April 27, 2021
Moreland City Council and Australian Energy Foundation have launched the Mike Hill Fellowship, a joint initiative to build local champions for action against climate change, created in tribute to prominent Moreland environmental figure Mike Hill.
Daisy Day was announced as the 2021 Mike Hill Fellowship recipient and will work on two energy innovation pilot projects in 2021, as part of the Moreland Energy Innovation Lab (MEIL); an education and advocacy program that encourages plumbers to replace hot water systems to move from inefficient gas and electricity to more efficient systems; and a project on devices in the home that connect to smart meters, so that residents can see their energy consumption during the day.
“I am very excited to have the opportunity to start my career in environmental sustainability in a way that supports my vision of creating community-driven change in the environment, and something ‘bigger than me’,” said Daisy.
“I am delighted to be partnering with local industry and community members on the two MEIL pilot programs – the results of which I hope will inspire future ‘zero carbon’ actions within Moreland.”
The Fellowship was officially launched on Wednesday, April 21 at the Coburg Civic Center.
Moreland Mayor Cr Annalivia Carli Hannan said the fellowship aims to provide future leaders with the opportunity to learn about social and environmental challenges in the local Moreland community and design solutions to solve them.
“The Mike Hill Fellowship was created to honor and continue the legacy and passion for environmental sustainability of former Moreland Mayor Mike Hill,” said Cr Carli Hannan.
“It celebrates the continued 20-year partnership between Moreland City Council and Australian Energy Foundation, or the Moreland Energy Foundation as it was known in Mike’s day.
“In partnership with AEF, we created the Moreland Energy Innovation Lab (MEIL) designed to help achieve our goals within the Moreland Zero Carbon 2040 Framework and to ensure the continuation of energy innovation best practices within Moreland . “
Daisy Day’s focus is on the Plumbing Industry Engagement project (PIEE), which aims to work closely with plumbers in the Northern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (NAGA) region, through the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Center (PICAC), Tradelink , Reece Plumbing and Master Plumbers. The project encourages plumbers to switch from inefficient gas and electricity to efficient systems, such as hot water heat pumps, when replacing hot water systems, which improves the outcome for the environment.
Mike Hill was a community leader, activist and visionary thinker on environmental sustainability and local government communities in Victoria. Throughout his career, Mike Hill was appointed to a variety of positions, including Mayor of Brunswick Council and inaugural Mayor of Moreland, overseeing the creation of CERES and Australia’s first recycling program; the creation of the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA); and was founding father of the Moreland Energy Foundation (now Australian Energy Foundation) as the first chairman of the board.
Image: Mike Hills Fellowship Recipient, Daisy Day
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