discovering ‘citizen science’ in brief€¦ · discovering ‘citizen science’ rabbits are no...

THE LAND | Thursday, August 26, 2010 1● ● ● ●

SCIENCE |'si-ns|: the intellectualand practical activity encompass-ing the systematic study of the

structure and behavior of the physicaland natural world through observa-tion and experiment.

Who better to contribute to scientif-ic understanding of Australia than thepeople out in the natural world,observing and shaping it: Landcarers?

That idea underpins the “citizen sci-entists” theme of Landcare Week 2010,set to run from September 6 to 13.

Citizen science engages the publicto observe changes in the naturalworld and report into a central infor-mation repository, which can thenserve as a benchmark against whichall future changes are measured.

For instance, last year’s RabbitScanoperation collected information onrabbit densities, distribution anddamage from 3400 sites aroundAustralia – an invaluable resource forscientists wanting to check on shiftsin rabbit populations in the future.

Landcare Australia’s chief executive,Heather Campbell, is also a director ofEarthwatch Institute, an organisationthat links conservation volunteers withenvironmental restoration projects.

Earthwatch’s latest initiative isClimateWatch, a citizen science initia-tive that engages the public in observ-ing changes in the natural world thatmight help scientists better under-stand the effects of climate change.

“The idea is to get a huge pool ofdata that scientists can then use tohelp determine what is actually hap-pening,” Ms Campbell said.

“Landcarers, Coastcarers are out

there as natural observers anyway.While they are out there doing theiractivities, they can get involved infeeding information back into thescience community.”

Launched in October 2009, Climate-Watch is an ongoing program, and theplan is that it will run indefinitely toamass the depth of information thatallows scientists to identify trends.

Landcare members who contribu-

ted to ClimateWatch or any of therange of citizen science programs –see box – were effectively contribut-ing to the science that informed poli-cy, Ms Campbell said.

In turn, that enhanced scientificand policy understanding could bol-ster the Landcare concept of commu-nity driven environmental repair.

“We’re trying to marry the scienceand the importance of the work beingdone there with an amazing commu-nity movement involving hundreds ofthousands of volunteers.”

“This is the international Year ofBiodiversity. There has been a lot ofwork being done to show that biodi-versity is decreasing, and that climatechange will accelerate that.”

“This really is a good link betweenthe work of Landcarers in the com-munities and international efforts totry and come up with initiatives toreduce the impacts of climate change.”

Discovering ‘citizen science’

RABBITS are no longer the focus ofstories of nature gone feral, but evenat diminished numbers, theycontinue to wreak havoc on theAustralian landscape.

Just one rabbit per hectare can beenough to stop regeneration of allnative plants, scientists have found.

Across Australia, rabbits have beenestimated to cost the nation $110million a year in degradation andlack of regeneration.

All of which makes a great case forLandcare Week involvement inRabbitScan, a “citizen science”

initiative to map rabbits and theirinfluence across Australia.

Last year the Rabbit ManagementAdvisory Group (RMAG), under thechairmanship of David Lord,“Thackaringa”, Broken Hill, devisedRabbitScan as a way of quantifyingAustralia’s rabbit challenge, to helpscientists better address the issueand raise awareness amongpolicymakers.

The idea is simple: wherever they are, people can survey local rabbit populations and report back on the “three Ds” –

density, distribution and damage.Rabbit locations, and the

associated reports, are then put on aGoogle Earth map to provide agraphic picture of rabbits inAustralia.

RabbitScan project manager, JennyQuealy, said the program had beenaiming for 5000 sites in 2009; it got3400 before it ran out of funding.

Now the Federal Australian PestAnimal Management Program andsome corporations, includingWoolworths and Toshiba, havehelped restart the program.

Ms Quealy said public input intothe RabbitScan database would bean important factor in getting areplacement for the rabbithaemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV,formerly known as rabbitcalicivirus), now considered past itsuse-by date.

The concept may also be extendedto include other ferals like camels,cane toads and wild dogs.■ For more information aboutparticipating in RabbitScan, visitwww.rabbitscan.net.au

– MATTHEW CAWOOD

New phase in rabbit fight: the eyes have it

Get InvolvedGet InvolvedThe list of citizen science programs thatLandcare members can contribute toduring Landcare Week includes:ClimateWatch www.climatewatch.org.au Melbourne Water’s Frog Census(Melbourne)www.frogs.melbournewater.com.au Other frog surveys www.frogatlas.com.au Birds in the Backyardwww.birdsinbackyards.net/surveys

Waterwatch www.waterwatch.org.au RabbitScan www.rabbitscan.net.au Reef Life Survey www.reeflifesurvey.com –volunteer scuba divers wantedEarthwatch Australiawww.earthwatch.org/australia/expeditionsBarbara Hardy Centre for SustainableUrban Environment (Adelaide)www.unisa.edu.au/barbarahardy/research/citizen-science.asp

Sea Search (Victoria)www.peopleandparks.org/programs/marine-connections/sea-search.htmlREDMAP (Tasmania) www.redmap.org.au– looking for input from scuba divers,recreational and commercial fishersECOCEAN Whale Shark Photo-ID Library(international) www.goearthtrek.comGlobe at Night (international)www.globeatnight.org

In BriefLandcare gets mobile help:Australia’s official mobile phonerecycling program, MobileMuster, andLandcare Australia are combiningforces to give Australia’s coastline ahelping hand this summer.

