Australian Government Community Partnerships Landcare Award

The Russell Family Park (RFP) BushCare Group commenced in 2007 with the hope of re-establishing a rainforest for critical habitats. Under the auspice of Sunshine Coast Council’s Community Conservation team, the partnership with the Russell Family Park BushCare Group is one of the most active and successful valued for planting native trees, removing environmental weeds, helping to create habitat for local wildlife and for improving the quality and resilience of the bushland in the environment reserve. Significantly, over 8,500 native rainforest plants, comprising 211 species have been planted in the 7.3 ha of former cleared farmland in Montville Village. Community planting days, working with local students from the Montville Primary School and assisting other groups such as the local Baha’i group. Members of the Group support local Aboriginal elder and Kabi Kabi woman, Aunty Beverly Hand, and her efforts to bring together First Nations peoples and non-Indigenous people for an annual Bunya Dreaming event. In celebration of the iconic Bunya pine tree (Araucaria bidwillii) and its important role in First Nations culture. Other partners include Barung Landcare, Lions Club, the Rainbow Festival and Rustic Pathways. Significantly, the RFP BushCare Group inspires both locals and tourists alike on the Sunshine Coast.

Greyhound Coastcare Award

Friends of Federation Walk have a 24-year Landcare legacy on the Gold Coast at Federation Walk Coastal Reserve. In 1999 the Main Beach Progress Association (MBPA) obtained a Queensland Centenary of Federation grant of $75,000 to create a Management Plan to help guide the protection of the area. The funds were then matched by City of Gold Coast (City), leading to construction of the well-loved Federation Walk trail and the formation of an official community Landcare group, the Friends of Federation Walk (FoFW) in 2001. Activities included: tree planting, weed control, litter clean up, education and awareness and a strong ongoing community connection to the land that remains today. The State Government gazetted the land in 2003 for the purpose of park, environmental, beach protection, coastal management to help protect it for future generations. The project has formed many partnerships with students of primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors, local business, scouts, service clubs and community groups contributing to the restoration of the reserve and on-ground conservation outcomes for the site through community planting days and environmental education.

Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award

In operation since 1988, Leather Cattle Co (LCC) is a family owned and operated sustainable beef business covering 17 500 ha over three properties in Central Queensland. LCC has a clear focus on a sustainable future and take the responsibility of how they contribute to global food security and climate action as a priority. They understand the importance of sustainable beef production to meet the nutritional needs of an increasing population that requires safe and nutritious protein sources whilst restoring, nurturing, and protecting the land they manage.
LCC has an infectious enthusiasm for the long-term sustainability of the Australian Beef industry and their credibility in this field has seen them chart the way for the future and share their story both nationally and internationally.

First Nations Landcare Collaboration Award

Woppaburra are from a wider Whale Dreaming Indigenous Community around coastal Australia. The spiritual saltwater totem for the Woppaburra and their island homelands is Mugga Mugga (Humpback Whale). The Woppaburra People have joined with the Reef Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife in a seven year Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreement (TUMRA) that will enable them to decide on their cultural hunting protocols and to co-manage their Sea Country, providing a platform for Woppaburra voices in decision making regarding activities that impact their culture and Country. The agreement also supports the capacity of the Woppaburra people to return to Country in management positions and allows for cross cultural awareness raising with Woppaburra people sharing their cultural perspectives with scientists, tourism operators, NRM groups, industry and the wider community including the Australian Institute of Marine Science, CSIRO, Reef Ecologic, JCU, CQU and many others.

