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.

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.