The two not-for-profit organisationsare encouraging all Australians toround up their old and broken mobilephones, batteries and accessories andhand them in for recycling.

For every kilogram of mobile phonesreceived by 31 October, a tree will beplanted in five key coastal areas acrossAustralia.

To recycle an old mobile phone, eitherdrop them off at a mobile phoneretailer or collection point (to find outwhere, go to www.mobilemuster.com.au or call 1300 730 070) or post themby picking up a free MobileMusterrecycling satchel from Australia Post.

You can even post them by printingoff a reply paid mailing label fromwww.mobilemuster.com.au

Avatar message in action:The blockbuster film, Avatar, carried abig-hitting environmental message thatwill be given an earthly form in anambitiousprogram toplant onemillion treesacross theworld in2010.

Earth DayNetwork andAvatarstudio, 20thCentury Fox,are teaming up with environmental andreafforestation organisations in 15countries to bring attention to bear onthe importance of trees in mitigatinggreenhouse gases.

Landcare Australia has been selectedas a partner in the program, which notonly seeks to get the trees in theground, but to ensure they will becared for until maturity.

Landcare has committed to planting30,000 trees in Australia as part of theinitiative.■ Updates will be posted on theLandcare website,www.landcareonline.com.au

‘Hands’ get a lift: The “caringhands” logo that has come to symboliseLandcare has been given a facelift.

The original design has become oneof the most recognised symbols inAustralia.

The new design for the Landcare,Junior Landcare and Coastcare logosretains the caring hands, but in asetting that reflects the 21st century.

Along with the logo refresh, LandcareAustralia has updated its style guide forgroups and corporate partners wantingto incorporate the logos into publicitymaterial.

The style guide can be downloaded atwww.landcareonline.com.au – look forthe Media Centre under the Resourcestab.

LEFT:Landcarevolunteersalong a riverin Victoria,collectingwater qualitydata.Waterwatchis a nationalcommunitywater qualitymonitoringnetwork thatencouragesallAustraliansto becomeactive in theprotection oftheirwaterways.

Group science and environment writer

Landcare Week 2010 Proudly Supported by

Landcare Week 6th - 13th September Landcare Australia is giving every Australian the opportunity to help scientists across the globe study the impact of climate change on our ecosystems by monitoring, collecting and recording data from their own backyards, suburban streets, parks and bushland.

Landcare Week celebrates the efforts and work of over 4,000 landcare groups and countless volunteers. As a Landcare ClimateWatcher you will be part of the landcare community, who are making a positive contribution to their local environment from work, school and home.

To register to be a Landcare ClimateWatcher or for more information about Landcare Week events in your local community, visit www.landcareonline.com.au

Campaign Partner

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2 THE LAND | Thursday, August 26, 2010● ● ● ●

National Award WinnersNational Award WinnersLocal Government Individual Landcarer:Kate McLaren, Attunga, NSW.Woolworths Primary Producer: Clover HillDairies, Jamberoo, NSW.Australian Young Landcare Leader: ErinRowe, Hawkesbury, NSW.Australian Government Natural ResourceManagement (NRM) Region: DesertChannels Queensland, Longreach, Qld.Australian Government Local LandcareFacilitator/Co-ordinator: John DavidNicholas, Charters Towers, Qld.Australian Government Innovation inSustainable Farm Practices: BST OysterSupplies, Cowell, SA.Local Government Landcare Partnerships:Huon Valley Council, Huon Valley, Tas.Toshiba Community Group: Little SwanportCatchment Management Plan ImplementationCommittee, Little Swanport, Tas.Australian Government Coastcare:Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Group andthe Point Danger Committee ofManagement, Warrnambool, Vic.Urban Landcare: Friends of Westgate Park,Melbourne, Vic.Westpac Education: Baldivis PrimarySchool, Baldivis, WA.Leighton Holdings Indigenous: SouthCoast NRM, South Coast, WA.People’s Choice: Sinclair’s Gully, NortonSummit, SA.

Sustainability

WHILE Sinclair’s Gully might beone of Australia’s smallest wine pro-ducers, its conservation efforts aremaking a splash across the country.

The Norton Summit vineyardtook out the People’s Choice Awardat the National Landcare Awards inCanberra.

Owners, Sean and Sue Delaney,were delighted to receive the acco-lade for their operation, which is thefirst advanced eco-certified vine-yard and cellar door in the AdelaideHills.

The People’s Choice Award isdecided by an open vote, with mem-bers of the public encouraged to votefor their favourite Landcare projectfrom the 88 national award finalists.

The Delaneys purchased their10.5-hectare property at NortonSummit in 1997, after many years ofsearching for their dream bushretreat in the Adelaide Hills.

A year later, they established aone-hectare vineyard in an existingclearing, planting it to sauvignonblanc and chardonnay grapes.

Operating with a green mindsetfrom the beginning, the couple’s

attention soon turned to the environ-ment surrounding their vineyard.

The Delaneys were concernedabout the dwindling amount of nat-ural vegetation left in the Mt LoftyRanges.

