Inventor of the No Kill Cropping System takes home landcare’s most prestigious award

25 AUGUST: NSW farmer and landcare legend Bruce Maynard has received landcare’s highest honour, being announced as the winner for the 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award at the National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner in Sydney last night.

Mr Maynard is the inventor of the No Kill Cropping System, a unique, revolutionary technique that relies on the retention of full grassland functions and consumption of almost no external inputs. He also initiated the Constructive Farming Cooperative- a group of farmers and researchers committed to extending the application of regenerative agricultural techniques, developed the Stress Free Stockmanship competencies, and pioneered a new field of animal behavioural science called Self Herding alongside Dr Dean Revell.

“The biggest challenge facing Australian farmers today is to integrate sustainable environmental practices with a practical, profitable production system. I’m proud to accept the Bob Hawke Landcare Award for making that challenge a little bit easier,” Mr Maynard said.

“No Kill Cropping is a game changer for sustainable farming because it lets farmers change easily and quickly between a grazing enterprise and cropping enterprise in the one paddock.”

“I really believe that farmers have the opportunity to work together to address some of the greatest pressures facing us globally such as climate change and species decline. I hope that my work will inspire others to begin their own sustainable farming journey and contribute to a greener future for Australian farming.”

Minister for Agriculture Senator Murray Watt announced the award and said he was impressed by Mr Maynard’s groundbreaking accomplishments and dedication to sustainable agricultural practices across Australia.

“Bruce exemplifies the valuable work being done by the farmers who are taking environmental sustainability seriously and making innovative improvements to their farm practices,” Minister Watt said.

“Whether they be to improve land, soils, vegetation, biodiversity, or animal welfare, our agricultural practices impact everyone. Bruce’s scalable, forward-thinking approach to agriculture is exactly what we need to build resilience and improve environmental and community outcomes.”

“Congratulations to Bruce for his work and well-deserved win of the 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award. I look forward to following his future achievements.”

The winner of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award is presented with a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to landcare.

Media Contact

Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Narrap Unit win 2022 KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award

25 AUGUST: Champion Indigenous landcarers, Victoria’s Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation Narrap Unit, have been announced as the winners for the 2022 KPMG Indigenous Land Management Award at the National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner last night.

The Narrap Unit cares for Wurundjeri Country by blending conventional environmental conservation and land management methods with Wurundjeri cultural practices, and is currently one of the only Traditional Owner groups within Australia delivering Natural Resource Management (NRM) services in the open market. Due to their incredible work and demand for their services, 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.

“We’re honoured to accept this award which acknowledges the benefits thousands of years of cultural knowledge brings to land management here in Australia,” said Narrap Unit Manager and Wurundjeri Elder, Sean Hunter.

“Providing our people with meaningful, secure employment where they can not only connect with Country but elevate the cultural ecological values of Country and Aboriginal perspectives, has never been more important.”

“We hope our work will inspire young Aboriginal people across Australia to pursue a future in conservation and land management, and join us in our commitment to restoring and managing the health of Country.”

KPMG Australia Chief Purpose Officer Richard Boele who presented the award congratulated the Narrap Unit on their achievements, saying their success demonstrated why First Nations leadership in land management was critical for the future of conservation in Australia.

“The Narrap Unit are champions in Indigenous land management. First Nations people were the first landcarers and are the custodians of over 40,000 years of knowledge and the Narrap Unit’s incredible achievements show exactly why indigenous land managers are essential for ensuring positive conservation outcomes across Australia,” said Mr Boele.

“I congratulate all the members of the Narrap Unit on their well-deserved win and their outstanding success in landcare. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to Country and the community.”

Media Contact

Australia’s top three landcare champions revealed

9 AUGUST 2022: Landcare Australia has announced the three finalists for the prestigious 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award today- all outstanding leaders and innovators in a diverse range of landcare projects.

Inspired by the former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, the Bob Hawke Landcare Award is Landcare’s most coveted, national award. Now celebrating its 10^th anniversary, the award recognises landcare leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to natural resource management and sustainable agriculture.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Murray Watt, said that he was impressed by the calibre of this years’ finalists and their groundbreaking accomplishments in landcare.

“The work of Dr Retallack, Mr Maynard and Mr Bassett could not be more important. These finalists are the landcare leaders and innovators that are paving the way for Australia’s sustainable farming future,” said Minister Watt.

