December 1:

Next week, Coastcarers will come together to celebrate their work restoring, enhancing and protecting our coastal and marine environments for 2022 Coastcare Week 2022 (December 5-11).

With a changing climate leading to sea level rise, warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and more extreme weather events, Coastcare Week gives Coastcarers the opportunity to showcase their increasingly important work, and encourage Australians from all walks to life to get involved in coastcare this summer.

This year Coastcare Week is being supported by renowned Australian street artist, freelance illustrator, muralist and designer Mulga (Joel Moore), whose iconic summer inspired artworks showcase Australia’s beach spirit. An avid beach-goer and surfer, Mulga said he was thrilled to throw his support behind the thousands of Coastcarers keeping our beaches, coastlines and marine environments clean and healthy.

“I’ve always had a connection to the beach, not just from surfing but because it’s where I really kicked off my art career; the beach is literally my favourite place,” said Mulga, whose first large-scale mural was painted at Bondi Beach in 2012.

“Australia has some of the best beaches and coastlines ever but sometimes us peeps need to get together to keep them looking snazzy, ’cause who wants to see garbage at the beach, not me that’s for sure.”

“It’s sweet to be able to support the awesome work of Coastcarers across Australia, and it’ll be great to see people getting out there and taking action this Coastcare Week.”

Throughout the week, Coastcarers will celebrate and share word of their numerous achievements including in dune protection, revegetation of native coastal environments, protection of endangered coastal species habitats, and much more.

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish said he was excited to see the range of stories and events celebrating their successes, and hoped it would encourage others to join with them to take action for our coastal and marine environments.

“The intensifying impacts of climate change on our coastlines is making community stewardship of our natural and cultural marine and coastal environments increasingly important. Coastcare’s greatest asset has always been its people, and across Australia there are over 500 Coastcare groups made up of thousands of volunteers all putting into action long-term, practical solutions for environmental issues in their local area,” said Dr Norrish.
“Coastcare is so much more than taking action for our coastal and marine environments, however. It’s also about bringing people together, building resilience and working towards a common goal. With such a wide range of work going on across Australia, this is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on our Coastcare heroes, their outstanding community and environmental impacts, and inspire more people to get involved.”

Coastcare Week celebrations will kickstart the ‘Summer Up with Coastcare’ campaign – showcasing inspirational Coastcare groups as well as Coastcare events, such as community planting days and beach cleanups, being held throughout summer.

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October 3:

Landcarers across Australia are celebrating their outstanding achievements for bushfire affected environments and communities following the completion of the landmark $14 million Landcare Led Recovery Grants Program.

Managed in partnership between Landcare Australia, the National Landcare Network and the peak Landcare State and Territory organisations, the program saw almost 66,000 Australians- including over 10,000 volunteers, working together to deliver 111 community-driven projects in bushfire affected areas across the east coast and South Australia.

With project successes ranging from Upper Snowy Landcare discovering the best eucalyptus seed sources for future bushfire recovery efforts through climate testing, to the South Australian Museum’s research data leading to the Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider being listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act, the program has had an overwhelmingly positive impact across some of Australia’s most heavily bushfire affected regions.

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish applauded the outstanding results, saying that it demonstrated the incredible power of landcare and its partners across the country.

“Forming effective partnerships is what landcare does best, and the Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants program really highlights our unbeatable impact when we unite to take action,” said Dr Norrish.

“By bringing together a diverse range of expertise and experience from multiple stakeholders, this program has delivered practical, innovative and science driven projects utilising cutting-edge technology including artificial intelligence, drone monitoring and DNA science.”

“This program has proved invaluable to bushfire recovery for countless species, environments and communities. I could not be more impressed and look forward to seeing what the partnerships established through this program continue to achieve in future.”

As part of the program, a joint study undertaken by University of Melbourne and Federation University into the social impacts of post-disaster environmental work indicated that landcare provided an opportunity to extend the reach of environmental recovery activities undertaken on public lands through their connections with landholders. Participants in the study identified the wide range of activities they had been involved in to support the recovery of the fire affected environment. This included monitoring fauna using motion sensor cameras and water sampling for eDNA, revegetating burnt areas, implementing pest control programs and providing appropriate supplementary food sources and shelter for native animals that had survived.

“Disaster recovery is often a long, complex and difficult process for those impacted. Our research found that community based environmentally focussed groups like landcare often embody evidence informed psychosocial support principles, such as helping people feel connected, hopeful and providing opportunities to actively participate in the recovery of the places they love,” said lead researcher Dr Kate Brady.

