Robyn Mapp – Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award

Project Profile

Issues

Biloela’s Robyn Mapp has been a tireless worker and advocate for Landcare in the Callide Valley since 1990 and is heavily involved with the Callide Valley Landcare Association as a volunteer coordinator and spokesperson for the group.

Project Detail

Biloela’s Robyn Mapp has been nominated for a 2010 National Landcare Award for her role and dedication as the driving force of the Callide Valley Landcare Association.

Robyn has been a tireless worker and advocate for Landcare in the Callide Valley since 1990 and was heavily involved with the Callide Valley Landcare Association as a volunteer coordinator and spokesperson for the group until 2009, when she had to leave the area due to her husband’s work.  Now, she resides in the next door catchment, 300 km away, but is still involved with the Groups of the Fitzroy area actively representing and supporting them as their volunteer representative on the board of the Queensland Water and Landcarers and is now getting to know some of the groups in the Condamine Region as well.

The Callide Valley Landcare Association is based around the Callide Creek and township of Biloela, Central Queensland. The group deals with a range of issues spanning many different farming types and sizes. Through her work with Landcare, Robyn has acquired funding for the group and developed and coordinated a number of projects to benefit property owners in the area.

Robyn has been involved in numerous research projects and has coordinated a number of trials and field days for local property owners. Robyn has also been active in educating people on how to look after the land, teaching horticulture at Callide Dawson TAFE and has spent much time educating school students on environmental conservation issues such as catchment management.

Robyn was at the forefront of the group, helping out at the Landcare nursery to water and weed the plants. Robyn is constantly searching for sustainable agricultural practices and training opportunities to demonstrate to members so they can implement these practices on their own properties. Robyn facilitated the Natural Sequence Farming techniques on local member’s properties and coordinated a visit from a Hunter Valley farmer to share his knowledge and experience.

A further example of her local work is with the natural recharge of the local aquifer, which is replenished via sandy beds in the Callide Creek.  Robyn coordinated the earthworks involved in setting several “recharge units” into the sandy bed of the creek to encourage water infiltration through gravel and sand beds and also taught the property owners how to sample and monitor their own water for best recharge opportunities.

Robyn successfully approached neighbours of Landcare group members, to have them join together for specific group projects, most recently, a Parthenium Weed Control Project for a local creek. Robyn acquired funding and coordinated the project in conjunction with the Banana Shire Council, promoting the necessity of fencing a stockroute to the local council to reduce unwanted traffic that was spreading the weed. A contractor was initially used to spray the weed-infested area, with property owner’s spot spraying afterwards that has brought excellent results.

Robyn is a highly respected and valued member of the local community and the Callide Valley Landcare Association. As a result of her commitment and dedication to the group, many property owners in the area are now working towards protecting and improving their farm management and sustainable agricultural practices.

Robyn Mapp 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

Robyn Mapp