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desertchannelsG R O U P

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

Charles Darwin

10/11

annual report

desertchannelsG R O U P

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Desert Channels Group Annual Report 2010-2011

Copyright © Desert Channels Group 2010

Parts or all of this publication may be reproduced, but only with the express prior permission of the publisher.

Published by

Desert Channels GroupPO Box 601(92 Galah Street)LongreachQ 4730

Ph: 07 4658 0600Email: [email protected]: www.dcq.org.au

Design: DC SolutionsImages: Used with permission from the Channel Country Photographic Competition

Advancing

Contents4

Advancing

Contents

Contents 5 The Desert Channels Group 6Reports 9 Annual highlights 10 Chair’s report 12 CEO’s report 13 DCQ report 16 DC Solutions report 18 Desert Channels Foundation 20Feature stories 23 Speaking with a lisp 24 Begoogled 28 Dancing along 30 Product page 32Our team 37 Organisation structure 38 Our staff 40 Our board 44Financials 48Index 56

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Many things typify Australia: the sandy beaches and coral reefs, the bustling cities and the home with a backyard. And then there are the wide open spaces of the iconic outback.

There aren’t many places in the world you can see forever in every direction, or watch the sun peek over a stretched horizon hinting at the generous curve of the earth’s sphere. The Desert Channels region is one such place; the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin; one-third of the state. This is our backyard ... this is where we do business.

Our backyard: 510,000 square kilometres of vast plains of Mitchell Grass, unforgiving stony gibber plains, marching lines of sand dunes in the Simpson Desert, and the intricately braided waterways of the Channel Country that burst their banks in the wet season, throwing out burgeoning life after long periods of dormancy. The Lake Eyre Basin is one of the world’s largest internally draining river systems, and the slow march of water from the top of the catchment to Lake Eyre can take months.

It is a huge backyard but with only 14,500 people - Great Britain is less than half the size yet has 4,000 times the population. We share our backyard with many unique plants and animals. The last bastion of the Bilby is hidden in this heartland; so too are isolated populations of the Desert Goby. The long presumed extinct Night Parrot gave up two carcasses - in 1990 and 2006 - in the region, to tantalise and confound, and to underline how much more we have to learn.

The Desert Channels Group is a natural resource management business investing in sustainable management and use of the assets in our region.

It is the umbrella organisation for three entities: Desert Channels Queensland, DC Solutions and Desert Channels Foundation.

Operating for almost 9 years, Desert Channels Queensland continues to source government and private sector funding to run natural resource management projects in our vast backyard.

DC Solutions provides commercial services to the private and government sectors across Australia’s Rangelands to support ongoing DCQ work. Our services range from environmental services to information management, mapping, graphic design, project management, digital production and event management.

Desert Channels Foundation sources donations, bequests and philanthropic support from around the world to fund specific projects of high value, as well as supporting the ongoing work of Desert Channels Queensland.

The heart of the country; the heart of our business.

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Welcome from the Desert Channels Group

The heart of the country ; the heart of our business

Our vision: Sustainable landscapes, healthy communities

Our mission: Through leadership, innovation, knowledge and partnerships responsibly manage our unique natural resources

Our ethos: Working as a team, thinking as an organisation, acting as a business

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Driving on

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Reports

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St. Francis of Assisi, was said to advise, ‘preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary’, while Gersham Bulkeley wrote in his 1692 book, Will and Doom, that ‘actions are more significant than words’, so here are some of our actions for the year ...

Annual highlights

> Attracted 60 participants to a two-day Mitchell Grass Downs sustainable grazing forum, including 39 landholders who collectively manage over 300,000 ha of grazing lands.

> Hosted the Joint Strategic Investment Panel (which coordinates Queensland and Australian Government NRM investment) for a full day, 250 kilometre field trip to view on-ground projects and talk to proponents; presentations on DCQ work; and a social bar-b-que.

> Published Frogs of the Lake Eyre Basin, the latest in our DCQ book series.

> Trialed a new, on-line final reporting system for project proponents with our 2011 project acquittals.

Desert Channels Group

> Completed 33 new on-ground projects through our Protecting our Future 2010 devolved grant round. These entailed over 172,000 hectares of planned works in biodiversity enhancement, strategic weed control and sustainable farm practices.

> Implemented six new projects in partnership with local government with $100,000 funding made available through Caring for our Country for Natural Disaster Environmental Recovery.

> Delivered five groundcover management/ erosion control workshops with 152 attendees, including 126 landholders who

collectively manage 6 million hectares of grazing

lands.

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> Continued supporting and chairing the Australian Invasive Cacti Network.

> Maintained commitment to the Rangelands Alliance with a meeting in Adelaide to coincide with a national total grazing pressure forum - nine of thirteen rangelands regional NRM groups present.

> Submitted case studies on our work to the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum Annual Report 2010, Queensland’s State of the Environment Report 2011, and a Regional NRM Groups Collective publication detailing the achievements of Queensland’s regional NRM bodies 2007-2011.

> Through our Landcare program rolled out five best practice weed field days with local Landcare groups, involving 47 land managers.

> Started up Junior Landcare groups with three local schools involving a total of 62 students at Ilfracombe, Muttaburra and Prairie State Schools.

> Began a traditional ecological knowledge recording project, with a project officer and nine indigenous volunteers trained in videography.

> Commenced a feral pig control project in the lower Diamantina, Cooper and Barcoo catchments with community consultation and planning undertaken this reporting period, in preparation for control works in the coming dry season.

Desert Channels Foundation

> Deductible Gift Recipient Status application on the cusp of Government approval.

> Further refined and developed a list of high-value flagship projects.

DC Solutions

> Increased the size of the DC Solutions team; increased the scope, range, size and value of contracts.

> Established a bore and water testing unit to service landholders and industry.

> Wrapped up the financial year by completing the 54th project for the year.

> Redeveloped the Lake Eyre Basin poster map; delivered video editing and information management training; audited projects; conducted 5 major environmental surveys and a literature review; a dozen signage projects delivered.

… The available funding has been a great help and has benefited this worthwhile project ... preserving the natural vegetation for a sustainable future.

Anne Ballinger - Stockholm Weed Control (Prickly Acacia)

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The year has been full of challenge, change, consolidation and renewal. We have worked steadily towards ratification and implementation of our new Strategic Plan. This has resulted in a reduction in Board size and a staff restructure, but we have retained the essential uniqueness of our team.