It is estimated less than 10 per centof the natural vegetation remains,and most of that is found on privateproperties.

The Delaneys were determined toreturn their share to pristine condi-tion.

Enchanted by the majestic candle-

bark gums from the moment theyfirst visited Sinclair’s Gully, the cou-ple has worked tirelessly for the past13 years.

In that time, they have turned anarea overrun by two-metre highblackberry bushes into the wood-land with the highest conservationrating in the Mt Lofty Ranges.

In recent years, their efforts havebeen rewarded with numerous envi-ronmental and tourism awards,including wins in the ecotourismand winery, distillery or boutiquebrewery tourism categories of theSouth Australian Tourism Awards.

As founding members of the locallandcare group Friends of MooresRoad, Mr and Mrs Delaney havebeen instrumental in getting thelocal community to think green.

Sinclair’s Gully is one of only twocellar doors nationally to have com-pleted the advanced eco certifica-tion accreditation program run byEcotourism Australia.

In June the business completed theClimate Action Program to achievethe climate action innovator certifi-cation.

In the 2009-10 financial year, thebusiness slashed its total emissionsby 29 per cent after cutting 24pcfrom its greenhouse gas emissionsand recording a 33pc drop in energyconsumption between 2008 and2009.

In order to further reduce theirfootprint, the Delaneys have imple-mented an environmental manage-ment system, which includes pro-grams to collect all water from thesite and recycle all materials used.

A solar electricity system has beeninstalled, meaning more than two-thirds of the business’s electricityconsumption is now generated onsite.

Synthetic herbicides and pesticideshave not been used for the past nineyears, and native grasses have beenplanted between rows to encouragebeneficial insects to repopulate.

– JACINTA ROSE

WHEN deregulation hit thedairy industry in 2000 theStrong family, like many other

farmers, thought about cutting theirlosses and moving west.

But instead they decided to stick it out– a choice which has turned their milk-ers into what are believed to beAustralia’s highest yielding pasture-fedcows.

But it wasn’t achieved overnight, norwas it with improved genetics – insteadLynne, Michael and their son, Nick, setabout improving their pastures anddoing what was best for the environ-ment and their cows.

They milk 400 cows, three times a day,across two properties, “Clover Hill” andLemon Grove Research Farm, nearJamberoo, New South Wales, produc-ing five million litres of milk a year.

This achievement was reached simplyby “growing as much grass” as possible.

Their hard work, and its environmen-tal benefits was recognised whenClover Hill Dairies won the NationalWoolworths Primary Producer Land-care award for 2010.

Mrs Strong said the trait which putthem over the line, above other farmersdoing “phenomenal” things, was theirinvolvement with the public.

Surrounded by an urban environ-ment they looked at what they weredoing “from our neighbours point of

view” like putting organic fertiliser outduring the week rather than the week-end, getting involved with the localcommunity, employing young peopleand taking part in education programsin schools.

It took a lot of faith for the Strongs tocontinue to pursue their new farmingtechnique.

The past two and a half years havebeen a “big learning curve” – it tooktwo years before they could even besure the enterprise would be as prof-itable as they thought.

“You have to have immense faith inyourself,” Mrs Strong said.

It was a path they started down whentheir consultant told them they hadtwo choices when deregulation wasintroduced and the drought followed –to either use a total mixed ration tofeed their cows or milk their cows threetimes a day.

The latter was by far the best option,because it’s more cost effective to makemoney from grass.

But it had its problems as well.“We had to look at the impact on the

land, and the cows, they would be trav-elling up to 50 per cent extra a day.”

The Strongs sought help from thelocal Small Farms Network, LandcareIllawarra and the Southern RiversCatchment Management Authority –this opened up funding from govern-ment and allowed them to make thechanges they needed to.

And it certainly paid off – Mrs Strong

Environmental

Sue and Sean Delaney were awarded the People’s Choice Award for their Sinclair’s Gully vineyard – the first advancedeco-certified vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.

Going green in the Adelaide Hills

PASSION for sustinability and bestpractice in the oyster industry at a locallevel has led to national andinternational recognition for three EyrePeninsula oyster growers.

BST Oyster Supplies, Cowell, SouthAustralia, won the Sustainable FarmPractices Award at the 2010 NationalLandcare Awards for its innovativepractices in improving natural resourcemanagement and productivity.

With no formal training, just “life”and a strong belief in the product andsystem, chief executive officer, AshleyTurner, was “stoked” at the nationalrecognition.

“We are only country boys having acrack,” he said.

Mr Turner, with fellow Cowell oysterfarmers and directors, Geoff Turnerand Tony Schultz, developed, producedand commercialised the BST AdjustableLongline Oyster Farming System to suitthe rough and weedy conditions atFranklin Harbour, SA.

From humble beginings in 1989, thebusiness has gone from strength to

In the 2009-10 financial year, (Sinclair’s Gully) slashed its total emissions by 29 per cent after

cutting 24pc from its greenhouse gas emissions andrecording a 33pc drop in energy consumption

between 2008 and 2009.‘

By KIMCHAPPELL

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In BriefAwards survey online: An onlinequestionnaire has been posted to evaluate the2010 National Landcare Awards.

Those who complete the questionnaire will helpmake the next National Landcare Awards an evenbigger success.

