Landcare Australia is inviting nominations for the 2019 State and Territory Landcare Awards which recognises individuals and groups across the country for their outstanding contributions to preserving the unique Australian landscape.

In 2019, Landcare celebrates its 30-year national anniversary. And over the last three decades, Landcare has played a leading role in changing Australia’s approach to sustainable agricultural practices, environmental protection, conservation of land and waterways, coastlines and biodiversity.

The Landcare Awards are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate Landcare champions from rural and urban communities motivated by a shared vision to restore and protect the environment in their local community.

Federal Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie said the awards also recognised the valuable work of land carers and farmers who work towards delivering sustainable agriculture outcomes.

“Landcare shows the very best of Australian sustainable agricultural practices,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The Landcare Awards help promote these practices, which contribute to a successful balance to support Australian agriculture for generations to come.”

For over 20 years, the Landcare Awards has celebrated those working towards sustainable land use and undertaking on-ground action to protect, enhance or restore an area on behalf of the community.

Landcare Australia CEO Shane Norrish says it’s a chance to celebrate the achievements of those leading the wider community to engage and participate in managing the environment and natural resources in their local area.

Dr Norrish said: ‘There are so many people who have made a positive impact on improving land management practices. And these prestigious awards give us the chance to recognise and honour tireless volunteers making a difference.’

Landcare Australia encourages nominations from groups, networks and individuals involved in protecting and improving their local environment. They include:

• Sustainable farmers and farming systems groups
• Indigenous landcare groups and individuals
• Urban landcare groups including ‘Friends of’ and bushcare groups
• Coastcare, Rivercare, Dunecare groups and individuals
• Environmental groups
• Natural resource management agencies
• Local government
• Research agencies
• Agricultural co-operatives, industry associations, suppliers or individual primary producers
• Junior Landcare (including day care centres, primary and secondary schools, youth groups)
• Youth groups including Scouts and Girls Guides

Winners from the 2019 State & Territory Landcare Awards will go forward to the 2020 National Landcare Awards held during the 2020 National Landcare Conference. The National Landcare Awards ceremony also includes the Bob Hawke Landcare Award sponsored by the Australian Government.

Nine national award categories are now open for nominations:

• Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award
• Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award
• Australian Government Landcare Farming Award
• Australian Government Innovation in Agriculture Land Management Award
• Virgin Coastcare Award
• Australian Community Media Landcare Community Group Award
• Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award
• Indigenous Land Management Award
• Austcover Young Landcare Leader Award

To mark International Biodiversity Day on today, May 22, the National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia have called on the UN to adopt the Landcare approach to protect and preserve threatened eco-systems around the globe.

According to a United Nations report earlier this month, scientists claim ‘1,000,000 species are now threated with extinction and the health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever.’

The National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia agree it’s vital the UN adopt the Landcare approach to increase awareness of biodiversity issues.

‘Landcare embodies the theme of sustainable food production, landscape restoration and healthy living, from urban spaces to the back of Bourke,’ Peter Bridgewater, Chair of the National Landcare Network said.

He added: ‘In Australia we champion Landcare and all it’s done in the last 30 years. And if the UN had Landcare, it could embrace the obvious solutions to biodiversity threats that really work.’

Rachel Gatehouse, Acting Chair of Landcare Australia says that ‘over the past three decades, Landcare has successfully tackled the issue of biodiversity degradation and species extinction through its grass-roots community movement in Australia.’

She added: ‘And now is the time for the UN to adopt a similar program. It’s absolutely vital to the preservation of threated biodiversity across the planet.’

A New South Wales, biodynamic farmer and grazier last night won the prestigious Bob Hawke Landcare Award.

Charlie Arnott was honoured at the National Landcare Awards in Brisbane, where other finalists, Simon Falkiner from Victoria and Dr Graeme Stevenson from Tasmania were also recognised for their outstanding accomplishments and contribution to Landcare.

The award acknowledges a person who has; demonstrated a remarkable commitment to caring for the land, champions better practices, and gives their time to share knowledge with others so that they too can prosper. Charlie was awarded a $50,000 prize package to further develop his knowledge and skills in Landcare and sustainable land management practices.

Charlie was ecstatic to win the prestigious award. “The other finalists, Graham and Simon, have made such huge contributions to Landcare, and both have had a positive impact working with their local communities. I was completely surprised when I heard my name being called out,” Charlie said. “It’s a real honour to have what I do for a living, my passion, being acknowledged and celebrated. I hope that by winning this award, I can inspire more famers to adopt organic and biodynamic practices on their properties so they too can also benefit from enhanced landscape biodiversity, healthy plants and animals, just as we do. Being able to facilitate more on farm workshops and training for farmers and others interested in biodynamics is another opportunity this award presents.”