CEO of the National Landcare Network Jim Adams said that because of the positive community impact and scale of environmental recovery achieved, the program served as a testament of the strength of the community landcare movement.
“Our movement is driven the tens of thousands of landcarers across Australia who share their expertise and bring communities together to take action for their environments, and this program has really shown how effectively we can act at scale in disaster response and recovery,” said Mr Adams.

“The Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery Grants program showcases just how integral local landcare groups and volunteers are in delivering large-scale, nationwide projects and what can be achieved with additional support and funding.”

“The overwhelming success of these landcare-led projects shows the model is well placed to be scaled as required and tackle future disaster responses and deliver real action on the pressing climate and environmental challenges of our times,” said Mr Adams.

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September 6:

This September, host of Gardening Australia and Landcare champion Costa Georgiadis is joining forces with Junior Landcare to ask Aussie kids ‘What’s in your backyard?’

Junior Landcare understands that children can’t be involved in caring for the environment if they don’t love it – and one way to do this is for children to get their hands and feet in it. Throughout National Biodiversity Month and the school holidays, children are encouraged to grab a camera, or use a mobile phone camera, to capture photos of the flora and fauna in their backyard, and then share them with Costa and Junior Landcare, explaining why their backyard is important to them.

“We’re calling on all Aussie kids to get outside and explore their local environment,” says Costa. “Your backyard might be a garden. If you live in an apartment, your garden could be plants on your balcony. You may live near a park or bushland area, or a river or wetland. You may live on the coast close to the sea, or on a farm – these could all be your backyard!”

Children (via their parents, carers and educators) can submit photos to the Junior Landcare campaign website, under one of four themes including biodiversity, food production, First Nations perspectives and waste management, to be in the running to win one of nine cameras (RRP $250) and other great prizes. One school or youth group will also win a visit from Costa to check out their environmental projects.

Joining Costa as a campaign supporter and host of Channel 10’s The Living Room, Barry Du Bois, says that he wants his ten-year-old twins, Bennett and Arabella, to experience the same sense of wonder around nature that he had when he was young.

“As a young boy, I loved exploring the creeks, beaches, animals and secret hiding spots in my own backyard, and I want that for Bennett and Arabella. There’s something magical about nature, and the ‘What’s in your Backyard’ campaign will help kids to find that magic in their own backyards.”

‘What’s in your backyard?’ is a key activity of Junior Landcare’s Learning Centre. The online platform features fun, easy-to-use learning activities developed by education professionals to help children be aware, empowered and active in caring for their local environment.

The resources have all been designed to help children build knowledge and deeper connections to biodiversity, where their food comes from, recycling and waste management, and First Nations perspectives.

This year, together with First Nations educator, Wiradjuri man Adam Shipp, 10 new First Nations learning activities have been developed by Landcare Australia to teach children and educators about how to have a connection to Country.

“Young people play a vital role in caring for our environment, which needs all the help it can get! Junior Landcare gives children – no matter where they are across the country – the opportunity to understand nature, connect with it and take action to protect the world around them. With Junior Landcare, we are educating the next generation of Landcarers – and this starts with parents, carers and educators encouraging simple moments outdoors,” says Costa.

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PHOTOS HERE

AUGUST 24: Ten exceptional landcarers and landcare groups from across Australia have been named the winners of the prestigious 2022 National Landcare Awards.

Presented by landcare advocate and ABC gardening guru Costa Georgiadis in front of an audience of over 600 during the National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner at Sydney’s International Convention Centre tonight, award winners ranged from the Northern Territory’s Roper River Landcare Group’s work to combat local Neem infestations to Tasmania’s young landcare leader Yanti Winoto-Lewin for launching the highly successful Friends of Franklin Forest group.

This year’s landcare champions were selected from 61 finalists, with another six nominees up for the 2022 General Jeffrey Soil Health Award and the prestigious 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award.

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish applauded the work of all the winners, saying that their range of innovative and impactful projects across multiple landscapes highlighted the diversity of landcare across Australia.

“From urban cities to the outback and from the coast to the country, these award winners showcase the wide range of impressive landcare work being done across Australia. I’m thrilled to be able to join them to celebrate their success and inspire more people to get involved in landcare,” Dr Norrish said.