“Their achievements show exactly why farmers, graziers and land managers across Australia need to be part of the conversation on how to address the climate crisis and improve sustainability. Their forward-thinking approach to agriculture is exactly what we need to build resilience and improve environmental outcomes.”

“Bob Hawke elevated landcare from a grass-roots community initiative to a national movement, and the Bob Hawke Landcare Award is important in highlighting the valuable work being done by the farmers who are taking environmental sustainability seriously and are eager to learn new ways to improve their farm practices.”

“I congratulate every one of these finalists for their incredible success.”

The winner of the 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award will be announced at the 2022 National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner on August 24, and awarded a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to landcare.

Media Contact

Finalists for the 2022 Bob Hawke Landcare Award are:

Dr Mary Retallack (SA): Dr Mary Retallack has dedicated her life to the pursuit of environmental stewardship by sharing the practical skills needed to employ ecological restoration in vineyards throughout Australia. As an experienced agroecologist, scientist, and third-generation viticulturist, Dr Retallack has pioneered the use of native insectary plants in and around production systems and currently runs the National Landcare Smart Farms Small Grants funded EcoVineyards program, in collaboration with the Wine Grape Council of SA and more than 60 partnering organisations. Launched in SA, the highly successful program has recently received funding from Wine Australia to roll out a National EcoVineyards Program and is actively influencing the wine growing practices of more than 6,000 grape growers that collectively manage more than 146,000 hectares of wine grapes throughout Australia.

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. Mr Maynard’s extensive experience and passion for sustainable agriculture and landcare has led him to share his knowledge and skills with farmers and landcarers across Australia and form the Constructive Farming Cooperative, a group of farmers and researchers committed to extending the application of regenerative agricultural techniques. In addition, his strong commitment to animal welfare has also led him to develop the Stress Free Stockmanship competencies, and pioneer a new field of animal behavioural science called Self Herding alongside Dr Dean Revell.

Geoff Bassett (NSW): Geoff Bassett is a nationally recognised specialist in regenerative agriculture and soil health and the founder of Farm Mojo, where he supports broad acre farmers across Australia to transition from contemporary chemical usage to working with natural systems. A professional farmer for over 40 years, Mr Bassett champions enhancing on-farm soil fertility through mineral balancing, microbiology, carbon sequestration and promoting biodiversity to increase net profitability and ensure long term environmental resilience to climate change. Passionate about providing achievable solutions to complex problems and improving economic and environmental outcomes in rural communities, Mr Bassett has worked extensively with Landcare groups across Australia for the last 35 years and is a project leader and research collaborator with The Carbon Farm and Southern Cross University.

4 AUGUST 2022: Finalists were announced today for the prestigious Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award, which recognises the significant impact a partnership between individuals, groups, networks or organisations in landcare-related activities has made as a result of working together.

The Award will be presented to one of eight finalists at the National Landcare Awards to be held in Sydney this August.

According to Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish, with the impact of a changing climate and natural disasters like drought, bushfires and flood, joining forces for landcare has never been as important.

“The finalists for this Award exemplify the power of partnership. By joining forces they have achieved significant outcomes when it comes to restoring, protecting or enhancing their local environment. Their joint efforts are to be commended and will no doubt serve as inspiration for others to work together to share knowledge and amplify their impact.”

The Award showcases the many forms that effective partnership can take, with partners ranging from conservation groups, councils and NGOs, to businesses, state government agencies and First Nations.

Minister for Agriculture, Sen the Hon Murray Watt, said the Australian Government was thrilled to see the fantastic outcomes achieved by landcare-led partnerships across Australia.

“Partnerships are critical, not only for improving agricultural sustainability and environmental health, but for bettering our personal and collective wellbeing,” said Minister Watt.

“I applaud the accomplishments of each of the award finalists. Their incredible work highlights why working together to improve agricultural, environmental and community outcomes is the keystone for securing Australia’s sustainable future.”