Charlie practices; regenerative farming, organic, biodynamic and holistic grazing principles on his 5000 acre mixed farming property, Hanaminno, at Boorowa, NSW.

Charlie has won several agricultural industry awards for leadership, resource management and conservation. He has been an active Landcarer since the inception of the Landcare movement in 1989, with previous roles in all levels of Landcare, from district groups to the Sustainable Farming ambassador for Landcare Australia.

Charlie is passionate about growing clean healthy meat, which he sells direct to customers and butchers under his brand Charlie Arnott Natural Grass Fed Meat.

Charlie’s approach and practice of biodynamic and holistic principles demonstrate every aspect of the Landcare ethic.

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award was delivered by Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network in partnership with the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

For more information on the 2018 Bob Hawke Landcare Award visit bobhawkelandcareaward.com.au.

Clean4SHore won the coveted People’s Choice Award last night at the National Landcare Awards in Brisbane. Clean4Shore was chosen above 64 other national finalists by receiving the most votes from the Australian public in an online poll in the lead-up to last night’s award ceremony. It is the only award among all 11 handed out that is voted on by the public and not a judging panel.

Clean4Shore leads up to 70 field trips a year, engaging the community, schools, disability, indigenous and business groups in the removal of plastic and polystyrene around the Hawkesbury River, Brisbane Waters and Tuggerah Lakes in New South Wales.

Graham Johnson was very excited to win this esteemed award. “I’m very proud that Landcarers have voted for litter management. I have a great support group from my Facebook page, and from people that follow our program and are willing to get out there and do something about the litter in our waterways,” Graham said. “So for us this is a pretty big achievement. It makes it all worthwhile.”

Volunteer groups led by Clean4Shore remove garbage from waterways while simultaneously educating themselves about the Central Coast foreshores and mangroves. Corporate partners attending Clean4Shore field trips have also learnt about the effects of marine litter. This growing awareness has been reflected in evaluation reports, corporate feedback and fundraising. In 2016, 554 volunteers participated in 67 field trips, with 182,800 litter items removed.

Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish commended the People’s Choice Award winner and acknowledged their hard work and triumphs.

“It’s an honour to present the People’s Choice Award as it showcases who in the Landcare community has made the biggest impact on the Australian public,” Shane said. “To be selected as the winner amongst 65 finalists is a huge feat and incredibly inspiring.”

The National Landcare Awards are part of this year’s three-day National Landcare Conference, which finishes today, 12 October 2018. The conference provides the Landcare community with an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and share knowledge. For more information on the National Conference and Awards go to
nationallandcareconference.org.au.

Winners across nine diverse categories from sustainable farm practices to Junior Landcare, were announced at the National Landcare Awards gala dinner last night, which was emceed by ABC Landline host, Pip Courtney.

All finalists case studies and photos by category are available at nationallandcareconference.org.au/awards.

The National Landcare Awards is delivered by Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network in partnership with the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Boorowa grazier David Marsh took out the Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.

This award celebrates a Landcare volunteer who has demonstrated leadership in, and commitment to improving land management practices through practical on-ground or community awareness activities. The award was presented by former Governor-General Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.

David is acknowledged for alerting primary producers to the fact that a healthy catchment and long-term profitability go hand in hand. He was pivotal in the early establishment of the Landcare movement, and David’s property Allendale has long been a proving ground for sympathetic land management.

David’s on-ground practices have been hugely influential in educating other landholders, and since 1989 the Marsh family has hosted thousands of visitors to their property. David was one of the first people in the Boorowa district to use direct seeding techniques for planting trees. Other landholders noticed that early revegetation work was reducing salt scalds and preserving the biodiversity of the land. The Canberra Ornithologists Group carries out bird surveys onsite, evaluating the success of plantings to create habitat for threatened species.

David Marsh was delighted to win the Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award. He said, “Receiving this award is very humbling but also makes me feel very proud to be recognised in a roomful of peers who are all doing wonderful things.”

Landcare Australia CEO, Dr Shane Norrish, commended the National Landcare winners on their outstanding accomplishments.

“It’s an honour to be able to recognise the great work being carried out by our Landcare champions,” Shane says. “The national Landcare awards offers landcarers the ideal opportunity to get together and celebrate the individual and collective achievements of the community. Landcarers across Australia deserve to be acknowledged and praised”.

Winners across nine diverse categories from sustainable farm practices to Junior Landcare, were announced at the National Awards gala dinner last night, which was emceed by ABC Landline host, Pip Courtney.

The National Landcare Awards are part of this year’s three-day National Landcare Conference, which finishes today, 12 October 2018. The conference provides the Landcare community an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and share knowledge. For more information on the National Conference and Awards go to
nationallandcareconference.org.au.

All finalists case studies and photos by category are available at nationallandcareconference.org.au/awards.

The National Landcare Awards is delivered by Landcare Australia and the National Landcare Network in partnership with the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.