The time taken to get Desert Channels Foundation into action has been a disappointment, and we still have one more hurdle before our goal is realised – ATO approval.

DC Solutions has continued to operate on a steadily-upward curve, surpassing our expectations, and I anticipate our reserves will be sufficient by next year to commence funding community priority projects and, in some cases, augmenting Federal and State investments.

Our relationship with State and Federal governments is sound and they have indicated that guaranteed funding levels for the next two years will remain at the same level; this gives us a solid basis to plan on and is very much appreciated.

Our staff has been an asset and an inspiration – it is their commitment and professionalism that has become the hallmark of DCG. As you will read further into our report you will see we have not been idle.

We have accepted the challenges thrown our way and I must record my thanks to the Board and especially those members who stepped down to enable our organisation to adapt and meet the prevailing conditions.

A good season has brought new challenges – particularly in weeds and ferals, and we will be looking for partnerships to continue and expand operations. Potential ‘Wild Rivers’ listing and the inexorable march of mining, in particular the coal seam gas industry, has clouded the horizon for many, but we are no longer isolated where big money and politics are involved. As a community, we need to work together to deal with and adapt to these challenges.

As always, our community is our mainstay, and we continue to work to get the best outcome for our region and its people. This year, we have successfully built our momentum; we look forward to the challenges and successes of the next.

Peter Douglas

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Chair’s report

‘Nothing endures but change’. A quick comparison between the photographs of the Board and staff in this report with last year’s, supports that observation. Previous reports have outlined the direction of change at the Desert Channels Group and, over the last year, the Board has been restructured and reduced. While the total number of people at Desert Channels has remained roughly the same, their duties have altered to match the changes in the source and type of investment now available. The last twelve months have seen the slow consolidation of three major changes at Desert Channels.

The first is the creation and identification of the Desert Channels Group, built around the recognition of the original entity - Desert Channels Queensland Incorporated. This remains true to its roots - a community - based organisation with an agreed vision for the community it serves. Importantly, it also maintains the trust of our principal investors - the Australian and Queensland governments. Many ask, ‘Why create a Group?’. While it may appear more complicated, for the people doing the work it means there is a clear distinction between government-funded programs which provide mainly ‘public benefits’, and other investors or clients who request work that will principally provide ‘private benefits’. This distinction also carries through to financial reporting, a very important consideration when dealing with taxpayer funds.

The second is the gradual buildup of the DC Solutions arm of the Group. From a somewhat turbulent beginning in the response to the changes in government funding programs, DCS is becoming a source of expertise and provider of solutions to local governments, landholders, businesses and organisations across the region and beyond. This progress is described more fully elsewhere in this report but, briefly, DCS has evolved to the point where it can provide quality, cost-competitive services which would

not normally be expected in remote or regional Queensland. An important consideration for clients, apart from availability, is that a local provider such as DCS understands the issues local businesses and organisations deal with. This understanding, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, can be crucial to meeting the needs of the region.

The third change relates to the application of technology to the business of the Desert Channels Group. Following a trial in 2010, the second round of Protecting Our Future grants has been managed completely online using the enQuire system. The system allows landholders to enter Expressions of Interest online and, if successful, the entire project from contract preparation through to milestone reporting and final acquittal is managed electronically. This has greatly simplified the handling of multiple contracts but, as yet, we are unsure of how many trees (in the form of paper) have been saved.

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CEO’s report

CEO’s report - continued

Buoyed by this success, the Group is now trialling the extensive use of ‘cloud’ computing. This involves all staff utilising the Google Docs suite of browser-based email, contact and calendar management, as well as document preparation, storage and retrieval. Initial indications are that there are likely to be significant savings in hardware, while the use of the ‘cloud’ means that information is accessible anywhere via the internet. The implications for this shift are likely to be profound, not only in terms of capital costs but also in our approach to business and the way we interact with each other, our partners and our clients.

While these strategic shifts have been underway, and requiring people to change the way they work, the work itself has continued. Again the highlights and achievements of the past year are outlined elsewhere in this report, but it is important to note that the Desert Channels Group continued to work with landholders and land managers to address a number of significant issues across the region. From carrying out riparian protection projects over 231,000 ha, weed control on 14,000 ha involving enterprises covering 346,000 ha, and workshops with over 150 landholders managing more than 6 million hectares, through to the publication of a guide to ‘Frogs of the Lake Eyre Basin’. The work of Desert Channels Group is as broad and varied as the region it services.

Sometimes it is useful to reflect on the fact that only about 14,500 people live and work across an area roughly the size of Spain. We should not be surprised then that people can get a bit tired, and projects may take a little longer than originally planned, especially when they are battling drought, then flood, then fire ... These are the times when the importance of the capacity building and workshops on methods for increasing the resilience of the people, the enterprises and the landscapes is realised.

Unfortunately, one of the key parts of the DCG puzzle is still not quite in place. The Desert Channels Foundation is still awaiting confirmation of its deductible gift recipient status - like the desert and the rivers, Canberra moves to its own timetable.

While on the subject of Canberra, the review of the Caring for Our Country program is being conducted and public comment has been sought on all aspects of the program. We await with interest the outcomes of the review as it is expected to guide the new programs beyond June 2013. This will clearly be impacted by the policies of the government of the day, and only highlights the need for us to continue to build the resilience and capacity of our organisation, our community and our landscapes.

Once again, it has been a year where there has been much to be thankful for. Firstly, to our investors for their continuing faith in our ability to deliver for the community of the region. Secondly, for the support and direction of the Board as we change and grow. Thirdly, to all our staff, past and present, for recognising and running with opportunities, embracing and implementing changes, and confronting and overcoming challenges. Finally, to our widespread and various stakeholders and supporters for their continuing loyalty and commitment. Words cannot say enough.

It’s been another great year.