Media Contact

The full list of finalists includes:

ACT: The ACT Healthy Waterways partnership between the Southern ACT Catchment Group, Ginninderra Catchment Group, Molonglo Conservation Group and ACT Government

The ACT Healthy Waterways partnership is a joint initiative between the Southern ACT Catchment Group, Molonglo Conservation Group, Ginninderra Catchment Group and the ACT Government to improve the quality of water entering our lakes and waterways and flowing downstream into the Murrumbidgee River. The initiative provides community education about causes of stormwater pollution, how recently built water quality assets including wetlands, ponds and rain gardens filter pollution, and why the actions of residents are critical to improving water quality. The partnership supports ten new groups that have been formed to care for the new water quality assets and surrounding public land. The partnership aims to engage more Canberrans in urban Landcare, increase stormwater literacy, contribute to reduced stormwater pollution, and improve the amenity and ecological health of our waterways. Through this coordinated approach, residents living near a number of water quality assets have been provided an opportunity to learn about their purpose, structure and function, and many have become personally involved in their care.

NSW: Australian Association of Bush Regenerators

Many ecosystems across Australia were severely impacted from the 2019-20 bushfires due to the effects of prolonged drought. While extensive areas of vegetation are recovering well, others remain in trouble. Despite being challenged by COVID, the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators (AABR) successfully managed to develop partnerships to support volunteers who were undertaking restoration works, by helping them assess the impact their activities may have on the bushland. Through their First Aid for Burned Bushland (FABB) initiative and supported by a range of sponsors, AABR developed resources, including videos and webinars, to provide best practice guidance for assisting in the recovery of bushland and matched experienced bush regenerators to sites in need.

QLD: World Environment Day 2021

World Environment Day Festival is run by the Sunshine Coast Environment Council, the peak environmental advocacy body working to protect the Sunshine Coast environment. Reimagined in 2021 as a month-long program of events and activities, the festival comprised 22 event partners and 43 events showcasing ecosystem restoration projects throughout the region.

VIC: Northern Yarra Landcare Network in partnership with VicRoads

Northern Yarra Landcare Network and VicRoads worked together to achieve the treatment of 190 sites of invasive weeds along 14 kilometres of Melba Highway roadside in the Yarra Valley, to mitigate the ongoing threat to private properties and waterways. The sites ranged from small outbreaks to large infestations of up to 1,000 square metres.

TAS: Derwent Estuary Program

The Derwent Estuary Program is a partnership between state and local government and industry to make the Derwent a world class asset by sharing science for the benefit of nature, the economy and the community. The progam coordinates a range of projects aimed at restoring and promoting the Derwent estuary, and focus on four central themes: managing human pressures, protecting ecosystems, enhancing human uses, and promoting understanding, awareness and participation.

SA: Barossa Bushgardens

The Barossa Bushgardens aims to produce local provenance seed (i.e. seed bank) for use in revegetation projects and to provide a sanctuary for locally threatened species. Running since 2001, Barossa Bushgardens continues to demonstrate the successful partnerships between The Barossa Council, First Nations (Ngadjuri, Peramangk, Kaurna), the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board, local businesses, community organisations, NGOs, schools, tertiary institutions, Landcare groups and State Government agencies.

WA: Moore Catchment Council and Yued Community of Moora

The Moore Catchment Council (MCC) is a community led not-for profit organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving the health of the Moore River environment by communicating natural resource management and encouraging maximum sustainable use of resources. One of MCC’s key priorities has been to share Aboriginal knowledge and provide Working on Country opportunities with the local Yued community. This has led to a meaningful partnership between Moore Catchment Council and the local Yued community that has provided good outcomes for the local Shires (such as revegetation, rubbish removal, weed removal and education), local schools (learning opportunities such as traditional language learning, bush foods exploring, bush walks and stories), and tourism learning opportunities.

NT: Anindilyakwa Land Council Land and Sea Rangers and South32 GEMCO

The Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC), the ALC Land and Sea Rangers of Groote Eylandt and South32 have partnered to protect the local environment from biosecurity risks. Groote Eylandt, where South32’s Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) is based, is an island approximately 50 kilometres from the Northern Territory (NT) coastline that is recognised nationally and internationally for its outstanding ecological and conservation values. The partnership includes a Quarantine and Biosecurity Officer who manages a professionally trained sniffer dog, Edna, who inspects high-risk freight, vehicles and materials entering Groote Eylandt, as well as community freight delivery and sea transport services.

