Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation takes out national Landcare award
This award recognises an innovative partnership of individuals, groups or organisations that have demonstrated leadership and achievement in Landcare related activities because of the partnership. The award was presented by former Governor-General Major General the Hon. Michael Jeffery.
Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation represents the Wurundjeri people, the Indigenous owners of the historical property “Coranderrk” in the Yarra Valley. Set up as an Aboriginal Reserve in 1863, Coranderrk closed in 1924. In 1999, the Indigenous Land Corporation purchased 80 hectares of the property, handing it to the Wandoon Estate. This purchase included the last remaining building on site.
Through partnerships with Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, Wurundjeri Council’s Narrap Team, Yarra4Life project and its partners, Melbourne Water, and volunteer group – Friends of Coranderrk, Wandoon Estate’s sustainable farming practices have delivered productive beef cattle grazing, habitat restoration, and waterway management and protection. Coranderrk’s value extends beyond being a working farm, it’s an important habitat for native fauna, and as a place to bring Wurundjeri people together on country.
Jacqui Wandin was surprised to receive this award and accepted it on behalf of the Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation. She said, “We are really proud to receive this award because we’ve spent years and years trying to improve the property and it’s really nice to be acknowledged. We believe it’s just our inherent responsibility to look after our property.”
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.