The survey is open to the general public, finalists,facilitators and Landcare Australia corporatesponsors.

It addresses different aspects of the awards,finalist workshops, awards venue, awards dinner,accommodation, judging process and applications.■ To provide your feedback visitwww.landcareonline.com.au and go to theLandcare Awards section under Resources.

Rise of the Green Nomad: Some of the“grey nomads” are taking on a new hue: they areworking with Landcare groups in Queensland tobecome a new breed of rover, the Green Nomads.

The Green Nomads program, an initiative ofQueensland Water and Land Carers (QLWC), theState’s Landcare peak body, pulls together theannual influx of retired wanderers who head northout of colder climates – known as the grey nomads– and Queensland’s large base of Landcarevolunteers, who struggle to find enough hands tofulfil their ambitions.

“Green Nomads is an innovative new programthat targets Australia’s large transient population,who through the program can volunteer withcommunity environmental groups to undertakeconservation work in the communities they travelthrough,” said Esma Armstrong, chair of QLWC.

Both parties can enjoy multiple benefits, MsArmstrong said: an appreciation of age andexperience, a love of travel, and environmentalresponsibility.■ To find out more about the GreenNomads visit www.greennomads.com.au orcontact Queensland Water and Land Carerson (07) 3252 7154.

Building knowledge base: The NationalLandcare Facilitator (NLF) and Landcare AustraliaLimited (LAL) are seeking the help of landcarersfrom across the country in collecting theknowledge that has been built by Landcare andrelated groups across the country since theinception of Landcare nearly 21 years ago.

The creation of the Landcare Knowledge Archiveis a partnership between the NLF and LAL and it isthe first time since the inception of Landcare thatthis knowledge is being collected in one place andwill be available to all.

The aim of the Landcare Knowledge Archive is tocapture existing print or electronic knowledge fromthe Landcare movement and make it publiclyaccessible in a central online location and build onthis in the future.

The initial building phase of the LandcareKnowledge Archive will not be open until Landcareweek in September when it is envisaged that theinitial material will go live on the Landcare Australiawebsite.

PDF copies of material can be submitted to theNational Landcare Facilitator at [email protected] along with an email which givesapproval of the author or responsible entity for it tobe made available to the public via the LALwebsite.

The material being sought for the archiveincludes books, guides, fact sheets, and any otherinformation which have been produced Landcarecommunity across the country.

– HELEN WALKER

strength and is recognisedworldwide as best practice oysterfarming. It is the only system usedon the Eyre Peninsula.

“Nature is dynamic,” AshleyTurner said.

“You have to be dynamic tocapture the maximum potential ofnature’s asset.”

The award was presented to BST in recognition of the minimalenvironmental impact of theadjustable long line system,recyclability of componentsandnatural carbon capture ofoysters.

“Farmers are the best custodiansof their asset, which is their landor water,” Mr Turner said.

“They are conservationists andare not going to jeopardise ordestroy their livelihood.”

He hopes their success will attractmore funding and sponsorship tothe local Cowell Area School’saquaculture program, enabling it tokeep up with industry best

practice technology and methods.The school is the first in

Australia to own and operate itsown oyster farm and has the

potential to attract studentsnationally and internationally.

Ashley said for the industry to beat the forefront of sustainability, it

needed young people entering itwith passion and the mostadvanced training.

– LOUISE MCBRIDE

LEFT: Co-winner of theAustralianGovernmentInnovation inSustainableFarm Practicesaward, AshleyTurner, BSTOysterSupplies,Cowell, SouthAustralia.

passion pays off for Eyre Peninsula innovators

said “Clover Hill” was now one ofAustralia’s most water-efficientmilk production systems produc-ing 125,000 litres of milk permegalitre of captured water com-pared to the industry average of3500 litres.

“Recognising you have to be prof-itable to reinvest in your landscapeand vice versa it became aboutkeeping our eyes open for fundingand being prepared to match whatwe were given dollar for dollar,” MrsStrong said.

With half of the 100 hectares of“Clover Hill” high conservationvalue rainforest, the family madethe decision to close it off to thecattle, only farming 50ha of land.

This strategy meant upgradinglaneways, installing concretecauseways over waterways, andgravity-fed water troughs in all thepaddocks.

Lemon Grove is the Strong’s“test” land – with up to 100 percent of the effluent from the oper-ation recycled onto 40pc of thepasture.

The pasture is 70pc Kikuyu baseoverplanted with annual rye/oatsand 30pc perennial legumes, herbsand brassicas overplanted withannual rye/oats.

This has reduced the feed gaps with the aim to have highquality pasture available all yearround.

The traditional slow pastureperiod of April to May no longerexists, allowing the Strongs to produce more milk at this time

and receive higher prices for it.“In winter we now have pasture

that is equal to spring,” Mrs Strongsaid.

“The cows are responding well toit and the higher quality grass islifting the fat and protein contentof our milk.”

focus boosts dairy profits

National Woolworths Primary Producer Landcare award winners, Lynne and Michael Strong holding their 2009 StateLandcare Primary Producer Award, with their son, Nick, and school-based apprentice, Emma Visser, (both standingbehind) on their farm, “Clover Hill Dairies”, Jamberoo, New South Wales.

