Dig in and nominate now for the 2022 General Jeffery Soil Health Award
November 22 2021:
Do you know someone in Australia who is helping improve soil health and inspiring others? Nominations for the 2022 General Jeffery Soil Health Award open on World Soil Day, 5 December 2021.
Now in its second year, the award recognises the work of people who care for soil health and who are educating or inspiring others to do so.
Individual farmers, land managers, extension specialists or educators may be nominated for activities including undertaking and promoting good management practice, raising awareness about the importance of maintaining and improving soil health, and/or educating others about soils.
The Award honours and perpetuates the memory of Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, the late Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery AC, AO (Mil), CVO, MC (Retd), who died in December 2020.
“Healthy soils are critical for human health and security and the health of our environment. This award was created to honour the soil health champions in our community. It recognises the outstanding achievement and individuals whose work is making a significant difference in the way we think about and manage Australia’s soils.” said the Honourable Penny Wensley AC, National Soils Advocate.
Ms Wensley had high praise for Western Australia’s Emerita Professor Lynette Abbott, who was the recipient of the inaugural General Jeffery Soil Health Award in 2021.
“Professor Abbott is a pioneering researcher and science communicator who established the innovative ‘Know Your Soil Biology’ workshops for farmers. Across a 40-year career she has shared her extensive knowledge with students and farmers and has international standing as a first class researcher and educator,” Ms Wensley said.
“Soil health improvement is increasingly recognised as an important component of Landcare. If you are, or someone you know is, doing great work in this area we encourage you to nominate for this prestigious national award,” said Dr Shane Norrish, CEO, Landcare Australia.
Nominations close Sunday 17 April, 2022. Finalists will be announced in June with the Award winner: announced at the 2022 National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner in Sydney on Wednesday, 24 August 2022. The Award winner will receive a trophy and a $20,000 cash prize to continue their work.
The General Jeffrey Soil Health Award was established in 2020 by the Office of the National Soils Advocate within the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The award is administered by Landcare Australia.
