Maryke Booth

Project Profile

Issues

Through her involvement with the Molonglo Catchment Group, Friends of Grasslands, Upper Murrumbidgee Landcare Committee and the Royalla Landcare Group, Maryke has made a real difference to her local environment and has educated and inspired many members of the community to work towards the protection and sustainability of the area.

Project Detail

Canberra’s Maryke Booth has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for her work in developing a strong natural resource management network in the Canberra region.

Through her involvement with the Molonglo Catchment Group, Friends of Grasslands, Upper Murrumbidgee Landcare Committee and the Royalla Landcare Group, Maryke has made a real difference to her local environment and has educated and inspired many members of the community to work towards the protection and sustainability of the area.

As founder and Chair of the Royalla Landcare Group, Maryke leads the development of river restoration and revegetation projects and the coordination of key activities. Maryke has facilitated community involvement and education through a number of activities including Clean Up Australia Day, National Tree Day and Spring Wildflower Walks. Maryke has also coordinated and encouraged community participation in information sessions and workshops including the ‘You and Your Animals’ seminar with Livestock Health and Pest Authority and the ‘Landscan’ workshops with the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

Maryke is well respected in the local community and as a result of her dedication to the Royalla Landcare Group, volunteers have been given the opportunity to build their knowledge and skills. Volunteers have learnt how to identify and remove damaging weed species and how to revegetate the area for native flora and fauna and are now able to make a valuable contribution to the protection and enhancement of the local environment.

In her role as treasurer for the Molonglo Catchment Group and Upper Murrumbidgee Landcare Committee, Maryke is across all activities of these groups from managing accounts and auditing requirements to facilitating key activities including the development of the Landcare Display trailer for volunteers across the state.

Maryke has also been involved in developing submissions on important natural resource management issues with the cross-border Molonglo catchment and has played a role in steering a number of projects undertaken by the catchment group including a weed education initiative, the development of local indigenous planting guides and the scoping of our pest animal education initiative.

Maryke is also heavily involved with Friends of Grasslands as an ambassador, donating her time, knowledge and experience to the group and assisting in the organisation of events and activities, including workshops and field trips to learn about native grassy ecosystems and their management.

Through her work with the Molonglo Catchment Group, Friends of Grasslands, Upper Murrumbidgee Landcare Committee and the Royalla Landcare Group, Maryke has inspired community members to action. Her generous contribution and involvement with these groups has been instrumental in the development of a strong natural resource management network in the Canberra region.

Maryke Booth is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work.

Photography

Maryke Booth