Woolworths Junior Landcare Award

Widgee State School (WSS) is a three-teacher, multi-age classroom primary school with 53 students, located approximately 200kms north of Brisbane. The Horse Paddock Environmental Education (Ho.P.E.E) project was initiated in response to student’s appreciation of adjoining land and the impacts of land clearing for housing estates next to the school immediately impacting koala habitat. In addition to this, sediment run off and erosion in the horse paddock links directly to water quality and weed control in the adjacent creek at the back of the school. Local Gympie Koala Action Group members spoke to the students about this and how to make the horse-less paddock more koala friendly. Money raised from a Rodeo was used in a big clean-up of the area. An environmental architect consulted with the school to create a comprehensive plan for the whole space which included a bike/walking/running track around the perimeter of the school. Planting zone and Frog Pond Rehabilitation Area (F.R.A) to encourage more species back to the area. In 2023, Widgee State School became a Land for Wildlife school.

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Greyhound Coastcare Award

Team Turtle CQ is a leading citizen science program that relies on local volunteers to record data on marine turtle nesting activity along the Capricorn and Curtis Coasts. The group has been surveying beaches for turtles and nests since 2015 and was launched by Fitzroy Basin Association after a gap in turtle monitoring data in the area was identified. What started as an initial three-year program, with limited volunteers, has grown into a vibrant volunteer group including Team Hatchlings – the volunteer youth arm. The three main types of activities are: Volunteer training and community engagement, Turtle monitoring (citizen science beach monitoring and QTCP census), and QTCP authorised activities (nest protection, nest relocation, emergence success and tagging turtles). TTCQ’s Traditional Custodian engagement is invaluable, with Darumbal TUMRA and Woppaburra TUMRA involved in partnership meetings. With increased monitoring of marine turtles comes improved predator control, reduced light pollution and more nest protection.

Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award

ECOllaboration exists to create and increase resilience in our landscapes and communities. It is a for-purpose environmental organisation operating throughout Southeast Queensland, offering professional services in natural resource management, integrated land management, environmental restoration and consultancy, education and training, and community engagement. Major clients include Seqwater, Healthy Land and Water, Sunshine Coast Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Queensland Trust for Nature, TMR/Roadtek, and Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training. Recently, ECOllaboration was awarded the Sunshine Coast Australia Day Award in Environment and Sustainability (2022), the North Coast region’s Medium-sized Employer of the Year (2023) in the Queensland Training Awards (QTA) and was a finalist in the QTA for the Community Initiative category (2022). Major projects include South Maroochy Rivercare and Maroochy Waterwatch. Over the past five years, we have engaged 125 landholders in integrated weed management, journeyed with scores of landholders to implement sustainable land management, planted over 25,000 trees, seen 17 kilometres of fencing installed, and trained 137 Certificate I and Certificate III conservation trainees.

Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award

Jody Brown is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s Drought Resilience Leaders Program and has also completed a Queensland Resilient Regions Fellowship with Farmers for Climate Action. She is innovating the way Rangelands graziers communicate, connect & manage their land to maximise landscape health. These peer-to-peer networks are improving rangelands landscape health. Jody is also actively enagaged in managing & improving landscape rehydration in the rangelands & is actively engaged with First Nations producers and locals to ensure that these river & waterway landscapes are managed & preserved for both biological & social function. Jody has been nominated in 2 categories.

First Nations Landcare Collaboration Award

There are 14 island TSRA Rangers groups that help to sustain and protect the 14 Island Communities that combine traditional and modern conservation. They also celebrate and promote their language and culture with community through performances and events. The TSRA Rangers work in partnership with Traditional Owners, communities, government agencies, researchers and other stakeholders to deliver various projects that support the environmental, social and economic well-being of the Torres Strait including: Indigenous Protected Areas, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Dugong and Turtle Management, Marine Ecosystem Monitoring, Biodiversity Planning and Management, Sustainable Horticulture and Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience.

