Winners of the 2022 National Landcare Awards Announced
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.”
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.