Leanne Kohler

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DCQ report

Regional investment program:

With co-funding by the Australian and Queensland governments, DCQ has:

> funded 33 new on-ground projects covering over 172,000 ha of planned works (16 biodiversity enhancement and strategic weed control projects, 10 sustainable management of groundcover projects, 7 community small grants projects)

> assisted 59 community members with developing new project proposals for the 2011-12 devolved grant funding round

> run five sustainable grazing events (four workshops and a forum) with 152 attendees, including 126 landholders who collectively manage 6 million hectares of grazing lands

> devolved funding to the Desert Uplands Committee for development of a Lake Galilee land management plan with local land managers

> developed three town common management plans with the Barcoo Shire

> provided ongoing support to the Georgina Diamantina Coopers Aboriginal Group to provide effective input to NRM issues in the region

> produced over 500 maps, many of them digital, through our in-house GIS system to support project planning by landholders and NRM community groups

> published our latest book, Frogs of the Lake Eyre Basin

> provided ongoing input to regional and local pest management planning

> maintained a website; an e-newsletter, the Basin Bullet, with a circulation of 1,400; and ongoing communications to local, regional and state-wide media outlets about the NRM resource issues of the region

> maintained efficient and accountable operations with nine core staff, with active support from the board (includes board meetings and training, organisational planning, financial and project management, performance reporting, staff training and capacity building)

Over the past financial year, Desert Channels Queensland has managed a broad range of projects. The Australian Government’s Caring for our Country program, and Queensland’s Q2 Coast and Country and Blueprint for the Bush programs provided just over $3 million for this work for the year. A summary of the work we have undertaken with these funds follows:

The commitment from DCQ in partnership has encouraged us to continue with the massive clean up of prickly acacia on Hathaway and to stop further spreading to surrounding properties.

AJ & SJ Moody - Hathaway Prickly Acacia Destruction Project

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Others:

Feral pig control 2010-12This project will undertake feral pig control in the wetlands of the lower catchments of the Cooper Creek and Georgina-Diamantina river systems. The first round of community consultation and planning has been undertaken with landholders in the lower Diamantina, Cooper Creek and Barcoo catchments, in preparation for control works which are planned for the coming dry season.

Recording traditional ecological knowledge 2010-12This project is managed by the Georgina Diamantina Coopers Aboriginal Group and aims to build the capacity of the Indigenous community to record traditional knowledge as related to caring for country. A project officer has been employed and videography training has been delivered to the project officer and nine Indigenous volunteers. Recording of traditional ecological knowledge stories is now underway.

Landholder support services projectThis three year, Blueprint for the Bush project is now complete. Thirty-five community information and training events have been held, with 1,115 attendees. Representatives from 341 individual properties participated across the region, which represents more than 6 million hectares of pastoral rangelands. See page 24 for more.

Landcare facilitator programThis has been the first year of a new Caring for our Country three-year funding commitment to Landcare in the region. Five best-practice weed management field days have been held with local Landcare groups, and three Junior Landcare groups started with local schools. A steering committee has been established to plan a series of trials investigating the use of an agricultural mister for Prickly Acacia control. A regional Landcare Focus group now meets bi-monthly by teleconference.

Natural disaster recoverySix on-ground projects (control of weeds of national significance and habitat restoration) in areas affected this year by flooding have been developed with five local governments in the region. Ground conditions in most project areas continued to be difficult until June so project works are, in most cases, still in progress.

Parkinsonia dieback projectProviding support to the University of Queensland’s Parkinsonia Dieback project, DCQ continued to follow up with project participants to collect dieback data. While valuable data on the viability of this form of biological control has been received, collection of results has been hampered by the prolonged wet season this year. Follow-up field days will be held in September 2011 to examine and assess the initial trial sites.

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DC Solutions report

Children are wonderful: they delight, challenge, enthral, excite, motivate, exhaust and energise. They are a reflection of their parents, yet they are their own being. The older they get, the more they take on the character traits that set them apart, and the more they give their parents cause to be proud.

And DCG is a proud parent: its fledgling commercial arm, DC Solutions, is barely more than a toddler, but is already well toilet-trained: there is much less ‘oops, I made a mess’ and far more ‘look how far I can throw the ball!’.

Announced to the world on the 3rd April 2009, DC Solutions is only just into its third year, but it has a growing reputation for getting the job done and delivering quality products and services across Australia’s rangelands.

In the past year, DC Solutions has not only added more variety to

its diet,

it has increased its size and appetite. Full-time staff increased to 4, and more use was made of associate consultants, with shared values, who have given DC Solutions increased resources when required.

At one stage the team, aided by three associates, was simultaneously conducting a large literature review on feral goats in the rangelands; the design and production of a large format, educational and awareness poster map; an independent audit of 40 devolved grant projects; as well as several smaller information management and graphic design jobs.

In addition, the past year has seen the expansion of environmental services from planning and weed surveys to land degradation assessment and bore and water quality testing. The latter was developed specifically to meet the requirements of the community which is facing the challenges

Crawl, walk, run, fly ...

… you have to learn to crawl before you can walk; walk before you can run; and run before you can fly ...

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of an expanding mining and exploration presence. DC Solutions is now operating as an independent third party, providing baseline bore and water quality data to both landholders and industry.

The year also saw the consolidation of the graphic design services in book, brochure, sign and banner production. A specific area of strong demand has been the design and production of signs with a dozen projects undertaken. These ranged from natural and cultural heritage information, healthy lifestyle and tourist information, as well as badging and instructional signs.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, DC Solutions took on the task of consolidating the physical and electronic records across six differently managed cemeteries and preparing data for a web-based search platform. This

required photographing every headstone or plot marker, cross-checking against records of varying formats and veracity,

identifying anomalies, and consolidating all records into a single format - big mouthful; great outcome.

There was also a mountain of small jobs that kept the wheels of business turning. Writing and editing services, project management, planning, property mapping, garden design, pasture management, digital productions, training, research and data management.

The country we have been able to rehabilitate is barely recognisable from when we purchased in 2005. DCQ has helped us invest in our own country and we are confident that it will pay us back for years to come.

Martyn Smith - Benares Erosion Control 2

Most significantly, DC Solutions work is strengthening Desert Channels Group in two ways. Firstly, it enables the Group to build and retain skills and capacity that it couldn’t otherwise - these are routinely switched between commercial and Government contracts. Secondly, DC Solutions is generating a cash surplus to fund projects that deliver on community expectations, but which fall outside current government priorities.

All up, it was a successful year that saw wobbly baby steps turn into a confident walk; a year that showed what hard work and dedication can do with dreams and great ideas; a year that raised the question, ‘I wonder just how far I can throw this ball?’

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Desert Channels Foundation

While this might indicate that nothing has been done, much preparation has occurred. Central to that preparation was a ‘think-tank’ workshop where ideas and priorities for project work were developed. This has led to a short-list of potential investments that are being further refined to produce the flagship projects that the Foundation will initially commit to.

These high-value projects may build on current, government-funded initiatives, but are more likely to be in areas that governments don’t see as a priority. Regardless, the investments the Foundation ultimately chooses will be based on community and expert advice, and identified as critical to the long-term sustainability of the region.