Women in Landcare Award

Marine is Rainforest Rescue’s Nursery Manager, based in Cow Bay in the heart of the Daintree Rainforest. A self-taught horticulturist, Marine has guided the transformation of Rainforest Rescue’s on-ground operations in the Daintree increasing output by ten-fold to produce 150,000 plants a year. Marine’s vision was to increase nursery growing capacity to support restoration goals, increase biodiversity through enlarging the plant species mix and develop a minimum-impact approach to plant health and regional biosecurity. She works in tandem with our land management and operations teams to support rainforest restoration projects, including large-scale long-term restoration through the Queensland Government’s Land Restoration Fund, community tree planting events, schools workshops and a plant species field guide. Marine has grown the nursery team from just herself to 5 employees from nearby areas and led the training of Eastern Kuku Yalanji (EKY) workers from JYAC, to prepare them for nursery and horticultural tasks when taking over the incumbent restoration nursery.

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Women in Landcare Award

Natasha Roebig’s nomination for her outstanding commitment to Landcare activities, particularly in the realm of native bee conservation, illuminates her remarkable dedication and passion for environmental stewardship. Over the past five years, Natasha has immersed herself in projects aimed at raising awareness about native bees’ importance in ecosystems and actively engaging in their rescue and conservation efforts. Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, Natasha educates community members on the significance of preserving native bee populations, the critical role native bees play in pollination and ecosystem health and the various ways individuals can contribute to their conservation. Natasha has been actively involved in native bee rescue missions, with over 200 native bee colonies rescued since 2014. Natasha’s motivation is deeply rooted in her love for nature and a profound sense of responsibility to future generations.

Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award

Rebecca Kirby is the current Millmerran Landcare Coordinator and has worked tirelessly in this role for the past 11 years. However, her involvement with Landcare began four years prior first as a volunteer. In 2019-2020, the Millmerran area was heavily affected by the Black Summer bushfires. In response to this event, Rebecca began delivering fire mitigation projects in the Millmerran area, including the organisation of cultural burn workshops and obtaining grant funding to deliver property fire breaks for over 80 properties whom are classified as being high risk to bushfires. Rebecca’s groundbreaking contribution lies in her strategic use of breaks and cool burns, which have proven instrumental in slowing down wildfires. Through workshops, community meetings, and outreach programs, she has empowered her community with the knowledge needed to actively participate in sustainable land management practices.

Woolworths Junior Landcare Award

Darcy Morris is a 7 year old boy who dedicates all his free time in school hours and on weekends caring for the school permaculture garden and planting native trees. He is very passionate about native tree revegetation methods at home in his food forest, tree plantings at school, on JCU campus and through Landcare. He has inspired more than 10 children to join his school gardening club where he is in charge if 5 worm farms, a whole permaculture garden, fundraising (the garden is run entirely off fundraising and donations), composting (he daily collects all the compost containers from each classroom and empties), hot composting (raking leaves to add to the hot composter) and helping to organise tree plantings. He has also helped create a frog habitat where children and adults spend time observing the native fauna and the life cycle of a frog in action. He has helped his school receive awards and grants through Townsville Tree planting days.

One of the focuses of Westside Christian College Kindergarten is to connect the children to the natural world and develop a life long love of nature, growing, harvesting and cooking with the harvest. Supporting children to understand how important a connection to the natural world helps their physical and mental wellbeing. 67 students were involved in converting the veranda to a space where they wanted to spend time. The seating showcased reuse and upcycling of items which would otherwise be rubbish. They have learnt how to care for and recognize the plants that were planted in pots on the veranda space. The most wonderful part of this project is that each cohort of children that come through our classrooms are able to experience the knowledge and learning that our original group we able to do, giving it incredible longevity.

Maree is a Regenerative Farmer and member of the Organic Growers Association. She is a cattle and quail farmer and is currently trialing organic vanilla. She draws on her wealth of business and legal knowledge and capability, researching and applying sustainable regenerative practices. She leads by example and advocates for landcare practices.Maree originally embedded herself into the community as a new farmer – educating herself and sharing her knowledge particularly in the areas of caring for our most precious asset – the land. As the President of Gympie Landcare she engaged and influenced stakeholders across the region on sustainable Landcare practices.

