Melanie Gent – Young Landcare Leader Award

Project Profile

Issues

Melanie Gent has implemented a number of landcare projects across Tasmania for many years and has grown from a Green Corps participant at 20 years of age to a highly respected Green Corps Team Leader who mentors and trains her young team in a range of natural resource management (NRM) issues. Melanie has contributed to projects at Coningham Beach, Cockle Creek, Taroona and on the West Coast and Hobart area. Leading by example, Melanie has helped to create community awareness and provided opportunities for other young people to learn through involvement in various projects.

Project Detail

Twenty five year old Hobart local Melanie Gent has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for her ongoing contribution to the community and the environment as a Green Corps Team Leader.

Melanie has implemented a number of landcare projects across Tasmania for many years and has been heavily involved with Green Corps, the Australian Government’s youth development and environmental training program. Melanie has grown from a Green Corps participant at 20 years of age to a highly respected Green Corps Team Leader who mentors and trains her young team in a range of natural resource management (NRM) issues.

Melanie has contributed to projects at Coningham Beach, Cockle Creek, Taroona, and on the West Coast and Hobart area. Leading by example, Melanie has helped to create community awareness and provided opportunities for young people to learn through involvement in various projects.

Melanie has led and mentored four Green Corps teams since 2007. As a Green Corps Team Leader, she has worked with partner organisations to develop work plans for each project as well as determining the daily activities and training to be undertaken by teams to ensure the success of projects.

Under Melanie’s guidance, participants have acquired a diverse range of skills including plant identification, planting techniques, weed control, plant propagation, track construction and fencing. She has spent time researching and learning other skills to pass on to participants in a way that is easily understood, allowing them to grow and develop at their own pace. This has helped to create long-term outcomes to the community and the environment as well as providing training and job opportunities to participants.

In 2005, Melanie worked as a member of the Coningham Green Corps team with the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife Service to build tracks and monitor weeds around the reserve area. Throughout the project, Melanie demonstrated her leadership and commitment to the environment through her passion, willingness to take on new challenges and learn new skills, and her understanding of the long-term benefits of landcare and NRM projects to the broader community. Testament to her ability and valuable contribution, Melanie was offered positions with Greening Australia and the Hobart City Council after completing the project.

In 2006, Melanie volunteered her time to Conservation Volunteers Australia and undertook weed control work on the West Coast to reduce the impact of weeds on environmentally sensitive areas. Melanie has also worked as a volunteer with Greening Australia and Parks & Wildlife on a wide variety of tasks from administration to project implementation and field days.

Through dedication and experience, Melanie has grown into a strong leader and mentor, supporting and encouraging other young people to get involved and work towards environmental protection.

Melanie Gent 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

Melanie Gent