Photo: Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania water quality project supported by the Qantas Foundation

The Qantas Foundation has supported Landcare Australia since 2009 providing funds for community environmental projects. The funds are directed to Landcare and Coastcare groups who focus on water quality and conservation projects including the Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania who restore vegetation adjacent to waterways and the ongoing training of Larrakia rangers in Darwin to accurately monitor water quality and its impact on Aboriginal food sources.

The Qantas Foundation proudly supports Landcare Week 2010.

For more information visit www.landcareonline.com.au

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WAITING patiently for thefilm crew, Landcare volun-teers stood on the sloping

river bank at Lilydale Sanctuary, nearGeelong, Victoria.

At the call of “action”, they carefullypicked their way through creepingunderbrush as they made their ascentup the bank, leaving freshly plantedtrees in their wake.

Laughing and chattering, theyworked for the camera, re-tracingsteps and halting under variousdirections as film crew dartedbetween trees and maneuveredthrough the bush in search of a per-fect shot.

The Sanctuary was just one locationon a two-day shoot described as a“call to arms” by Landcare AustraliaLimited chief executive officer,Heather Campbell.

“Landcare is an amazing movementwith amazing achievements,” MsCampbell said.

“And for it to continue to have suchgreat achievements on the ground, itneeds people to get involved.”

The ad will be launched duringLandcare Week (September 6 to 13)and will be accompanied by printand radio advertisements.

It will depict people from a diverserange of work backgrounds and agegroups climbing into a donation tinwhich will then be deposited in ruralsettings, with the intent of persuad-ing people to donate their time,rather than money.

“This is the right time to showLandcare as a great, vital, fun thing tobe a part of,” Ms Campbell said.

A national Landcare directory wasalso set to be launched duringLandcare Week, she said, whichwould provide keen community

members with an

opportunity to team up with a near-by group.

This advertisement has been fund-ed by the Federal Government undera Caring for our Country Grant andby the Department of Sustainabilityand Environment (DSE) in Victoria.

Team leader for the volunteerrecruitment initiative, StephanieCam, was on hand to represent theDSE during the Lilydale Sanctuaryshoot and said $2 million had beencommitted in the four years since2007 by the State Government toincrease Landcare membership andvolunteer numbers in Victoria.

Landcare has enjoyed healthy mem-bership growth and increased volun-teer numbers during this time.

Ms Cam said DSE and Landcarehoped the advertisement wouldresult in a further lift in member-ship.

“It will help us target people wehaven’t traditonally been involvedwith,” she said.

“There are still huge challenges forLandcare, such as demographicchange and property turn-over.

“Recruitment is not something youdo once and the job is done.

“We need to continue getting peo-ple thinking about the environmentand ways they can make a positivecontribution.”

She said Landcare would welcomeskills-based volunteers who would beable to assist with book-keeping, orwebpage management, for instance.

For Bronte Payne, who has beeninvolved with Landcare for 20 yearsand is the Geelong network coordi-nator, involvement has been a labourof love.

His Inverleigh property has longsince waved good-bye to livestockand is being slowly returned to its

natural state.During four years in the early 1990s

he planted 19,000 trees and has nowwelcomed back various bird species,wallabies and echidnas.

He said there were always chal-lenges in front of groups such as the one he co-ordinates and thatdespite their continual work toimprove remnant vegetation, therewas still a net loss of native vegeta-tion.

“We need to constantly be puttingnew stuff back in the landscape tooffset losses.”

His network is involved in

rabbit-baiting and restoration,revegetation and removal of woodyweeds along the Barwon andMoorabool rivers and also HovelsCreek.

More volunteers and memberswould mean many things to his net-work, Mr Payne said.

Projects followed people, he saidand in turn corporate and schoolinterest.

“If you have projects on-going, youhave a level of operation and supportwhich comes with it.”

But a base level of funding wasrequired to ensure a critical mass ofprojects and on-ground works, MrPayne said.

“If I have schools who

want to participate in a tree plantingday, I need on-ground works.

“But if I can’t buy trees or don’thave landholders engaged, it grindsto a halt.”

Mr Payne said he would like to seethe Landcare lobby become astronger voice and have an impact ongovernment direction, policy makingand attract a greater share of thefunding pie.

The Geelong network was currentlyrelying on state level funding whichcame in regular instalments.

He said to remain viable, the net-work needed about $100,000 a year.

Landcare volunteers go on camera By SHEENACOFFEY

Landcare volunteers being filmed entering the giant donation can in Geelong.

Scenes from the upcoming Landcare Australia advertisingcampaign.

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HOLDEN, a legendary Austral-ian brand, has joined forceswith another great Aussie

brand, Landcare, to enable someimportant environmental repairprojects across Australia.

Holden dealers from WesternAustralia, South Australia, Queens-land, New South Wales and Victoriahave swung their support behindLandcare Australia to help restorenatural habitats in local communi-ties.

The project, known as HoldenHabitats, will include creek restora-tions, weed control and revegetationprograms, foreshore vegetation,bushland recovery, habitat restora-tion for native species and waterpurifying floating islands.

The alliance means Holden cus-tomers now have the opportunity to

make a donation to Landcare as partof their servicing charge.