Malcolm Wells has been dedicated to Landcare work for over 20 years, going over and above to deliver outcomes for people and our environment. Malcolm became involved in Landcare on the Capricorn Coast in 2017 after moving from the Hawkesbury Region in NSW where he ran a bush regeneration company for 14 years.
He initially volunteered his time with great success, as a media person working with local youth group GenYadaba to promote their work and writing stories for local media around their projects. 
He later became Landcare president. Malcolm not only cares deeply about the restoration of the ecological values of our area, but the people who volunteer to protect it…. making space for conversations that increase community connection and wellbeing of his volunteers… he often says they are like family to us.

The Nive River Cluster is a collective of 7 land managers collaborating for societal NRM management. Located to the west of Augathella in the upper Warrego catchment, the group have been active for 4 years and have undertaken a myriad of on ground and training works for reduced pest prevalence, water quality and habitat restoration. The group have recently supported Murweh shire in delivering QLD QFPI round 5 investment works. The members of the cluster are active participants in other bodies such as Southern QLD landscapes and Agforce. This cluster is setting the benchmark in southwest qld for collective approaches to NRM management.

FIDO has been involved in weeding programs on Fraser Island for two decades focussed on the two oldest townships, Eurong and Happy Valley. FIDO now organizes seventeen groups of volunteers to go to Fraser Island each year to spend a week working on controlling the weeds. Volunteers spend a minimum of 20 hours working on the bush regeneration targets set be the team coordinators and spend the rest of the time exploring. FIDO works alongside Qld National Parks QPWS, Butchella Aboriginal Corporation, Happy Valley Association, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Cooloola Coastcare, Fraser Coast Council, FINIA and the K’gari World Heritage Committee. FIDO co sponsors an annual bioblitz, provides education programs such as the recent symposium with the Sunshine Coast University and conducts the biannual John Sinclair Memorial Lecture.

As a female Indigenous Ranger, Laura delivers sustainable Landcare practices with strong leadership and strategic focus, whilst also inspiring the next generation of rangers. She has been a ranger for over ten years in Torres Strait Regional Authority’s Land and Sea Management Unit. Proudly Kulkalaig (Central cluster) born and raised, she credits her family as her motivation. She works tirelessly to ensure that both Western science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge are integrated into Ranger works, ensuring good outcomes for Traditional Owners and communities. Laura once described the role of women in land and sea management as “like a rock in the middle of the ocean. During strong tides and winds, the rock never moves its ground. When you go further down, there’s a school of fish that hide under the rock for shelter – Malu Ipkazil.”

Natura Pacific, a distinguished social enterprise registered with Social Traders, the Queensland Social Enterprise Council, and B-Corp, is the visionary behind the transformative project at Messines Farm. Situated in the picturesque Southern Downs just outside of Stanthorpe in Amiens, Messines Farm spans 26 acres. Formerly a conventional stone fruit orchard with over-grazed paddocks, it underwent a remarkable transformation under Natura Pacific’s stewardship – now preserving over 30% of its land as remnant natural ecosystems. The organisation provides invaluable support and expertise to fellow farmers, offering free advice on regenerative farming practices and carbon credit opportunities, tailored on-farm workshops will showcase innovative techniques such as spray drone fertiliser application and biochar utilisation, empowering farmers to adopt sustainable practices across the Southern Downs region, plus community outreach and education initiatives – notably, the production of the documentary series “Back from the Brink”.

The Garden Club of Leichhardt State School consists of students from Grades 4-6 and runs twice a week. The Garden Club enriches education, fosters holistic learning, teamwork, and community engagement. It instills pride and responsibility, extending beyond gardening skills into landcare management. Students engage in various activities, including researching which vegetables to grow, learning how and when to plant, and taking care of the garden. They also focus on indigenous plants with a deliberate effort to support local ecosystems and enhance biodiversity. The Garden Club has provided a platform for students to develop interpersonal skills, consider the needs of others, and collaborate towards common goals. The students proudly showcase the garden to Elders, the Principal, and School Leadership, fostering a sense of community engagement and pride. 

