National Children’s Ambassador Daniel Clarke

Daniel Clarke is a bright, energetic and determined 12 year old who has a passion for saving the Orangutans of Borneo & Sumatra. Daniel has an infectious personality which engenders trust and enthusiasm amongst his peers as well as adults alike.

Over the past two years of passionately raising money to save the orangutan Daniel has raised over $15,500 and has brought an awareness to the plight of the orangutan to all Australians. The Australian Orangutan Project proudly made Daniel their National Children’s Ambassador in 2007, 2008 & 2009 and is continuing to support Daniel in his quest to educate all of the children in Australia by establishing a National Education Program called “Colour it Orange”.

If you would like to see more of Daniel and his trip to Borneo please download and watch his motivational video (10 min).

SCHOOL

Terrey Hills Public School, NSW, Year 6, (Prefect). Academically Daniel is one of the brightest children in his year and is already generating support for his cause amongst his peers and the wider community.

DIAGNOSIS

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy. Daniel’s wheelchair serves no boundary for this young man who is determined to not only make a difference to our planet but show people the only boundaries we make are in our minds.

DANIEL’S GOALS FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS

1. To organise fund raising projects (Orang-a-thon) in all Australian primary and high schools to raise awareness, and funds, regarding the conservation of habitat in Indonesia to ultimately protect the Orangutans, by;
2. Primary Schools: Raise funds through the running of a regular, sponsored sporting events.
3. High Schools: Research projects on the use of palm oil as palm oil plantations are the primary reason why their habitat is being destroyed.
4. To raise $100,000 through his website at www.everydayhero.com.au/ danielclarke (All proceeds go to the Australian Orangutan Project)

MEDIA

Daniel has had many media engagements from an early age;

Orang-a-thon (Orangutan conservation)

• Tim Bailey’s weather spot (April, 2008)
• Manly Daily, Melbourne Age, SMH, Channel 7 News.

Spastic Centre

• 5 x Channel 10 Weather with Tim Bailey
• CP Awareness Week (Every Year)
• CP Awareness Campaign; “When I grow up I want to be…” Daniel wants to be a scientist so he was able to meet with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

Spastic Centre & Disabled Winter Sports Association

• Participated in the Winter Sports Program to show families with
• disabled children how to participate at the snow. (Channel 7 Sunrise Program with Grant Denyer)

State Government DISability Launch

• Featured at Media Launch (Mr. John Della Bosca MP)
• Featured, with his brother William, at the “International Day of People with a Disability” media launch.

Variety Australia

• Sydney Radio Mix106.5 Variety Club Radiothon

Starlight Children’s Foundation

• Appeared on Kerri-Anne Kennerly’s 9am Show (Channel 9)
• As well as many magazines and newspaper articles around Australia

DANIEL’S PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

• The Australian Prime Minister, Hon. John Howard visited Daniel at his home in Terrey Hills to pledge an
• additional $200k to the Australian Orangutan Project to save the Orangutans.
• Received a personally signed letter from the Honorable John Howard pledging $500,000 towards the conservation of orangutans in Indonesia as a result of meeting Daniel.
• Daniel is the official Children’s Ambassador for the Australian Orangutan Project.
• Sponsored Orangutan (“Lydia”) through Australian Orangutan Project.
• Has encouraged 10+ of his friends to also sponsor an orangutan.
• Organised a major fund raising event (Orang-a-thon) with his School Principal in April 2008 and other schools in his local area. (Raised $5,500)
• Met with Primatologist Jane Goodall on her Australian visit in October, 2008
• Met with Leif Cocks, Founder of Australian Orangutan Project (AOP) and Dr Willie Smits, Founder Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Project.
• In November 2008 Daniel and his family travelled to Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan, Borneo to see orangutans in the wild.

ASPIRATIONS

• Save the Orangutans from extinction
• Represent Australia at Paralympics in Cycling (Tricycle)
• Represent Australia at Paralympics in Equestrian

HEROES

• Steve Irwin
• Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
• George Gregan, Australian Wallabies

SPORTING INTERESTS

• Rugby Union
• Horse Riding
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Tricycle Riding

PERSONAL INTERESTS

• Wildlife / Nature
• Conservation
• Computers
• Science
• Cars