Other work that has been in progress during the long wait for Government approval of our Deductible Gift Recipient Status has been the development of a prospectus, as well as a draft fundraising strategy and a timeline for fundraising activities.

The Desert Channels Foundation will be administered by the Queensland Public Trustee and guided by a management board. There are five donor levels: Friend ($1 - $99); Supporter ($100 - $999); Corporate Partner ($1,000); Philanthropic Donor ($1,100+) and Foundation Partner ($1,100). Donations can be tied to the Foundation’s flagship projects or untied, in which case, the funds will be allocated at the discretion of the management board.

In nine years, Desert Channels Queensland has proven itself to be an effective deliverer of natural resource management across one-third of Queensland, but government funds only go so far. Our region is comparatively unspoilt and, as such, it doesn’t attract the level of government and corporate funding that more populated areas with greater problems do. It is up to Desert Channels Foundation to bridge the gap. It’s up to Desert Channels Foundation to ensure this very special part of the world, with two of the planet’s most variable dryland river systems, is sustainably managed for future generations.

Last year’s report expressed optimism that our Deductible Gift Recipient Status would be finalised by late 2010. This was not quite realised but, as of the 30th June, only one final departmental endorsement was pending.

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Join the cause, make your pledge at www.dcfoundation.org.au or phone

07 4658 0600

Feature stories22

Feature stories

Awakening

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Speaking with a lisp

“Occasionally, an early initiative comes to fruition and you achieve a great result,” said Leanne Kohler, DCG’s Chief Executive Officer. “The Landholder Support Service Project is one such initiative.”

“The project was an idea born some years ago when the Government agency representatives (DEEDI and DERM) and DCG sat around a table every couple of months to talk about what’s happening on each other’s patch,” she said.

“We knew there was a need to have an information broker who could draw together all the threads of information and services that were available to support people in remote areas. This was most apparent in the depths of the drought when many didn’t know which way to turn to find an understanding ear or some simple advice.”

The Landholder Support Service Project (LSSP) was a three year project funded by the State Government’s Blueprint for the Bush Program, and it wound up in June with workshops in Betoota & Jundah.

“The Erosion Control workshops were the last of 35 events with more than 1,100 attendees over the three years of our LSSP,” said project officer, Colleen James.

“The aim of the project was to offer opportunity and assistance to property-based community members through training, information and the support of a liaison officer.

“For rural and remote communities to increase their ability to own and manage their future they need to continue to build their capacity and enhance community strengths, such as leadership, networks, organisations, and relationships.”

Other key points highlighted throughout were partnerships and collaboration. By working with numerous partners, more funds were made available, and more community members were

engaged. This enabled the available funds to be used more productively.

Kristyn Middleton, Men’s Health Promotion Officer for the

North and West Queensland Primary Health Care performed health checks at a number of field days. “It was really effective travelling around and working with DCG so anytime an opportunity arises in the future, we’d be very keen to join again,” she said.

While it had nothing to do with the way Ita Buttrose talks, DCG’s LSSP certainly shared Ita’s subject matter for much of its 3 years and saw its fair share of women’s issues discussed …

Promoting healthy and vibrant communities through working with partners and creating opportunity and assistance to property based community members translates to stronger communities and rural economies.

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Community consultation and feedback ensured that the topics addressed were current and relevant to community members. Pooling resources and expertise from the numerous government departments and community groups enabled a broad range of topics to be addressed.

Lisa Wright is a former Psychologist and Rural Counsellor for the North and West Queensland Primary Health Care and Central West Psychology. “I truly believe that a great part of DCG is how it works with other agencies and also works outside the box a bit,” she said.

Sarah Jane Fysh, Secretary/Treasurer of the Upper Thomson Catchment Landcare Group, worked with the project on a Wild Dog Trapping Training Day and was grateful for DCG assistance. “Your contribution, time and effort

ensured the success of the day,” she said. “We look forward to working with you again on projects that are of benefit to our community.”

According to Colleen James, the scope of the project allowed a holistic approach to be taken with mental and physical health issues being addressed along with sustainability and profitability. “Cutting edge science and current issues were dealt with as well as the re-deployment of forgotten technologies such as DERM’s rainfall simulator making the field days and information days fresh and informative,” she said.

Women’s workshops were added to the program to fill a gap that was often overlooked but just as important.

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These attracted 160 women from right across the region and focused on numerous topics including succession planning, financial planning, health & wellbeing, biodiversity and much more.

Wendy Groves from Cooma Station attended the Eromanga Naturally Resourceful Women’s Workshop and said, “There was lots of relevant information and support for ideas and information on who could help. It is good to see there is still support available in the ‘forgotten’ corner of the west.”

The 51,000,000 ha Desert Channels region has a population of around 14,500, most in very

remote areas. The attendees to the project events were responsible for the management of almost 12% of that area.

“The necessity and the effectiveness of the service can be directly related to the uptake by both industry and community,” said Leanne Kohler. “Providing the community with the tools to manage their future through addressing a broad range of issues and services proved to be effective, and from what people are telling us, there are long term benefits to the community.

“It is such a shame that we were unable to secure any further funding for what has been one of our very best initiatives.”

Key Achievements

> 35 community information and training events over three years

> $147,000 leveraged through productive partnerships

> 1,115 attendees to LSSP events

> 341 individual properties represented

> Over 6,000,000 ha of grazing rangelands managed by attendees

> New ideas shared and new skills acquired by community members

> Successful networks created between government and community services

> Mental and physical health issues addressed along with sustainability and profitability

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Begoogled

Desert Channels Group has, from the outset, been well to the fore on the technology wave and, in its own inimitable style, has taken on the technology frontier with great verve. We have always been a strong supporter and user of the enQuire online project reporting system, including developing functionalities and utilising online application forms. While some may be dragged into the 21st century kicking and screaming, we have chosen to leap into a bold new frontier by changing from a local server-based filing and email system to cloud computing.

What is this cloud computing you may well ask. Put simply, it is internet-based instead of server-based. Cloud computing, in the shape of Google Apps, provides the team members at Desert Channels Group with the flexibility to log into emails, corporate documents and intranet from any internet connection in the world - no more remotely connecting to the ‘home’ server. In short, it provides flexibility, mobility and collaboration, and all wrapped up in a use-friendly bundle with a 99.9% up-time guarantee.