Steve Baines has been involved in caring for small Australian Freshwater fish for over 50 years. He is a member of ANGFA and has been President of this organisation previously. He is currently President of QFAS (Queensland Federation of Aquarium Societies) a position he has held for 12 years. He has been involved with the EKKA for nearly 40 years and promotes responsible care of our Native fish. Eighteen months ago he wrote a children’s book entitled “I believe in Rainbows ” a book about dumping of rubbish in and around creeks and rivers. He followed it up the following year with “Rodney meets the space invaders” a book about feral and invasive freshwater fish that affect our waterways. In both these books he mentions and highlights the wonderful work undertaken by Landcare. He has addressed Universities, schools, kindergartens, Environmental Centres, libraries and public forums. 

Murilla Kindergarten has established an edible garden with support from Woolworths Junior Landcare funding throughout the kindergarten grounds, building new garden beds, planting edible plants, encouraging more buchtucker shrubs around the grounds for both eating and to encourage more friendly habitat of small bugs and beetles. The children are learning the art of worm farming and composting for much better soil nourishment. Some of the shrubs are creating shady places for the children to play in and around. Some families have been inspired to adopt this way of life and have planted their own small vegetable gardens at home or in pot. Other activities include engaging the local gardening group and an excursion to the Columboola Environmental learning centre. The gardens have been warmly welcomed by all families and community groups and members who visit or attend the early learning centre. Since the closing of Landcare Miles office some few years back, many thought Landcare didn’t exist anymore, so having the Murilla Kindergarten intorduce Junior Landcare programs has been extremely beneficial to many.

Reef Check Australia is an innovative citizen science-focused charity dedicated to educating and empowering community volunteers to better understand, appreciate and protect oceans and marine environments in QLD since 2001. As an organisation their mission is to have ‘A world where informed, engaged and empowered communities are stewards of healthy reefs’. They help people help reefs by providing the tools for the community to take affirmative action for reefs. Through a network of trained volunteer scuba divers, reef ambassadors and community volunteers they engage in citizen science, connect people with reef science, and undertake local conservation projects. What makes RCA’s program stand out is that they don’t just train people, they EMPOWER them. 

The Cap Coast Eco Warriors are a youth led environmental conservation group promoting awareness and opportunities for young people, through hands on activities focused on creating environmental change. Cap Coast Eco Warriors endeavour to provide equal opportunities for all and foster respect through cross culture learning with the First Nations People. Established in Nov 2018 they currently have over 100 members. The children are the primary members of this community group and drive the ideas while the adults are there to support. Cap Coast Eco Warriors exists because the founding youth member Owen Harris (Steadfast Young Leadership Award Winner – QLD) always faced the issue that he was too young to volunteer for many projects. Owen turned this into a mission to get more youth engaged in conservation and looking after the environment. They have great working relationships with many other environmental groups such as Cap Coast Landcare, Capricorn Conservation Council, Tangaroa Blue, Emu Park Bushcare, the local Livingstone Shire Council and more which means there are a lot of amazing learning opportunities.

Nurseryland Childcare Stafford center does not have natural grass or natural trees. The children at the center have created their own eatable garden using planter boxes. The children enjoy learning about plants and picking the food once they have grown. The children learn about sustainability I in their learning. The children are able to take home their veggies form the garden that they have looked after. The staff and children take great pride in learning about their environments through saving water, being sustainable and growing plants throughout the year.

