Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Land Health Manager Rhiannon Apted’s passion for sustainable agriculture made her a fitting recipient of the2014 Ken Sampson Memorial Fairley Leadership Scholarship, Goulburn Broken CMA Chair Murray Chapman said.
The scholarship was established in 2010 to honour former Goulburn Broken CMA staff member Ken Sampson's contributions to natural resource management, community participation and leadership during a career spanning more than 30 years. Mr Sampson passed away in October 2009.
The Goulburn Broken CMA has also been a long-time supporter of the Fairley Program and the scholarship supports an individual who demonstrates passion, initiative and a strong track record in the area of environmental protection and sustainable agriculture to participate in the program.
Mr Chapman said Ms Apted’s enthusiasm, knowledge and community engagement skills were the key drivers behind the success of the Goulburn Broken CMA’s SoilCare project.
“This project was based on increasing knowledge and capacity of landholders, community and other stakeholders about soil health in the dryland parts of the Catchment,” Mr Chapman said.
“Rhiannon and her project team - Greg Bekker and Mark Cotter - recognised the best way to do this was to bring together small groups of landholders, agency staff and industry representatives for property visits, workshops and other ‘hands on’ activities that would provide them with practical, informed advice to improve soil health and productivity.
“This approach has been very successful, with many of the farmers involved in these activities going on to form their own groups to carry out trials and farm visits. The success of the project was also instrumental in the Goulburn Broken CMA securing additional funding from the Australian Government last year to roll it out across the rest of the Catchment.”
Mr Chapman said Ms Apted was also very involved in the Yea community.
“Rhiannon is secretary of the Yea Football Netball Club and is also part of the Yea Community Garden which grows fresh food to provide to the Food Share initiative,” he said.
“It is terrific to see a young person already showing such great leadership, not only in her work but within her community,” Mr Chapman said. “Rhiannon is another very worthy recipient of the Ken Sampson Memorial Fairley Leadership Scholarship.”
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Land Health Manager Rhiannon Apted’s passion for sustainable agriculture made her a fitting recipient of the2014 Ken Sampson Memorial Fairley Leadership Scholarship, Goulburn Broken CMA Chair Murray Chapman said.