“These have been a tough few years for landcarers, and the winners deserve special commendation for their extraordinary leadership and innovation in the face of adversity. Their achievements embody the strength, resilience and community spirit of all landcarers across Australia and make me proud to be a part of this incredible movement.”

Minister for Agriculture Senator Murray Watt commended the award winners on their outstanding achievements, saying the Australian Government was proud of such inspiring landcare leaders.

“These awards recognise the tireless work of landcarers across the country, many of whom have dedicated their lives to conserving the environment, improving land management practices and giving back to their communities,” Minister Watt said.
“Whether they be groups, partnerships or individuals, each one of these winners has overcome the challenges thrown their way to deliver fantastic landcare outcomes. I am in awe of their unwavering commitment to landcare, and I am honoured to congratulate them on their outstanding success.”

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Please find the list of winners below:

2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award: Bruce Maynard (NSW)
Bruce Maynard is an agricultural innovator and inventor of the No Kill Cropping System, a unique, revolutionary technique that relies on the retention of full grassland functions resulting in the consumption of almost no external inputs. He also initiated the Constructive Farming Cooperative and is the developer of the Stress Free Stockmanship competencies.

2022 General Jeffrey Soil Health Award: Dr Oliver Knox (NSW)
Dr Oliver Knox is a passionate soil heath advocate, researcher and Associate Professor of Soil Systems Biology at the School of Environmental and Rural Science at the University of New England. He has been instrumental in driving the Soil Your Undies program which seeks to improve Australians’ understanding of the importance of soil health.

Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award: Walter Mayr (QLD)
Wal Mayr has been a dedicated Landcarer for over 40 years, is the coordinator of Austinville Landcare and the President of Watergum, the umbrella Group for Landcare groups in the Gold Coast Region. Since the 1970’s Wal and his wife have restored their remote 25ha degraded property back to its original rainforest habitat, protecting the land in perpetuity as Blue Fig Creek Nature Refuge.

Australian Government Landcare Farming Award: Sylvia Leighton and Peter McKenzie (WA)
Together Silvia Leighton and Peter McKenzie are dedicated to using regenerative farming methods to make their 1214ha property, Wilyun Pools Farm, more sustainable. Through adopting the three pillars of Landcare and Regenerative Agriculture – healthy environment, healthy society, and healthy economy, they have contributed to a network of like-minded landholders.

Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award: Australian Association of Bush Regenerators (NSW)
Following the 2019-20 bushfires the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators developed numerous partnerships to support volunteers in restoration works, including their First Aid for Burned Bushland (FABB) initiative that developed resources to provide best practice guidance for assisting in the recovery of bushland and matched experienced bush regenerators to sites in need.

KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award: Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Narrap Team (VIC)
The Narrap Unit has had a significant impact on Natural Resource Management (NRM) within Wurundjeri country by bringing indigenous land management practices back into use (including the reintroduction of cultural burns to the landscape). The current team of 20 full-time employees- all with a Cert III in Conservation Land Management, is expected to grow to 40 in the next year.

ACM Landcare Community Group Award: Roper River Landcare Group (NT)
Roper River Landcare Group (RRLG) consists primarily of landowners, land managers, and residents committed to monitoring, maintaining and improving the Roper River catchment and its natural values in the Mataranka Region. Recently they have been addressing Neem infestations that are directly threatening the region’s biodiversity, cattle industry and tourism industry.

Steadfast Young Landcare Leadership Award: Yanti Winoto-Lewin (TAS)
25 year-old ecologist Yanti Winoto-Lewin started Friends of Franklin Forest (FoFF) in June 2020 in an effort to stop Franklin Forest being logged. Thanks to the group’s work, the area has been removed from Sustainable Timber Tasmania’s harvesting schedule, with FoFF now running monthly ecology focused guided walks and undertaking environmental protection activities in the forest.

Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award: Ivanhoe Central School (NSW)
Ivanhoe Central School’s innovative ‘Outback Adventure Farm’ project encompasses sustainable living, healthy food choices, diet and nutrition. Students are encouraged to work together in all aspects of the farm from basic planting and picking at kindergarten level to more advanced mathematical equations, solutions, nutrition and building associated with running a farm enterprise.

Coastcare Award: Friends of Bass Strait Islands (TAS)
Wildcare group Friends of Bass Strait Islands, have been managing feral plant species including infestations of boxthorn and mirror bush on the off-shore islands in the Furneaux Islands and strategic coastal areas of Flinders Island. By undertaking meticulous weed control on over 250 hectares, they are contributing to securing penguin safety in the area.