The Western Downs Regional Council Rural Services Team has a long history of working with their communities to achieve effective and lasting invasive pests management and broader environmental outcomes. Achievements include: Development and implementation of best-practice, broadscale feral pig aerial shooting projects in partnership with co-contributing landholders; Meaningful environmental stewardship of reserves under the control of Council; Partnerships with Bunya Peoples Aboriginal Rangers – burning to control weeds on reserves,protection of scar trees; joint research with BPAR and QPWS on the role of feral pigs in bunya pine dieback; Successfully hosting Invasive Species Qld’s Pest Animal & Weeds Symposium in Dalby in August 2023; Establishment of a monitoring network of over 100 fixed cameras across the 4 million hectare WDRC; and Partnering with Evorta to develop AI programs that sort thousands of camera photos by native species/pest species. WDRC’s Rural Services Team are leaders in the Qld local government sphere and are shaping the way Councils work with their communities.

Since the beginning of the HOPE movement in 1988, we have collaborated with, and led projects with many national, regional and local groups to advocate for and implement practical environmental change. HOPE members believe that as people we can think about the environment globally and act in our own communities locally in a way that’s effective and meaningful. They investigate global environmental issues of concern, trends and ‘good works’ being advocated and/or undertaken then venture to translate these matters into a local context and see what individuals, families and communities can do to minimise adverse impacts to the environment. Over the last three decades HOPE Inc. has worked closely with many local and national environmental organisations. During 2023 they collaborated with University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and SQ Landscapes to help manage and host a Weeds Forum to Toowoomba and the wider public; worked with TWMS to build 150 nesting boxes, distributed free-of-charge to landowners and land carers in the community; and provided free drone flyovers for land carers in the Highfields and Crows Nest to inform better resource management on the park and conservation area.

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As a 6-year-old, Eric conceived an idea when listening to round-table conversations regarding cost of living, sustainability, environmental impacts and global warming. After asking a handful of questions he brainstormed ideas and verbalised a proposal to his parents with the idea that young children can make a difference and educate others of all ages. During conversation, Eric was asked to further develop his ideas – noting set up requirements, what actions would be involved, if others were required to assist and if so, how so. Following further investigation and visualisation, he outlined a simple business plan. He derived that he could undertake something similar to subsistence agriculture on a small suburban scale to alleviate the pressures of healthy eating at a sustainable cost whilst educating and encouraging others to do the same. A great deal of time and effort was invested by Eric and his parents to which Grow Green by Eric was created. 

Matthew Roberts is the Manager of the Childers Nature Camp, a nature based and eco friendly campground with a focus on getting back to nature with preserving flora and fauna now and into the future. The camp has a tree planting program, recycling, bush revegetation, off grid business and runs environmental education tours. Trees are purchased from Landcare Bundaberg for regeneration of our land contours to divert water ponds and dams to retain water for wildlife and tree watering, planting of rainforest species along the creek to create a self sustainable ecosystem in a dry arid bushland. Matthew is dedicated to regeneration of a place for people to come and enjoy a safe place for wildlife & the prevention of climate change.

Jessica Lovegrove-Walsh is both a dedicated conservationist and a visionary young leader who established Friends of Nerang National Park in 2020 then Friends of Parks Queensland (FoPQ) in 2022. Witnessing the surge in “Friends of Parks” volunteers in her local Gold Coast area during the COVID-19 pandemic, she recognised the need for an organisation to support these dedicated groups who work in our natural areas assisting national park managers and rangers. She conceived, organised and garnered support and funding for FoPQ, aiming to support these unheralded champions of conservation and foster collaboration between groups. Within two years, FoPQ has secured establishment funding from Queensland Government and met or exceed Departmental milestones and growth targets, with 30 member organisations and a successful record in facilitating grant applications. Jess involves herself in a wide range of conservation roles, undertaking field work on threatened species with Wildlife Qld and coordinating the Quoll Society of Australia (as Secretary/Ecologist). With a commitment to nature conservation focused in particular on greater gliders, quolls, rock-wallabies and bandicoots. Her initiatives include engaging volunteers in hands-on conservation work and promoting environmental stewardship among local communities, holding countless field days, implementing extensive weed management plans, restoring and revegetating areas of habitat and monitoring and recording native wildlife.