the inaugural medal to the recipients.
