Environmental heroes honoured at the 2011 Tasmanian Landcare Awards

Twelve of the state’s most impressive environmental achievements have been recognised at the 2011 TAS Landcare Awards.

The biennial awards ceremony, held in Stanley in Tasmania’s far north west, celebrated individuals and community volunteer projects that have made significant contributions to communities right around Tasmania.

Tasmanian Landcare Association’s Executive Officer, Margie Jenkin, said all of the nominees and winners should be incredibly proud of the impact they have made in protecting the natural resources in their local communities.

“Volunteers play a vital role in restoring and maintaining our environment at a local level and the Landcare Awards is a terrific opportunity to acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their achievements.

“The high calibre of nominees and winners demonstrates the dedication and enthusiasm of the landcare community and the essential contribution it makes in Tasmania,” she said.

The winners in each category represent the diverse work that the landcare movement is involved in with activities ranging from sustainable farming practices to rehabilitation of coastal sites.

“ People involved in community landcare are often very humble – they are not motivated by honours or accolades. Their rewards are in the local, on-ground change they see through their actions, but their efforts and achievements are worthy of celebration.

“I would like to extend our appreciation to every person quietly pulling weeds, planting trees, erecting fences – protecting habitat, restoring coastlines and improving farming practices – everyday across Tasmania.

“We value the contribution of everyone and congratulate them on the difference they are all making to their local patch and their community.

All the winners of the National categories will go through as nominees for their respective categories at the 2012 National Landcare Awards to be held in Sydney next year. Winners of the 2011 TAS Landcare Awards are:

Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award – Gwen Egg

Australian Government Innovation in Sustainable Farm Practices Award – John and Vicki Lillico

Australian Government Local Landcare Facilitator/Coordinator Award – Graeme Stevenson

Australian Government Natural Resource Management Award – Cradle Coast NRM

Australian Government Coastcare Award – Rubicon Coast and Landcare Group

Local Government Landcare Partnership Award – Hobart City Council

Rural Press Primary Producer Award – John and Sue Wardle

Toshiba Community Group Award – Friends of Adventure Bay Inc

Urban Landcare Award – Bellerive Bluff Land and Coastcare Group Inc

Westpac Education Award – Youngtown Primary School

Be Natural Young Landcare Leader – Marty Bower

Leighton Holdings Indigenous Award – Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation

Image Credit: Rick Eaves. Back Row: Marty Bower, Anna Wind Cradle Coast NRM, Gwen Egg, Jenny Knox Landcare Australia Middle Row: John and Vicki Lillico, Conrad Daniels on behalf of John and Sue Wardle, Sonya Stallbaum Hobart City Council, Graeme Stevenson, Stuart Pengelly on behalf of Friends of Adventure Bay, Front Row: Jera Bester Six Rivers Aborigional Corporation, Gwendolyn Adams on behalf of Youngtown Primary School, Robin Garnett, Rubicon Coastcare.

About Landcare

The Landcare movement is made up of approximately 4,000 Landcare and 2,000 Coastcare volunteer groups that work on environmental projects in their local communities. The groups that fall under the Landcare umbrella are varied in nature and don’t necessarily include Landcare in their names, including Productive farming groups, ‘Friends of’, Bushcare, Coastcare, Rivercare, and Dunecare. Landcare also include farmers embracing sustainable farm management and any community group that partakes in volunteer environmental activities.

Click here to find out how you can become a Landcare volunteer

Click here for full details on all 2011 State and Territory Landcare Award finalists