25 August 2022 | Leading soil health champion, educator and researcher, Dr Oliver Knox, has been announced as the recipient of the 2022 General Jeffery Soil Health Award for his outstanding efforts to embed learning and understanding of soil health – from the field to the classroom.

 Named in honour of Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, the late Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery, AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd), the Award recognises an individual’s work to champion, improve and/or educate others in soil health.

Dr Knox is an Associate Professor in Soil Systems Biology in the School of Rural and Environmental Sciences at the University of New England (UNE), where he reintroduced soil biology into the undergraduate syllabus in 2014.

As the CottonInfo technical lead in soil health since 2016, he has developed and delivered field workshops to land managers in the cotton production areas of Australia. He has also written numerous industry articles on soil health and land management, which have included how to access soil resources in NSW and Queensland.

Dr Knox has been instrumental in driving the Soil Your Undies soil health program in Australia. Adapting the idea from an educational campaign for farmers in Canada, Dr Knox brought the program to Australia and modified it to a postal and online citizen science challenge.

In the past two years, it has been undertaken in around 500 classrooms, educating an estimated 12,000 school children in soil health. Dr Knox intends to use the General Jeffery Soil Health Award to build on the success of the Soil Your Undies campaign.

Australia’s National Soils Advocate, the Honourable Penny Wensley AC, announced the recipient of the 2022 Award at the National Landcare Awards held at the International Convention Centre in Sydney last night (24 August).

“As Australia’s National Soils Advocate, I am very pleased to acknowledge Dr Knox’s work and through this $20,000 Award, support his continued education and engagement with the future guardians of Australia’s soil.

“General Jeffery attached particular importance to educating young people about soil and the multiple services healthy soils provide to the community, so he would be very pleased with this decision.

“With the recently-released 2021 State of the Environment report highlighting how the health of Australia’s soils continues to decline, the work of soil researchers, educators and champions like Dr Knox, has become even more important,” Penny Wensley said.

The General Jeffery Soil Health Award was established by the Office of the National Soils Advocate and is administered by Landcare Australia.

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Sylvia Leighton and Peter McKenzie win 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming Award

25 AUGUST: Dynamic sustainable farming duo Sylvia Leighton and Peter McKenzie were awarded the 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming award last night for their work on Wilyun Pools Farm, a 1214ha property near Wellstead on the south coast of Western Australia.

Using their wealth of scientific knowledge and experience in biology, ecology, community landcare and soil science, Sylvia and Peter have transformed Wilyun Pools Farm into locally recognised haven for biodiversity. The highly productive farm now boasts thriving wildlife corridors connecting to the remnant bush comprised of Kwongan shrubland, Swamp banksia, and Yate woodland communities.

“We’re humbled to receive the 2022 Australian Government Landcare Farming award for our work on Wilyun Pools Farm and hope that it inspires others to take action on their own patch,” Sylvia said.

“Wilyun Pools Farm is a testament to our whole community including Landcare WA, Southcoast NRM, Green Skills and the Noongar Elders, who have supported our work to restore health to this precious, biodiverse part of the planet.

“Revegetating Wilyun Pools Farm has taught us how much easier it has become to farm sustainably- if we can do it, others can do it too! It’s exciting to be in a new chapter for agriculture where being ecologically friendly is commercially valuable and commercially relevant.”

Minister for Agriculture Senator Murray Watt congratulated Sylvia and Peter on their achievements on Wilyun Pools Farm, saying they were paving the way for Australia’s sustainable farming future.

“Sylvia and Peter serve as an inspiration to the farming community across Australia. Their motto of ‘seeking balance’ exemplifies what landcare farming is all about: production, community and environment,” Minister Watt said.

“Thank you to Sylvia and Peter for your ongoing commitment to create a stronger, cleaner and greener agriculture industry here in Australia, and I look forward to hearing about the ongoing success of their work on Wilyun Pools Farm.”

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Wal Mayr wins 2022 Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award

25 AUGUST: Gold Coast landcare champion Wal Mayr has received top landcare honours, being announced as the winner of the 2022 Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award at the National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner in Sydney last night.

Mr 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 he 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.

“It’s an absolute honour to be here with my friends, family and amazing landcarers from across Australia to receive this award,” Wal said.

“To me this is a joint award – my wife Heather, the incredible landcarers at Austinville Landcare and the team and volunteers at Watergum have been with me every step of the way. It’s only by working together that we have created real momentum in maintaining and restoring the beautiful natural landscapes of the Gold Coast and hinterland.

“I am especially inspired and motivated by the young landcarers I have the privilege to work with, and am hopeful that this award shows them that by undertaking meaningful environmental work and combined with passion, energy and good management, we can realise our dream of changing society and making a positive environmental impact.”

Minister for Agriculture Senator Murray Watt acknowledged Wal’s extensive landcare work and lifelong commitment to giving back to the local environment and community.

“This is what landcare leadership looks like. Wal’s initiative, drive and outstanding accomplishments are an inspiration to landcarers across Australia,” Minister Watt said.

“I congratulate Wal and his family, along with Landcare Austinville and Watergum on the wide range of fantastic landcare projects they continue to deliver for the Gold Coast region, and look forward to hearing about their ongoing success.”

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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.

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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.”

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