1 AUGUST 2022: Anticipation for the 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming Award is growing, with the complete list of finalists for the prestigious award announced today.

Ranging from the Desert Fruit Company’s organic, regenerative date farm in the Northern Territory to farmer-run grassroots organisation Agriculture Kangaroo Island in South Australia, pioneers in landcare-led sustainable agriculture from across Australia will come together for the winner’s announcement at the 2022 National Landcare Awards on 24 August.

Landcare Farming Project Manager Angela Hammond said she was thrilled to see such a wide variety of projects reflecting the ongoing growth of Australia’s landcare-led agricultural movement.

“Australian farmers and graziers are enthusiastic landcarers, and the diverse range of finalists for this year’s Australian Government Landcare Farming Award showcases the incredible breadth of work happening in the agricultural industry,” said Ms Hammond.

“Innovative Landcare-led agricultural practices are paving the way for Australia’s sustainable farming future. Many of this year’s finalists have made a lifelong commitment to transforming their properties into the land management success stories they are today. I hope their work can inspire other primary producers around the country to follow their lead and join Australia’s flourishing and innovative sustainable farming movement”.

Minister for Agriculture, Sen the Hon Murray Watt, said that the Australian Government was proud of their ongoing support of the prestigious award which highlighted Australian farmers’ commitment to improving sustainability in agriculture.

“Australia is a leader in sustainable agriculture, and this award allows our farmers to be recognised for their fantastic achievements on a national stage,” said Minister Watt.

“Each one of these finalists has taken a different approach to sustainable agriculture, but all are overcoming unique challenges to show that when we improve land, soils, vegetation and biodiversity, we create a stronger, cleaner and greener agriculture industry.”

Media Contact

The full list of finalists includes:

ACT: Mount Majura Vineyard

Mount Majura Vineyard has demonstrated quality, environmental sustainability, innovation, community commitment, and leadership in wine production since planting its first vines in 1988. Using ecological knowledge and principles to make grape growing and winemaking more sustainable, they also engage with the local communities and the Canberra district winemaking community to share knowledge, experiences, and mutual support.

NSW: Martin Royds, Jillamatong and Tombarra

A fifth-generation beef cattle farmer from Braidwood, Martin Royds is passionate about working with nature, building resilience by increasing soil carbon on his land. To build knowledge regarding sustainable farming he has partnered with multiple organisations, and associations with Aboriginal leaders, and runs experiential training from his property “Tombarra”.

VIC: Andrew and Jill Stewart, Yan Yan Gurt West Farm

The Stewart’s are innovative community leaders who have adopted Landcare and agroforestry principles on their 230-ha farm ‘Yan Yan Gurt West’. By developing a whole farm plan that has seen woody vegetation coverage increase from 3% to 18%, they have tackled issues such as gully erosion, salinity, waterlogging and ecological decline.

TAS: Tim Reed, Wenlock Enterprises 

Over the past 7 years, Tim Reed has been working to improve his 232-acre beef farm in Rosevale, Tasmania, formally set stocked and conventional farmed, by switching to a new style of farming, a combination of sustainable, holistic and regenerative management.

SA: Agriculture Kangaroo Island

Formed in 1996, Agriculture Kangaroo Island (AgKI) is the premier body for agriculture on the Island, boasting 120 members. An organisation by farmers for farmers, AgKI puts sustainability and productivity first, ensures all its members are able to access best-practice information, and provides an on-ground connection to promote local uptake of landcare and government projects.

WA: Silvia Leighton and Peter McKenzie, Wilyun Pools Farm

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.

NT: The Desert Fruit Company

The Desert Fruit Company (DFC) is a cooperatively owned and managed, worker run, Australian date farm, located southeast of Alice Springs. Using organic, regenerative farming techniques including as nitrogen fixing cover crops, organic fertilisers and sprays, and microbial production for soil creation, the DFC is an exemplar of sustainable and regenerative agriculture from a remote business.

QLD: Nadia and Robert Campbell, Goondicum Pastoral Company and Goondicum Station

Joint owners of Goondicum Pastoral Company and Goondicum Station, Nadia and Robert Campbell have been operating under the ethos that agriculture can coexist in balance with the natural environment since the 1950s. Their work has turned the land around to the point where Goondicum Station now supports a variety of native regional ecosystems rich in Australian biodiversity.