Good morning Lisa and thank you for agreeing to this interview!
How would you describe yourself?
I am a daughter, sister, friend, partner, mother, earth-carer and eco-educator. I try to live by the ‘golden rule’ and include other beings in that ethic — to do to others, as I would have others do to me.
What would you say is your main identity?
[I’m an] eco-educator and zero waste advocate.
Who are some of your role models, people you respect and learn from?
Lyn Eggins, my friend’s mum, who first showed me a worm farm, [did] gardening with her class, lived an engaged spirituality and loved nature.
Also famous people, like
- Jane Goodall: passionate, hard-working to the end
- David Suzuki: a great teacher about how everything is connected: air, water, earth, fire (The Sacred Balance).
What are three main projects or goals you’re focusing on at the moment?
- Science, sustainability, gardening and cooking, at Kulnura Primary School
- The EARTHCARE game — small steps to save the planet
- KIMBRIKI Eco-education
Tell us a little more about your EARTHCARE game…
I am working on a new version with three Māori consultants — a Te Reo Māori edition — to mark fifty years since Bob Reynolds invented the CONSERVATION game in New Zealand.
What are some achievements you’re proud of?
- Being part of the Cash for Containers campaign to get 10 cent refunds on bottles and cans.
- Being mum to my two boys, now young men and good humans.
- Creating the EARTHCARE game (based on the NZ CONSERVATION game from 1976).
- Co-founding Kariong Eco Garden.
I love the Eco Garden and I need to go visit it again soon! Can you tell us a bit more about the very successful Cash for Containers campaign, Lisa?
In 2010 I began working as the Waste Campaigner at the Total Environment Centre and Boomerang Alliance — animating the Cash for Containers campaign, helping the community pressure the governments to introduce 10 cent container deposit systems, a plastic bags ban, single-use plastic bans — with letters, postcards, petitions, costumes, banners and random refund events.
If people want to get in touch with you, how can they?
#0429_431_889
Is there anything else you want to add, Lisa?
If anyone is keen to help reduce waste to landfill at Central Coast events, contact me to volunteer with the I.B.I.S. — Intelligent Bin Inspection Service. Kariong Eco Garden has IBIS vests, gloves and tongs.
Thank you so much for your time Lisa, and your manifold efforts in helping the environment!
If you’d like to support Lisa’s work, consider sharing this post and/or:
- Donating to Total Environment Centre: https://tec-eofy-appeal-may-2026.raiselysite.com
- Purchasing a copy of her Earthcare game: https://www.earthcaregame.org (makes a great gift for kids!)
Further reading:
https://www.earthtoseanews.com/woytopia
Cover portrait of Lisa Wriley is by ABC News
Photo by Julian de Wet on Pexels.com
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