The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) recently celebrated the Goulburn Broken Regional Landcare Awards.The awards, which were coordinated by the Goulburn Murray Landcare Network, were held at the Nagambie Reception Centre at Kirwans Bridge.
The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) recently celebrated the Goulburn Broken Regional Landcare Awards.The awards, which were coordinated by the Goulburn Murray Landcare Network, were held at the Nagambie Reception Centre at Kirwans Bridge.
"This event showcased the best of Landcare in the Goulburn Broken Catchment and for the first time we celebrated Landcare as a whole of catchment," explains Goulburn Broken CMA CEO Mr. Chris Norman.
We are immensely proud of Landcare in our region and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate the Landcare achievements with the Goulburn Broken Landcare community," explains Mr. Norman
"We were delighted to have visiting dignitaries to the event, including Member for Rodney, Mr. Paul Weller, Ms Jo McCoy from the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) State Landcare Team and representatives from all the eight Local Governments in our region."
The event included guest speaker, Dr Ian Rutherfurd from DSE who shared his experiences and observations of Landcare including acknowledging the benefits and pitfalls in the way natural resource management is currently funded.
There were four main categories for the awards; the Sustainable Farming award, the Education award, the Community Landcare award and Landcare Network award as well as the Hubert Miller perpetual trophy for services to waterway health.
The Sustainable Farming award is made to a primary producer or enterprise involved in primary production who implements innovative practices or activities to improve natural resource management and productivity outcomes. The winner of the 2011 Sustainable Farming award was the Broken Catchment Landcare Network —Gecko CLaN. This Landcare Network has played a lead role in improving and promoting pasture cropping techniques in the mid-Goulburn Broken region. The project involves over 4,000ha and has 300 active participants.
The Education award is awarded for raising awareness and understanding of the Landcare ethic amongst students and/or the community, and for implementing Landcare. The winner of the Education award for 2011 was the Shepparton High School and Shepparton Bunnings project. Shepparton High School became involved with a nest box building project in October 2010 supported by Shepparton Bunnings. Year 10 students from the Advanced Program as well as VCAL students built 30 nest boxes which the Dhurringile and District Landcare group installed on private and public land.
The Community Group or Network Award was divided into two separate awards this year. These awards are made to an outstanding community group and network that is working towards enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.
The winner of the Community Landcare Group Award was the Koyuga Kanyapella Landcare Group. With 12 members they have run projects such as Adopt– a– Roadside, planted along the Tongala walking track, roadsides and private land with native vegetation, worked with the local primary schools, run weed control programs, run activities such as marsupial night stalks, seed collection training, bus trips on salinity, agroforestry information days and are involved with Water Week annually.
The winner of the Community Landcare Network Award was the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network. The Upper Goulburn Landcare Network comprises of 12 Landcare and environment groups. In the past 30 months they have played a significant role in bushfire recovery. This along with their normal landcare activities have seen them build 195kms of fence line, plant 17,600 plants, install 49 nest boxes and remove weeds from 157Ha. They have engaged the broader community including corporate organisations as volunteers to help them with these amazing achievements.
Also awarded on the night was the Hubert Miller Perpetual Trophy for service to waterway health in the catchment. Hubert Miller OAM (Order of Australia Medal) is a living legend in waterway and catchment management. Hubert joined the Seymour River Improvement Trust when it formed back in the early 60's and was an ongoing active contributor to waterway and catchment management. He was progressive, a leader in his field and widely acknowledged. The 2011 winner of the Hubert Miller Perpetual Trophy was Russell Wealands.
Russell's passion is the Yea River and wetlands. Through funding and Russell's persistence the Yea Wetlands have seen bridges built, walking trails and interpretive signage erected and the development of a lasting relationship with the local indigenous community. Russell retired in 2005 from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority and is an active member of the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network. Russell has volunteered tirelessly working on improving the wetlands and his new project is an education centre for the area.
In addition to the Landcare Awards, a photographic competition was run to celebrate our local environment. The winners for the three categories for the photo competition were;
- My favorite native tree "Past Life" was won by Georgia Goonan.
- Native plants including grasses "Marsilea mutica & Myriophyllum at Doctors Swamp" was won by Jo Wood.
- My Place (includes landscape) "A Welcome Flood" was won by Cindy Doherty
Selected images from the Landcare Awards Night (these are all available in larger sizes upon request)
For further information please contact Amanda McClaren, amandam@gbcma.vic.gov.au