Not only does this provide unrivalled capacity for working remotely, it allows time-efficient collaboration with remote colleagues or

external partners. Documents can be shared and multiple users (up to 50) can edit simultaneously while also holding a chat conversation on the side. And, there are voice calls, SMS messages and video conferencing, all without leaving the inbox - a powerful office tool to take us into the future.

Anywhere we can pick up a signal or plug into a port is now our office. Even better, we have the best computer engineers and software developers in the world working for us, maintaining, upgrading or replacing servers; ensuring backups and multiple redundancies; maintaining email security; and rolling out upgrades and updates to our system without us knowing or having to pay for them. Every day is an adventure of discovery, with the Google developers constantly providing new features and functionality.

Powering both the location and recovery of emails and documents is the famed Google search engine that retrieves data in seconds. ‘Where did Fred put that document?’ or ‘Where is that email about painted Easter eggs?’ are questions of the past. The time savings are enormous and the efficiency dividends ongoing.

At a fraction of the cost of the traditional local, proprietary server, Google Apps has already been embraced by more than 4 million businesses world wide. Desert Channels Group is now up there with the likes of Jaguar, National Geographic, City of Los Angeles, BASF, The King’s College, and District of Columbia Government.

We’re enjoying continuing cost savings and work efficiencies. We think it’s great! You could say we are bewitched or besotted with it, or simply … begoogled.

In the age of exploration and settlement, the west was frontier land; it seems little has changed as we rocket along in the age of technology ...

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… Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons.

Popular Mechanics, 1949

The Recording Traditional Ecological Knowledge Project, One step back; two steps forward, is stepping ahead in perfect time to its prescribed beat. Despite a late start due to delayed release of funds, we are currently on track to be completed in the first half of 2012.

Traditional knowledge continues to be an elusive gossamer that delicately holds its treasure in the past, and that tenuous grasp on ancient wisdom weakens each day as more information is lost with the passing of Traditional Owners and elders.

This project takes a step back into the past, capturing and recording traditional knowledge and taking it, not only one step into the present, but two steps into the future. For thousands of years this country was sustainably managed by its first caretakers, and it is to them we are looking for wisdom. It is a search for understandings of caring for country, knowledge from the past, that can help us to better manage our resources today and into the future.

How was land managed in days gone by? What did it mean to respect a waterhole and how did that effect its management and, therefore, its natural resource?

Our project officer, Ronell Frazer, is a local girl who previously worked as a Ranger with the Environmental Protection Agency. Knowing the people and the country have helped her move the project along.

The project is managed by the Georgina Diamantina Cooper Aboriginal Group. The first sizable project for them, it has provided an unrivaled opportunity to develop the group’s capacity and skills as they make decisions on direction and budget.

The first key event in the project was to provide training in videography for those in the Indigenous community who wanted to be upskilled in this area. Ten eager participants from the region joined Ronell for two days of training to cover the basics. This was followed up by another two-day workshop a month later to consolidate and build on the knowledge.

The enjoyment and energy of the training sessions were measured by the amount of laughter and noise coming from the room. With participants ranging from their 20s to 60s, there was plenty of the typical ‘techno-savvy’ youth helping the ‘techno-wary’ older ones. While the project’s central information will flow the other way, the strong bridges built during the training sessions are key to the sharing of traditional information between generations, and to moulding it into a format that can cross cultures.

To ensure the best understanding and utilisation of the traditional knowledge, and to link to what we know now, partnerships have been built with a number of key scientists.

Dancing along

‘One step back, two steps forward’ sounds a bit like a dance instruction but, don’t be fooled …

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Another key component of the project is the development of a database to store and share knowledge in ways appropriate to the sensitivity of the material. We are working towards an internet-based storage system that will allow interaction with the Indigenous community from anywhere in the region. With capabilities to access or upload data anywhere, it will allow the project to live on once the current part has been completed.

Now that the music has begun, it mustn’t stop. One step back, two steps forward is a trois pas, or ‘three step’ we all should learn.

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The traditional way was oral history. It was handed down by story telling,

by teaching and walking behind your elders.By providing this training, it is helping to keep records forever. What a great way to show plants and fruit and how to pick them. We could lose all of this forever if it is not recorded.Jeanice Thompson

Order your products now

The Snakes of Western Queensland A Field Guide is an easy-to-use reference book for travellers, naturalists and locals alike. The technically correct and simply presented information in this 136 page handbook is a great way for either the expert or lay-person to get better acquainted with the snakes of the region. It’s an excellent addition to the glove-box, bookshelf or library and includes over 100 vibrant, full colour photographs.

RRP $19.95 Postage and Handling $8

Growing Outback Gardens is a 117 page, full-colour book that sets you on the journey to making an attractive garden that can cope with the harsh extremes of the Outback environment. With a combined four decades in the Outback, authors Mike Chuk and Jeff Poole take you through how to plan a garden, select plants, irrigation systems, mulches, worms, vegetables, fruit and flowers. What more could you ask for if you’re into sowin’ things and growin’ things.


This 137 page reference booklet is full of information about Channel Country trees, shrubs, grasses, forbes and cacti. The introduced species, poisonous or problem plants and Weeds of National Significance (WONS) or plants that are potential weeds, are all marked (as of 2006). Produced by the Channel Landcare Group and the Georgina Diamantina Catchment Committee and authored by Rhondda Alexander, the original print run was funded and distributed cost free. Subsequent unfunded runs are priced at a cost recovery rate of $5.00. Postage and Handling $8

Frogs of the Lake Eyre Basin – A Field Guide, is a 140 page handbook that will satisfy the curious naturalist in all of us. The concise text is supported by vibrant photographs of the 44 native frog species of the Lake Eyre Basin as well as the omnipresent Cane Toad. This easy to use reference book is all you’ll need to whet your appetite for the diverse, unusual and surprising frog life in this, the driest part of our continent.


Westering, an award winning 80 page collection of bush verse of western Queensland, exudes passion for the outback and a love of the land, its lifestyle and its people. Forwarded by bush legend, RM Williams, Westering paints a vivid picture of wide horizons, and a way of life, far from the confines of civilisation, that is rapidly disappearing. Penned by former Australian Champion performance bush poet, Mark Kleinschmidt, it epitomising what tens of thousands flock to see every year...... the Outback!


16 beautiful, multi-purpose cards featuring plants, animals, birds and scenes of the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin. These cards are 15cm X 10cm when closed and come in packs of 2, with envelopes.

