ONE of Australia's best known authors is coming to Airlie Beach.

Tim Winton (pictured) will be in town on Monday to celebrate 50 years of protecting Australia's oceans with the Australian Marine Conservation Society and Whitsunday Residents Against Dumping.

Mr Winton has had his 26 works published in 28 languages since receiving the Australian Vogel Award for his first book, An Open Swimmer, in 1981.

He is also a four-time winner of the Miles Franklin Award and has twice been short-listed for the Booker Prize.

Mr Winton has even been declared a Living Treasure by the National Trust.

When he's not writing, Mr Winton is an avid environmentalist and conservationist.

In 2002, he stunned many by donating the prizemoney from the Western Australian Premier's Award to the Save Ningaloo Reef Campaign - a substantial $25,000.

In 2011, the reef was listed as World Heritage by the United Nations, with AMCS putting no small portion of the thanks on Mr Winton's shoulders.

Monday's event will see the community and Mr Winton come together to recognise the achievements of environmental campaigners in fighting for better protection of our oceans.

Australian Marine Conservation Society reef campaigner Cherrie Muddle said the event was a chance to rejoice.

"It's a chance to come together as a community and reflect on all that we have achieved so far in our efforts to care for our oceans," she said.

Ms Muddle said there would be a special film screening on the night, showcasing the battle to improve the quality of our oceans.

"The event will include a screening of a home-grown film about our extraordinary seas and the inspiring people who look after them, as well as an update on the community's fight to save the Great Barrier Reef," she said.

Mr Winton, who is a patron of AMCS, has been an active campaigner for the group for more than a decade.

He first joined the group in his home state of Western Australia, becoming vice-president of the society's WA branch.

"Tim will share his reflections on his passion for the ocean and their importance to our well-being, our identity as well as for our unique wildlife," Ms Muddle said.

She said the evening was not just for those who were already fighting to protect the reef, but also for those who had a desire to get involved or become more informed.

"For anyone in the community who is feeling concerned about the future of our oceans, this event will be a great opportunity to come together with others in the community to find out what we've achieved so far and to join together and get the results our oceans need," she said.

Mr Winton will be speaking at the Whitsunday Arts and Cultural Centre (WACC) on Monday, May 18, at 5.30pm. 

The group Whitsunday Residents Against Dumping (WRAD) are calling on locals to put together poems, stories, songs, comics or other illustrations  titled 'My relationship with the reef', ahead of Monday's event. These must be , black and white on a sheet of A5 paper. They will be published in a book and presented to Mr Winton on the night. For more information email WhitsundayRAD@gmail.com.