Victorian Landcare Magazine - Spring 2019, Issue 76
Inspiring Landcare advocates were acknowledged at the Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony hosted by Her Excellency The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, at Government House on 30 August 2019.
More than 350 people travelled from all parts of the state to attend the awards ceremony held in the grand ballroom. The guests mingled before the awards and viewed the display of historic Hanslow Cups that were presented to leading Victorian farmers for their efforts in soil conservation from 1940 until 1990.
Above: The awards were a great opportunity for the more than 350 members of the Victorian Landcare community to catch up and share their stories.
Governor Dessau opened the proceedings by acknowledging the first peoples of Australia who have cared for the land and water
for millennia. She said she was a proud Patron-in-Chief of Landcare in Victoria.
“What a matter of joy and pride it is for me to see how swiftly Landcare has grown throughout Victoria, Australia and to more than 20 other countries around the world,” Governor Dessau said.
Above: From left, Astrid Le Noury, Abbey Smith, Luke Robertson & Thorsten Perch-Neilsen from Newham Primary School with the Woolworths Junior Landcare Team Award.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio congratulated all of the award nominees and noted that the biennial awards ceremony launched the start of National Landcare Week.
“With close to 600 Landcare groups and 500 Friends of Groups in Victoria, I am proud to support and celebrate the efforts of those who are on the frontline working to protect our land, water and wildlife.
“We can all do our bit to help care for and maintain our unique and biodiverse landscapes, and the Victorian Government is taking action to deliver on its Biodiversity 2037 strategy to improve our natural environment,” Minister D’Ambrosio said.
Above: From top left, Woka Walla Crew members Wade Morgan, Ashton Cashion & Ryan Gilbert with, from bottom left, Graham Weston, Monica Morgan (CEO of Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation) & Shanon Watkins display their Indigenous Land Management Award.
Governor Dessau and Minister D’Ambrosio then presented the awards to the winners of the 15 awards categories, six Victorian-only categories and nine national categories.
The awards recognise the groups, networks and individuals in the Landcare community who make significant contributions to caring for the environment, sustainable farming practices and natural resource management.
More than 70 nominations for the awards were received. A panel of judges from community, government and sponsor representatives participated in the judging process. Fern Hames from DELWPs Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research was one of the judges in the Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award category.
“It was an absolute delight to be invited to judge the Landcare awards again. I am completely inspired by the fabulous work being done by so many terrific people and organisations,” Fern said.
Above: Members of the Jallukar Landcare Group accept the Environmental Volunteer Award. From left, Annette May, Anthea Nicholls, Minister D’Ambrosio, Governor Dessau, Ange Turrell, Jacquie Ridler & Terry May.
After the awards ceremony the guests had an opportunity to enjoy morning tea and tour the ballroom and grand apartments of Government House.
The nine national category award winners will now go on to represent Victoria at the 2020 National Landcare Awards.