1 Pack (2 cards) $4.95, 5 pack (10 cards) $19.95 and 8 pack (16 cards) $29.95 Postage and Handling $8

New to our range of products are 5 informative Natural History posters, depicting common examples from within the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin (Desert Channels Region). Each beautifully photographed matt finished poster, with accompanying text, is 594mm X 841mm. Posters include; Birds (19 species), Reptiles (20 species) Fauna (18 species), Flora (16 species) and Regional Weeds (10)

RRP $10 Postage and Handling $15

PEST PLANTS OF THE DESERT CHANNELS REGION: IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL

This DVD is an initiative of Desert Channels Queensland’s Cross Catchments Weeds and Feral Animals Initiative funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust 2. Purchase your copy of this easy to use DVD which shows how to identify and control the major, as well as the new and emerging, pest plants in the Desert Channels Region.


This colourful poster map (1108mm X 867mm) is surrounded by more than 40 photos and loads of information about rivers and wetlands, plants and animals, climate, terrain, towns, homestead names, Aboriginal lands, parks and reserves, land use, the management of natural resources in the Lake Eyre Basin and more. All proceeds go towards raising awareness of this unique part of Australia.

RRP $40 Postage and Handling $15

From over 200 entries, 12 beautiful photos, depicting a smorgasbord of the Channel Country, have been chosen for the Inaugural Desert Channels Group - Vast Arts The Channel Country Photographic Competition Calendar 2012. With assistance from many sponsors, we are proud to onsell this high quality calendar. Proceeds from sales of these calendars go towards significant natural resource management projects in this region.

RRP Desk Calendar $15.95 RRP Wall Calendar $19.95 Postage and Handling $8

Women on Top is a collection of stories from 11 gutsy women who have, while juggling work and home life, overcome adversity to succeed against the odds through determination, humour or heart. Our very own CEO, Leanne Kohler, has written an honest and candid chapter about making the hard decisions that enabled our organisation to adapt to changing circumstances and to survive. Through strong leadership, hard work, perseverance and deep compassion, Leanne built a productive, resilient team capable of offering valuable services to Western Queensland and beyond.


Order form

Product Quantity Unit cost + postage Totale.g. Wall Calendar 3 $27.95 $83.85

TOTAL

"

Fax to 07 4658 0122 or post with payment to:

DCG

PO Box 601

LONGREACH Q 4730

Payment:

Credit card type: ___________________

Card No.: _______ _______ _______ _______

Exp: _______ / _______

Name on card: ___________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________

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Our team

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Our team

Organisation structure

Desert Channels Group Advisory Council

Leanne Kohler

Desert Channels Group Board of Directors

Members, Community Representatives

Chief Executive Officer

Peter Douglas - ChairmanGuy Fitzhardinge, Errol Entriken,

Leonie Nunn, Gerry Fogarty - Board

COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ON-GROUND DELIVERIES

Brittany WakefieldOffice Manager &

PA to CEO

Shelleagh HuntFinance Manager

Mark KleinshcmidtCommercial

Services Manager

Alun HoggettCommunication and Technology Consultant

Michael CastrisosBusiness Development Officer

Roelie HartwigPR & Marketing Consultant

Chris RosinField Officer

Mike ChukCommercial Principal Consultant

Christie HoadProject / Contract Officer

Emma EganLandcare Facilitator

Peter SpenceNRM Facilitator

Jade FraserGEO Spatial Consultant

Sue AkersNRM Program

Manager

Ronell FrazerRTEK Officer

Jeff PooleSpecial Projects Officer

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Desert Channels Group Advisory Council

Leanne Kohler

Desert Channels Group Board of Directors

Members, Community Representatives

Chief Executive Officer

Peter Douglas - ChairmanGuy Fitzhardinge, Errol Entriken,

Leonie Nunn, Gerry Fogarty - Board

COMMERCIAL BUSINESS ON-GROUND DELIVERIES

Brittany WakefieldOffice Manager &

PA to CEO

Shelleagh HuntFinance Manager

Mark KleinshcmidtCommercial

Services Manager

Alun HoggettCommunication and Technology Consultant

Michael CastrisosBusiness Development Officer

Roelie HartwigPR & Marketing Consultant

Chris RosinField Officer

Mike ChukCommercial Principal Consultant

Christie HoadProject / Contract Officer

Emma EganLandcare Facilitator

Peter SpenceNRM Facilitator

Jade FraserGEO Spatial Consultant

Sue AkersNRM Program

Manager

Ronell FrazerRTEK Officer

Jeff PooleSpecial Projects Officer

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Our staffAlun Hoggett

Born in London, raised in Canberra, Paris, and many other parts of the world, Alun tried his hand at singing in a band and acting in Sydney after leaving school. After completing a degree in Computer Science

he moved to Longreach in 1996 and spent many years building maps and information about the Lake Eyre Basin.

Alun now works at making films and other information-based projects. He loves working with people around the outback and telling their stories in film. Outside of work he teaches yoga and meditation, and enjoys family life with his partner and daughter.

Brittany Wakefield

After completing a Certificate II in Business Administration in her final year of school, Brittany started with DCG in 2007 as Administration Officer.

Brittany has since worked in finance, project management and is now the Office Manager and PA to the CEO. Brittany was born in New Zealand and grew up in Australia and, while she loves the outback lifestyle, still calls New Zealand home ... and supports the All Blacks.

Christie Hoad

Christie is a local lass who joined the team straight from school in 2005. She completed a Certificate III in Business Administration, and now helps landholders with their on-ground

projects, which she thoroughly enjoys. Needing a change and to see what was ‘out there’, she moved to Toowoomba in 2009 to work with Condamine Alliance for a year.

The wide open spaces and the relaxed, easy-going lifestyle brought her back to the bush that she’ll always call home. In her spare time, Christie likes to chill out with her friends and family, and play table tennis.

Chris Rosin

With roots in far North Queensland, Chris worked as a rural contractor, fencing and controlling weeds, before an accident forced him to reevaluate his career. He completed

a BSc in aquatic resource management and environmental science at Central Queensland University before joining DCG. His focus has since changed from Landcare to water and bore testing, and environmental services.

He has a deep love for the bush and for protecting our natural resources through sustainable land use. Chris enjoys rugby (go the Reds), cricket and golf as well as fishing and horse riding with his partner and their four children.