In Western Australia, donationsfrom Metro Motors Holden’s cus-tomers will go towards BennettBrook Reserve.

Metro Motors Holden principal,Paul Davies, who launched HoldenHabitats in Western Australia in June,said his dealership had pledged$12,000 to reduce fire hazards, eradi-cate weeds and restore local nativehabitats.

“The donation will also go towardspreventing erosion of the burnt sec-tion of the reserve from entering theBennett Brook and Perth’s SwanRiver,” Mr Davies said.

Other participating dealers includeCity Holden in Adelaide, BartonsBayside Holden in Brisbane, Heart-land Holden in Sydney, PrestonMotors Holden in Melbourne andMetro Motors Holden in Perth.

Holden executive director of manu-facturing operations, Martyn Cray,said the initiative allowed Holden todeepen its commitment to LandcareAustralia to a new level by engagingdealers at a more local level.

“I’m pleased to see our dealers buildon Holden’s relationship with Land-care Australia,” Mr Cray said.

“As a company, weare trying to createan environment bet-ter for all Aust-ralians, by buildingcars that use lessfuel, have loweremissions andremain affordablefor motorists.

“This is a greatopportunity for ourmany customers to

help our efforts toimprove the envi-ronment of the com-munities in whichwe live and work.”

Landcare Australiachief executive offi-cer Heather Camp-bell said HoldenHabitats had thepotential to make an enormousimpact on the environment at a com-munity level.

“The Holden Habitat program isthe first step to creating an environ-mental program that can be adoptedby Holden dealerships aroundAustralia,” Ms Campbell said.

“The program will provide fundingto groups who are currently working

hard to protect and repair local envi-ronmental issues.”

Paul Davies said his dealership hadworked closely with Landcare Aust-ralia and Holden GM to bring the Holden Habitat project tofruition.

“We want to show our customersand the community that we take thehealth of the environment and our

waterways seriously,” Mr Davies said.“Holden Habitats allows the

company to give funding to Land-care Australia for a local project over the next 12 months and pro-vides the opportunity for the Land-care/Holden team to donate theirtime at the local Landcare projectsite”.■ Visit www.landcareonline.com.au


GREEN credentials are not just a fly-ing thought at Qantas.

The company takes seriously itscommitment to the environment andsustainability, and also to providingvolunteering opportunities for itsemployees.

For two years theQantas Foundation –the company’s chari-table trust – has beeninvolved with Land-care Australia Limitedand will this year stepup its commitment tobecome the officialcorporate sponsorof Landcare Week,September 6 to 13.

Chief executiveofficer of the Foun-dation, Shirley Dav-ies (pictured), saidthe relationship had

been regarded as much more thanjust “a good thing to do”.

“Qantas takes great pride in sup-porting the iconic natural assets ofAustralia and we are involved in

ensuring, through Landcare, theirwork helps protect these natu-

ral assets.”Qantas staff found-ed the Green Teamin 2005 and itssteadily growing

membership – 1000employees to date –has shown the strong

desire of staff tobecome involvedwith volunteeringwork.

“Landcare is anational movementand it’s a reallygood thing for ourstaff, who are locat-

ed across the country, to be able tosupport.”

Last year Green Team members andQantas staff were seen paddlingthrough Sydney waterways as part ofLandcare Week’s Source to Sea eventand Ms Davies said it had providedan opportunity for great fun, but alsoto raise awareness of very importantissues.

During the previous two years, theQantas Foundation has committed$100,000 to Landcare annually.

Through its sponsorship, QantasFoundation has been involved withwater quality, salinity and water wayprotection projects in the NorthernTerritory, Tasmania, Victoria andWestern Australia.

Included in the projects has beenthe training of Larrikia rangers basedat Darwin, in the Northern Territory.

Rangers have been learning how toaccurately monitor water quality in

Darwin Harbour, focusing on theimpact of water quality on keyAboriginal food sources such asshellfish.

This project will join another waterproject in the Swan and CanningRivers in Western Australia, andfunding will also enable Landcareand Coastcare groups in SouthernTasmania to restore vegetation adja-cent to waterways greatly affected byenvironment damage.

Ms Davies said the foundation waskeen to focus its sponsorship onwater sustainability because of thelong-term requirements of such proj-ects.

Landcare Australia’s partnershipsmanager, Shivani Jayasinghe, said theupcoming Landcare Week would cel-ebrate the Landcare movement’s vol-unteers and the “amazing contribu-tion they have made to the Australianlandscape”.

The theme for Landcare Week, inthe organisation’s 21st year, isClimateWatch.

Ms Jayasinghe said the public would be encouraged to visit theLandcare website, register as citizenscientists and begin observing andrecording the movements and changes of key species and the envi-ronment.

“Everyone at home, work or schoolcan be making observations like aremagpies pecking? Is a particular leafchanging colour at this time of year?Is there mass flight of a particu-lar type of insect?” Ms Jayasinghesaid.

“Information recorded by Austral-ians about what’s happening in theirlocal area will be used by scientistsacross Australia to help them betterunderstand and document ourchanging climate.”

