Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group took out the Australian Government Excellence in Sustainable Farm Practices Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.

This award recognises an individual, group or organisation that has demonstrated excellence and leadership in implementing integrated land management practices to a farm property or properties that protect soils, water and vegetation. The award was presented by former Governor-General Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.

Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group was founded to improve water quality in the Baroon Pocket Dam, the most important source of water for the Sunshine Coast. The Group which supports 34 farms covering 1,961 hectares; delivers; agricultural, landslide, weed control, and dairy programs that have improved productivity for landowners while delivering broader environmental benefits.

Sustainable practices implemented by Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group’s programs have included fencing and revegetation of riparian zones, the installation of alternate livestock watering points and sustainable stream crossings, erosion and land instability repair, the removal of invasive weed species, and upgrades to effluent systems, feed pads and drainage. Key to the Group’s success has been their ability to convince landowners that productivity and sustainability were not mutually exclusive.
Peter Stevens was delighted to accept the award on behalf of Lake Baroon Catchment Care Group. “It’s great to receive recognition for all the years of work we put into this project. There are a lot of people that are going to be very proud of this amazing outcome.”

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.

Precision Pastoral won the Australian Government Innovation in Agriculture Land Management Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.

This award recognises a primary producer or enterprise for demonstrating innovation in agriculture land management through leadership or application that delivers improved natural resource management and farm productivity outcomes. The award was presented by former Governor-General Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.

Precision Pastoral developed pastoral management tools that help farmers integrate animal and pasture data, linking livestock performance to environmental conditions for more efficient pastoral management. Farmers making decisions about stocking rates or land management have used the Precision Pastoral Management Tools to give them a better understanding of groundcover trends and animal condition, as well as to reduce their monitoring costs.

Tim Driver was ecstatic to be presented the Australian Government Innovation in Agriculture Land Management Award. He said, “After seeing the fantastic work being done by others nominated in this category, it is truly an honour to receive this award on behalf of Precision Pastoral.”

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.

Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation won the Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards, which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.

This award recognises an innovative partnership of individuals, groups or organisations that have demonstrated leadership and achievement in Landcare related activities because of the partnership. The award was presented by former Governor-General Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.

Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation represents the Wurundjeri people, the Indigenous owners of the historical property “Coranderrk” in the Yarra Valley. Set up as an Aboriginal Reserve in 1863, Coranderrk closed in 1924. In 1999, the Indigenous Land Corporation purchased 80 hectares of the property, handing it to the Wandoon Estate. This purchase included the last remaining building on site.

Through partnerships with Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Wurundjeri Council’s Narrap Team, Yarra4Life project and its partners, Melbourne Water, and volunteer group – Friends of Coranderrk, Wandoon Estate’s sustainable farming practices have delivered productive beef cattle grazing, habitat restoration, and waterway management and protection. Coranderrk’s value extends beyond being a working farm, it’s an important habitat for native fauna, and as a place to bring Wurundjeri people together on country.

Jacqui Wandin was surprised to receive this award and accepted it on behalf of the Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation. She said, “We are really proud to receive this award because we’ve spent years and years trying to improve the property and it’s really nice to be acknowledged. We believe it’s just our inherent responsibility to look after our property.”

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.

Kathleen Brack, regional Landcare program officer for the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) took out the Austcover National Young Landcare Leader Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.

This award recognises an individual between the ages of 15 and 35 who demonstrates leadership and a commitment to improving land management practices through practical action or creating community awareness.

After just three years in the role Kathleen has changed the way the Landcare story is being told in the region. She has created new messages and found innovative ways of engaging with her community.

Keen to attract more young people to Landcare, Kathleen ran an Intrepid Landcare Retreat at Wilsons Promontory for 20 people aged 18 to 35. She targeted younger people through her effective use of technology and social media, including using Facebook to create an online network of young people interested in Landcare in West Gippsland, where followers are able to share job opportunities, information on relevant field days, and feature case studies highlighting their concerns and barriers to adaption.

With the aim of explaining the social and community benefits of Landcare, Kathleen recently conducted a social return on investment study on a Merriman Creek Landcare Group project. This study found that for every dollar spent on a Landcare project, there is at least a $3.41 return in social value.

As part of her role as a project officer for the South Gippsland Landcare Network, she has also managed and inspired Landcare groups, including being a driving force in the creation of the South Gippsland Equine Landcare Group. She assisted in consulting with the community on the type of support horse owners in South Gippsland would prefer, empowering the public to take on the group.

The list of her achievements benefitting the local Landcare community is vast and she is an impressive role model and a true young Landcare leader. Kathleen said, “Landcare is such an amazing grass roots movement and I’m thrilled to receive this award.”

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

BirdLife Australia Gluepot Reserve took out the Fairfax Media Landcare Community Group Award last night at the 2018 National Landcare Awards which were held at the Brisbane Conference & Exhibition Centre.

This award celebrates an outstanding community group that is working towards sustainable land use or is undertaking on-ground action to protect, enhance or restore an area on behalf of the community.

BirdLife Australia Gluepot Reserve is Australia’s largest community managed and operated conservation reserve. Situated 64 km from the River Murray in South Australia’s Riverland, the reserve is managed and operated entirely by volunteers. Some 54,000 hectares in size, it is home to 22 nationally threatened species of birds, 53 species of reptiles and 12 species of bats, some of which are nationally threatened.

By successfully combining the elements of biodiversity conservation and enhancement through land management, scientific research and monitoring, environmental education and sustainable ecotourism, Gluepot Reserve has taken conservation management into a new era. The Reserve is providing an international model to show that sustainable use of the landscape is both feasible and desirable.

Duncan MacKenzie was excited to receive the award on behalf of Birdlife Australia Gluepot Reserve. “It’s an honour to be receiving this award, and it’s really encouraging to know that our work is being recognised by the Landcare community.”
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.