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Emma Egan

Emma spent her early years on the Thomson River floodplains on a grazing property. She worked in a car dealership before joining the Department of Natural Resources

in 1996. While working in admin for the Bore Drain Replacement Scheme and then the Natural Heritage Trust programs, Emma found a passion for natural resource management.

During the establishment of DCQ, Em provided critical admin support and has since worked her way through various positions to now be the Landcare Facilitator. The Outback and its people are in Emma’s blood.

Colleen James

One of 12 children, Colleen has worked in the pastoral industry in Australia and overseas. She has a great affinity for the bush and its people and is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Colleen enjoys

travelling and adventure sports.

Running the Landholder Support Service Project gave her the opportunity to travel across the Desert Channels region and to work closely with community.

She is glad to have experienced two good wet seasons after the long drought.

Jade Fraser

A traveller and adventurer, Jade has lived and worked in different parts of Asia, acquiring a wealth of skill and knowledge about the region. He loves the sea and worked as a marine biologist

before going into the ugly world of minefield clearance. For the past four years, he has been cartographing his way around the Desert Channels region.

Jade is a quiet achiever who likes anything with a challenge: he is married with two gorgeous daughters with whom he struggles to keep up.

Jeff Poole

Born in NZ, Jeff came to his mother’s country in his twenties, and has stayed. While he is best known for his culinary skills, he also brings a very diverse background in chemistry, music,

event management and advertising to the team. As Special Projects Officer, his role at DCG is equally diverse.

His six years at DCG have seen him working with Indigenous people, graphic design, running projects and co-authoring the Growing Outback Gardens book. Jeff is passionate about preserving the values of the region.

Leanne Kohler

Originally from Alpha, Leanne joined the Department of Primary Industries’ typing pool, and worked her way up the government ladder to Regional Advisor Business Services for the Department of Natural Resources. In 2002 she left to become the foundation CEO of DCQ, and proceeded to shape an organisation that reflected her ideals of community, people, compassion and truth. Leanne’s journey, and her commitment to making a difference, particularly regarding women’s roles in society, saw her invited to write a chapter for Women on Top - against all odds. She holds family and friends very dear, followed closely by shoe shopping. 41

Mark Kleinschmidt

A child of the west, Mark spent 25 years working the land, much of it running his own business. His passion for writing saw him get involved in regional communications for 10 years, the last six

as editor of the highly acclaimed e-zine, The Basin Bullet.

Mark’s connection to the region and its people is reflected in his poems, songs and short stories. He is the author of the award-winning best-seller, Westering – bush verse of Western Queensland. Married with two sons, Mark enjoys being out in the bush, bike-riding and tennis.

Mike Chuk

After a long career in natural resource management, Mike retired (sort of) in early 2011. His huge knowledge and wisdom in the field has seen him remain in high demand, and he still helps out at

DCG from time to time. His passions are the better management of Australia’s rangelands and the battle against invasive cacti. The latter sees him travel the country in his role as Chair of the Australian Invasive Cacti Network.

Mike and his wife occasionally escape to the coast to cultivate their new found love of sailing.

Peter Spence

Peter’s family settled in the Longreach area in 1895. After leaving school, he spent 27 years working the land, much of it in partnership with his family in the Muttaburra district. He also worked for

eight years as Shire Rural Lands Officer and Works Supervisor for the Ilfracombe Shire then the Longreach Regional Council. He has a great love for the bush and its people, understanding of life on the land, and knowledge of conservation and management.

Married with two older children who have left home, Peter loves rugby (Reds, Wallabies) and music from the 60s and early 70s.

Michael Castrisos

Born in Roma, Michael spent his early years in the little town of Surat before moving to Brisbane for education opportunities. He interspersed his degrees in

Communications, Human Movement and Education with various work experiences including corporate travel and marketing, as an instructor with Outward Bound, and as a consultant for Corporate Escapes. He has also been a teacher in Brisbane and several Outback schools, most recently as Principal at Birdsville.

Michael is passionate about the Desert Channels region and his red-heeler, Dave.

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Roelie Hartwig

Roelie is a trained Montessori teacher but, as a city girl, rarely crossed the Great Dividing Range to see what was over the other side. Thanks to a PR job at Desert Channels in late 2007, she is now

truly passionate about the region and all that DCG is and does.

Her outgoing personality, ease with people, skills in writing and organising, and love of the lifestyle of the west, helps keep DCG in the public eye. She’ll answer your call, send you a book, write a media release, see you at events, or even have a chat.

Shelleagh Hunt

Shelleagh is a Longreach girl who joined DCG in April 2011 after spending over a decade as an accountant with a local firm. Her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of

Southern Queensland is proving useful in her role as Finance Manager with DCG, as she is challenged everyday with ways to combine financial requirements with funding obligations for our natural resource management projects.

Shelleagh loves a good catch up with family and friends and the easy-going lifestyle that Longreach and its region offers.

Sue Akers

Sue grew up in England where she trained as a geographer, before working for ten years in Africa and Asia on community development projects. She then spent over a

decade in tropical North Queensland working in geographic information systems, and community extension and education services with the Environmental Protection Agency. Sue has been with the Desert Channels Group for five years, and is the Program Manager for our Australian and Queensland government NRM investments. She loves writing, travelling, singing and bush walking.

Ronell Frazer

Born and bred in Barcaldine, Nellie has four children ageing from 2 - 16 and all 5 yrs apart. Growing up she always wanted to be a National Parks ranger to care for her country. This dream came true in 2007

when she was given the opportunity to work in a number of national parks of the Diamantina and Cooper catchments as an Indigenous ranger. She realised that our country is already protected by National parks and decided to do something that really makes a difference.

The Recording Traditional Ecolgocial Knowledge Project works with the Traditional Elders to capture and protecting their knowledge for our future generations so that it would remain with us forever.

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Our board

Peter Douglas Chair

Guy FitzhardingeVice Chair

A passionate Collingwood supporter, Peter originally hails from Melbourne, but has been on the land most of his life. While working through The Territory, The Gulf and the Channel Country, he has worked his way from jackaroo, to area manager, to now owning and running Juno Downs with his wife. Peter is passionate about our environment and how to produce from it without destroying it. He spent 17 years in local government, 8 of them as mayor. Peter is the inaugural, and to date, the only chair of DCQ.

Born and raised in the bush, when he wasn’t at boarding school or university, Guy could be found working and communing with the land he loves. He is a former board member of Meat Research Corporation, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Australian Bush Heritage, Chair of the Beef Ge-netics CRC, the Karrkand Kandji Trust, a member of Threatened Species Scientific Advisory Com-mittee and Deputy-Chair of DCQ. Guy loves DCG and the job it is doing, and is passionate about ecologically functional landscapes and healthy communities.