– SHEENA COFFEY

Holden revs up environment support

Qantas Foundation targets long-term water projects

Where To Find ThemWhere To Find ThemHolden Habitats Landcare/HoldenDealer Network:■ Brisbane Bartons Holden Bayside –

Bulimba Creek CatchmentCoordinating Committee, Bulimba andWynnum creeks

■ Adelaide City Holden – Torrens LakeFloating Islands

■ Melbourne Preston Motors HoldenGroup – Five Mile Creek NaturalHabitat Enhancement

■ Perth Metro Motors Holden – BennettBrooke Reserve

■ Sydney Heartland Holden Motor Group– Ropes Creek Rehabilitation

Holden’s Phil Brook and John Nossiter, and Paul Davies with Landcare Australia chief executive officer,Heather Campbell (centre).

By MATTHEWCAWOOD

The Holden Habitat program is the firststep to creating an environmental

program that can be adopted by Holdendealerships around Australia‘ – Landcare CEO, Heather Campell

2010 National Landcare Awards WinnerWestpac Education Award

Western Australia’s Baldivis Primary School’s innovative educational programs provide a unique learning experience for 30 schools in the Perth metropolitan area. The project evolved through a determination to preserve the region’s fast diminishing natural environment.

Over 3000 students from kindergarten to year 12 participated in the Forest Programs in 2009 alone. The project aims to empower and educate local young people to become proactive and effective in their efforts to achieve environmental sustainability in their communities.

Proudly supported by:To nominate your school for the 2011 State and Territory Landcare Award, Westpac Education Category visitwww.landcareonline.com.au

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Night of nights for Landcare winnersTHE National Landcare Awards, held at

Parliament House on June 24, celebrat-ed the work of volunteers from across

Australia who are making a significant con-tribution to the environment.

Australia’s 88 finalists were recognised andamong them 13 were announced winners.

The winning projects ranged from sustain-able farming initiatives to education pro-grams teaching the next generation aboutenvironment sustainability.

Landcare Australia’s corporate sponsorswere also recognised for their support of thecommunity and its projects.

Erin Rowe (centre), Hawkesbury, NSW, Young Landcarer Awardwinner, with Alex Muir from Hawkesbury Nepean CatchmentManagement Authority and actor, Jack Thompson.

Westpac’s Graham Jennings and Sally Kirkwright with JohnWorthy, Courtney Brown, Tegan Tregonning and Judith Hill fromBaldivis Primary School, Baldivis, WA.

RIGHT:IndividualLandcarer Awardnational winner,Kate McLaren, withAgricultureMinister, TonyBurke.

Laura Berry from Leighton Holdings with ShandellCummings and Justin Bellanger from South CoastNatural Resource Management, South Coast, WA.

Landcare Ambassador and MC for the night, CatrionaRowntree with students from Tasmania’s DeloraineHigh School.

Chairman of Landcare Australia, Jerry Ellis,celebrating the achievements of the 88finalists.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestryand Minister for Sustainable Population, TonyBurke, delivering the keynote speech for thenight.

Landcare Australia CEO, Heather Campbell, with QantasFoundation chairman, John Fields and CEO, Shirley Davies.

Maria Weeding, Melanie Kelly, Helen Scott and HelenGeard, Little Swanport, Tasmania, who won the CommunityGroup award, with Jack Thompson (second right).

Huon Valley Council representatives, Robert Armstrong, Holly Hansenand Desley Kippax with their Local Government Landcare PartnershipsAward.

Coastcare winners from Warrnambool and Point Danger, Victoria,Don McTaggart, Kate McInnes, John Sutherland, Kristie King, ChrisDrummond and David Williams.

®

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Help the environment by reducing your printed investorcommunications. It’s easy!

Choose electronic delivery for your investor communications andreduce the amount of paper waste associated with your printed investor communications.

For each registration a donation of up to $2 is made to Landcare Australia. Initiatives focus on reforestation and revegetation projects, the establishment of habitat and wildlife corridors and the reductionof salinity and nutrient runoff into waterways.

Register at www.etree.com.au

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Students and teachers from Lanyon High School,ACT, Westpac Education Award finalists.

Mike Swanson from Southern Rivers CatchmentManagement Authority, Lynne Strong, Clover HillDairies, Jamberoo, NSW, Tony Hepworth.

Lisa Knight, Dylan Jessop, Clarrisa Lopez andTrevor Read from Darwin High School, NT, WestpacEducation Award finalists.

Landcare Australia board member, Alex Arbuthnot,with Victorian Woolworths Primary Producerfinalists, Sandy and Julie Cameron, Meredith Dairy.

Awards finalists’ workshopsMORE than 300 guests gathered at

Canberra’s Rydges Lakeside Hotel toattend presentations by the 88 national

Landcare award finalists on 24th June.It was an opportunity for the finalists to share

about their projects, achievements and theirLandcare journey.

The event was a great success with new rela-tionships among Landcare groups formed,exchange of ideas and encouragement to contin-ue the good work.

Peter and Carole Edwards from Rosny/MontaguBay Land and Coastcare Group, Tasmanian UrbanLandcare Award finalists.

Coastcare Award finalists, Heidi TaylorQueensland’s Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Societywith Birds Tasmania’s Valeria Ruoppolo and EricWoehler.

RIGHT:TasmanianWoolworthsPrimaryProducer finalist,Brian Baxter(right) withguests justbefore hispresentation.

