Birth of the Gould League

The Gould League of Bird Lovers was formed in 1909 with Prime Minister Alfred Deakin as its first President upon a suggestion, and generous donations, from school teacher Jessie McMichael. The Chairman of Australian Natives Association (now Australian Unity) was a close personal friend of Deakin and provided financial support to help grow the organisation. Gould League spread with NSW in 1910, Tasmania in 1920 and Western Australia in 1939.

Named to honour the work of John and Elizabeth Gould, the Gould League was established to address two distinct national concerns:

• the moral improvement of citizens
• the nation's economic environmental future.

The Patrons of the Organisation at foundation included:

• Hon. John Murray, Premier of Victoria
• Hon. A.A. Bilson, Minister of Public Instruction
• Mr. F. Tate, Director of Education

The Gould League's main activities during its formative years was in community education about the impact on nature of collecting eggs and using birds as a primary food source.

Children were the main egg-collecting culprits so, with the help of the Education Department, the Gould League established education programs in schools.

"[Schools are] an efficient way of reaching into nearly every home."
Frank Tate, Victorian Director of Education in early 1900s.

The organisation conducted its first community engagement program, National Bird Day, on October 29, 1909 to encourage children and their families to change their behaviours towards native birds. It was then introduced into schools as an educational bird club.

Gould League continued to expand its bird programs into other nature areas over the years, including sustainability areas of water, biodiversity, energy and waste, over the past several decades.

Gould Group History - Text Timeline

1909	Gould League of Bird Lovers formed Alfred Deakin, Australia's second Prime Minister, becomes first Gould League president.
1910	Gould League of Bird Lovers develops pledge style membership
1930	Certificate and pledge for children in Australian schools Bird and egg protection campaign results in major behaviour change
1940	Bird protection becomes part of the school curriculum
1967	Gould League of Bird Lovers shortens name to Gould League to reflect broader nature based education and conservation focus.
1969	Highly successful venture into publishing with Birds of Victoria
1972	Gould League introduces professional development for teachers
1974	First Gould League Education Officer appointed by Department of Education, Victoria
1980	Gould League provides nature education and provides original and creative curriculum materials.
1990	Gould League creates Australia's first Recycling Education Centre and travelling roadshow Regular and significant media exposure
1994	Gould League wins Banksia Foundation Environmental Award Gould League website developed - the first Australian environmental education website
1997	Highly commended - National Awards for Excellence in Interpretation Gould League wins Wilderness Society's Award for Children's Literature Gould League develops Waste Wise Schools program and secures Victorian Government support from Eco-Recycle and EPA
1998	EcoRecycle Waste Wise Schools Project launched
2000	Gould League promotes environmental literacy through publicatoin materials for schools. Over one-third of Australian primary schools have a copy of the Kids and Water readers. Gould League creates Sustainable Schools concept and approaches government for support
2001	Wildscape website wins Allen Strom Eureka Award for Environmental Education, and Silver and Bronze Omni International Intermedia Awards Numerous national and international awards recognising innovation and excellence
2002	Gould League commences Victorian Sustainable Schools Pilot after extensive efforts to secure government support and funding Gould League develops Flora for Fauna website for Nursery and Garden Industry Australia. Wins Silver Omni International Intermedia Award and International Web Page Award (IPWA)
2003	EcoRecycle Waste Wise Schools program wins Allen Strom Eureka Award for Environmental Education Over 1000 schools participate in Waste Wise Schools Program. Outcomes of the program are environmental, educational, social and economic.
2004	Gould League organises Australia's first School Grounds Development Forum Australian Wildlife Cams wins AIMA Award for Australian-first nature cams website Victorian Coastal Council Award for Excellence
2005	2005 Victorian Sustainable Schools Pilot Program wins Allen Strom Eureka Prize for Sustainability Education Education programs take whole school focus Winner, Education Category, Victoria's Awards for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs
2006	Gould Group Ltd launched Gould Group initiates business consultancy service
2007	Gould Group becomes first Australian finalist in international World Energy Globe Awards with the Waste Wise Schools Program funded by Sustainability Victoria.
2008	Sustainability Wiz - the world's first international online climate change education program, launched in partnership with Etech. Partnership established with Liverpool Plains Land Management Inc. Return to the name The Gould League
2009	Gould League Centenary Celebrations Commemorative Australia Post Songbird Stamp Issue and First Day Cover Excursion Programs Relaunched.