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Leonie Nunn Treasurer

Errol was born in Richmond, grew up in the Lockyer Valley, was secondary educated in Charters Towers, and a foundation student of the Longreach Pastoral College. He managed family properties in the Richmond and Corfied districts before purchasing Sesbania in the late 70s. Errol spent three years on the Community Reference Panel for the Georgina Diamantina Water Resource Plan and Water Operation Plan, and ten years on the Georgina Diamantina Catchment Committee, two as the chair. He has a sound knowledge of water development and infrastructure, and is passionate about the profitable, sustainable management of our catchment.

Errol Entriken

Gerry is a Bidajara man, born and bred in Barcaldine. He has worked for the Department of Transport and Main Roads for 42 years, is the vice-chair of the Central West Aboriginal Corporation in Barcaldine, a board member of Wangan and Jagalingou Aboriginal Corporation, and chair of the Georgina Diamantina Cooper Aboriginal Group.

Gerry is not only passionate about caring and protecting our country for future generations, but also to see Aboriginal people educated, live healthy lives, be employed and maintain culture. He is committed to being a great role model for younger generations.

Gerry Fogarty

South Australian Outback born & raised, Leonie and her husband have managed a grazing property in the Stonehenge area since 1983. She is a teacher by trade, and has always been heavily involved in community organisations.

In 2007, she was elected chair of the Cooper’s Creek Catchment Committee (a position she held for 3 years), and became a board member of Desert Channels Queensland. Leonie also sits on the Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory Committee. Her passion for, and interest in, the grazing industry extends across the region.

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Turning

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Financials47

Financial snapshot 2010/2011

Highlights

• Desert Channels Group has had a successful year in completing project milestones within budget.

• DCG has continued its annual Protecting our Future funding rounds with a total in excess of $450,000 devolved to successful applicants. These funds have gone to supporting landholders and community groups for the protection of our region’s natural resources and the eradication of pests and Weeds of National Significance. This year our focus included:

1. 5 Community Small Grant Projects

2. 16 Improved Groundcover Projects

3. 4 Weeds of National Significant Projects

4. 1 Endangered Ecosystems Project

5. 5 Cactus Projects

Expenses & Funding at a Glance $3.14 million

Note: This graph represents expenses from our Detailed Profit and Loss Statement, less depreciation, plus capital expenditure. Unexpended grant funds as at 30th June 2011 have been carried forward into the 2011/2012 Financial Year.

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A comprehensive financial report can be viewed online at: www.dcq.org.au/financials-2011

Highlights

• The 2010/2011 Financial Year has seen continued Government support to the Desert Channels Group with approximately $3.12 million in State and Federal funding.

• Other Funding (AG & QG) includes government projects such as Pigs Might Fly and Recording Traditional Ecological Knowledge that were approved through competitive bid processes of Caring for Our Country.

• DC Solutions, our commercial services arm, has shown significant growth with turnover almost doubling in the last 12 months. Due to this, DC Solutions is able to provide assistance for sustainable management of the natural resources of the region through additional non-government-funded activities.

Income & Funding at a Glance $3.96 million

DISCLOSURE: This Desert Channels Group financial snapshot is based on unaudited accounts at time of printing.

Note: This graph includes unspent grant funds from previous years, grant revenue, and other income such as interest, saleable items, membership fees, donations and commercial services.

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Anticipating

50

Index51

A

Annual highlights 10Australian Invasive Cacti Network 11, 42

B

Barcoo 11, 16, 17, 54Basin Bullet 16, 42Begoogled 28Biological control 17Blueprint for the Bush 16, 17, 24Bore and water testing unit 11

C

Calendar 33Caring for our Country 10, 16, 17CEO’s report 13Chair’s report 12Cloud computing 28Cooper Creek 17

D

Dancing along 30DC Solutions 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19Deductible Gift Recipient Status 11, 20Desert Channels Foundation 5, 6, 11, 12, 20Desert Channels region 27

E

Erosion control workshops 10

F

Feature stories 23Feral pig control 11, 17Financial snapshot 48Frogs of the Lake Eyre Basin 10, 16, 32

G

Georgina-Diamantina 17Georgina Diamantina Cooper Aboriginal Group

16, 17GIS 16Google Apps 28Growing Outback Gardens 32

J

Joint Strategic Investment Panel 10

L

Lake Eyre Basin Map 33Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum 11Landcare 11, 13, 17, 25, 31, 32, 40, 41Landholder Support Service Project 17, 24Local government 10, 44

N

Natural Disaster Environmental Recovery 10Natural History poster 33

O

On-ground projects 10, 17Order form 34Organisation structure 38Our board 44Our staff 40

P

Parkinsonia dieback project 17Prickly Acacia control 17Product page 32

R

Rangelands Alliance 11Recording Traditional Ecological Knowledge Pro-

ject 11, 17, 30Regional NRM Groups Collective 11

S

Snakes of Western Queensland 32Speaking with a lisp 24Sustainable grazing forum 10

T

Traditional knowledge 17, 30

V

Video editing 11

W

Weed management 17Westering 32Women on Top 33

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Cover: Channel Country - Helen CommensInside cover: Winton Lightshow - Ruth Rickardp4: Channel Country - Helen Commensp7: The Veins of the Land - Brett Gillespiep8: View from Deon’s lookout - Lorraine Kathp10: Little Observer - Louise Gronold p14: Bird at Lily Lagoon - Ron Keoughp18: Sundowners - Jayne Douyerep21: Billabong Lillies - Douglas Rodgersp22: Dawn Breaking on the Thomson - Louise Moloneyp26: Falcon Takeoff - Michael Goldsworthyp27: Barcoo Flows - Debra O’Rourke p29: Moondah Lake at Sunset - Lorraine Kathp31: RTEK training - Jeff Poolep35: Hazard Reduction - Lillian Kentp36-43: Staff photos - Jeff Poolep46: The Calm before the Excitement - Bruce Partlap49: Blazing sunset - Carley Walker

Photo credits

Images used with permission from the Desert Channels Group and Vast Arts photographic competition, 2011.

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CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS & BUSINESS ADVISERS

Sustainability People

NACC

Acknowledgements

The Desert Channels Group would like to thank our funders and partners and the people of the region for their continued support.

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