25-06-2004

Land & Water Australia has once again embarked on its annual search for heroes of the landscape, people who are working long and hard to protect and improve our natural resources.

According to Chair of Land & Water Australia Bobbie Brazil, the Community Fellowship Program is designed to help these inspirational people share their stories, to celebrate their achievements and to help build their support networks.

The Program, now in its fourth year, provides grants of up to $15,000 to help people who have an outstanding track record in managing land, water and vegetation, or in mobilising the community, to tell their stories to inspire other people. Past Fellows have produced websites, written books, created CD-ROMs, spoken at conferences, workshops and seminars, and even written and performed songs.

'This is a non-academic award which recognises that regular people, farmers, landcare workers and community volunteers, achieve extraordinary things through patience, practice and hard work,' Mrs Brazil said.

'Driven by the strength of their convictions and sometimes at odds with the wisdom of the day, to date often their only reward has been the satisfaction of a job well done.

'Undoubtedly, time will reveal just what a debt we owe to these fantastic people who show us that individuals can make a difference.'

In previous years the Community Fellowships Program has uncovered some incredible visionaries such as John Ive and family, whose work on their New South Wales Southern Tablelands grazing property was recently recognised with honours in two categories at the United Nations World Environment Day Awards. The Ive family is also in the running for a national Landcare Award later this year, and they have recently been nominated for the Weekly Times newspaper Farmer of the Year Award.

Past recipients in Victoria include:

• (2003) The achievements of John Dainton are well-known in the Goulburn Valley, a rich region for fruit, vegetables, dairy products and associated processing industries. The intensive irrigation used in the region has meant it has been threatened by salinity that could result in economic disaster. John has lead a number of industry and natural resource management organisations in the development of salinity management and weed action plans and regional catchment, water quality and native vegetation management strategies. His Fellowship will allow John to document his story in a book to be shared with a wider audience.
• (2002) Just south of Hamilton at Branxholme, John Fenton, his wife Cicely and their family have spent nearly 50 years transforming his property Lanark 'from three windswept paddocks to the complex ecosystem it is today'. Along the way there were public benefits - urban and rural individuals working together to reinstate all the water bodies for the birds that had all but disappeared - and private rewards -- an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture (Landscape Architecture, RMIT). Through his Community Fellowship John has worked with RMIT and a local author to publish the story of Lanark in a multi-media format for local communities or individuals keen to pursue similar goals.
• (2002) South of Benalla at Warrenbayne, Bill and Debbie Hill run a mixed property - Angus cattle, fine merino sheep in a rotational grazing system ranging from native grasses to high input pastures with an eclectic approach that successfully combines nature conservation and productivity. The Hills want to assist other farmers who are looking for advice, motivation and most importantly proof that the approach works. Land & Water Australia's Community Fellowship has supported the Hills' to produce an integrated document detailing their nearly 30 years of sustainable farming experience.
• (2002) John Fyfe's experience shows there are 'easy steps to the triple bottom line'. From the time he and his twin brother Max bought their property in the 1960, land-caring was a big part of the Fyfe families' farming practice. It meant learning about the local Surry River and its estuary, and developing and retaining significant vegetation cover (15%). Eventually 35 hectares was placed under Conservation Covenants. The family also increased the farm's size and production, and with vegetation shelter and covenants in place the farm sold at an above average price. Part of the property has now been handed to a younger generation, a young man (and his family) who worked with John and Max. Production levels from the property have continued to rise in the last three years. Socially, being a 'land-carer' has led to involvement in the local community at all levels - an interaction John Fyfe has increased since selling the farm and with help from Land & Water Australia's Community Fellowship.
• (2001) In the spring of 2000 Bob McKenzie walked the length of Victoria's longest river - the Hopkins. The 300 km stretch, from Skeleton Hills near Ararat to Warrnambool, took five weeks and began just after Bob's 74th birthday. The trek began in remnant native scrub and progressed through towns and farms, past billabongs, waterfalls, cliff-tops and thick scrub, to eroded banks, open pastures and finally Logan's Beach. Bob's aim was to do something for the community - after all he's a long time and active member of Apex, Rotary, and his local Church among other pursuits. Land & Water Australia has helped Bob to organise a series of talks and seminars across regional Victoria and beyond, based on his newly published book 'Down the Hopkins'. Planning is underway for another group to walk from Warrnambool to Lake Bolac in March next year, highlighting eel migration up the Salt Creek.

Land & Water Australia's Community Fellowships were established in 2001 with support from a private philanthropist and are valued at between $2,000 and $15,000. They aim to provide inspirational people with the opportunity to share their practical natural resource management skills. The Fellowships are non-academic awards to enable winners to share an experience through writing, travel, presentations and other forms of communication.

Applications for the 2004 Community Fellowships close on July 9 2004.

For more information visit www.lwa.gov.au, send an email to Land&WaterAustralia@lwa.gov.au or contact Samantha Burt on 02 6263 6026.

ENDS

Media enquiries: Media Officer, Land & Water Australia 02 6263 6000