Greg and Janet Kershaw of Friends of Bungan,NSW Coastcare finalists.

Teachers, parents and students of Grange PrimarySchool, SA Westpac Education Award finalists.

Karen Stuhmcke, Merilyn Stephan, Linda Ruthenberg and Caitlin Ruthenberg of Gatton State PrimarySchool, Queensland Westpac Education Award finalists.

Victorian Young Landcare Leader finalist, Kayla Groombridge(middle) with Sheryn Fumberger and Leigh Wood.

From Little Things Big Things Grow.Coles is proud to help schools and community groups establish their own garden in partnership with Junior Landcare.If your school or community group would like to apply or find out more information, please visit www.juniorlandcare.com.au/coles

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In BriefBuy online: A one-stop-shop forLandcare, Coastcare and JuniorLandcare merchandise is now online.

The shop has been set up as aresource for groups wanting to buy orcreate t-shirts, caps, banners and otherLandcare kit.

There are options to personalise yourt-shirts with your group’s logo; or, if youneed an item that is not in the shop, youcan always contact the store to make arequest for a special purchase.

All items can be purchased at costprice: Landcare Australia does not makea profit from any purchase.

The store will stock pins, caps madefrom 65 per cent recycled PET bottles,stickers, brimmed hats, t-shirts, andaluminium water bottles, among otherthings.■ The shop can be found atwww.landcareonline.com.au

Online relaunch: Landcareonline.com.au has been re-launched with anew look, new content, and new waysof getting around and findinginformation.

The new site has been designed foreasier navigation for Landcare andCoastcare groups, volunteers andcorporate partners.

It also aims to create a platform forthe exchange of ideas and projectsamong the Landcare and Coastcarecommunities.

The site now offers the tools neededto start a new group, or write a mediarelease.

Links to past Landcare awards havebeen included, to inspire new nomineesand projects. Case studies arecontinuously being uploaded to providesimilar inspiration.

Landcareonline also links to the newNational Landcare Directory, whichmakes searching for a local groupeasier, and will help groups interact andapply for grants managed by LandcareAustralia.

People can also register on thewebsite to receive Landcare Australia e-newsletters.

A new framework: A proposaldrafted by the Australian Framework forLandcare Reference Group, made up ofLandcare members who work to ensureviews expressed by the Landcarecommunity during the consultationperiod are accurately reflected, will bereleased by chairperson, Coral Love,during Landcare week in September.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries andForestry, Tony Burke, reactivated theAustralian Landcare Council andappointed Kim Chance as its chairman.

Mr Chance is a former minister foragriculture in Western Australia, and hasa wealth of agricultural experience anda passion for community Landcare.

He said while the contents of the finaldraft of the framework will be keptunder wraps until the Septemberannouncement, it is intended as a guidefor landcarers.

– HELEN WALKER

COLES shoppers who have cho-sen re-usable bags over plasticbags have helped fund about

800 Junior Landcare school gardens.An alliance between the supermar-

ket and Landcare Australia, whichstarted in 2008, means every time ashopper buys a green bag with the“caring hands” logo, a portion of theproceeds is donated to a JuniorLandcare school garden project.

Last financial year, Coles gave out440 grants worth $1000 to $1500each, according to Majella Allen,Coles’ Community and Sustainabilitymanager.

The benefits cut both ways, MsAllen said.

School children get to reconnectwith food at its source, and under-stand the connections between soil,environment and themselves. Andthey get out of the classroom.

At Garran Primary School in theAustralian Capital Territory, teacherFiona Coles said, “We appreciate theopportunity the funding has given usto achieve the goal of a sustainable

vegetable garden the children canown and enjoy. I have never seenthem so enthusiastic about spendingtime in the garden.”

Matilda Clifton, a student at StLawrence’s Central School, Coona-

barabran, New South Wales, said thegarden gave her an opportunity to getout of the classroom and make hermark on the school.

“When I walk past it, I think ‘Wow,I did that!’”

In return, Coles staff get to visitschools and develop connectionswith the local communities.

Successes are reported back

through Coles’ newsletters, “and helpengender a sense of pride in the busi-ness”.

Most school gardens are linked to theschool’s environmental curriculum.

That concept further opened upthis year, when Coles expanded itsdonations program around the “pre-mium natural” jute bags.

The proceeds go toward developingIndigenous gardens in preschools.

These gardens are helping childrenappreciate the importance of plantsas living things and their connectionwith the earth and the land, accord-ing to Fran Dobbie, facilitator of theIndigenous Gardens Program.

“We all danced around the camp-fire and role-played the lifespan of

a plant,” she said of one recent event.“We talked about looking after our-

selves, the importance of the earth,our Mother and linking it with seeds,water, air, sun, growth – nurturingthe seeds and plants to grow strongwhich is like us taking care of our-selves to grow healthy and strong.”

Ms Allen said the Landcare link isalso important in other ways.

It has become a vehicle for Coles’other environmental programs, likeraising awareness of plastic bag recy-cling and recycling of the reusableshopping bag lines.■ More information about JuniorLandcare grants can be found atwww.juniorlandcare.com.au/grants.htm

SOME people compete with cattle,some with tomatoes, others for thebiggest pumpkin.

Yates is raising the flag on a chil-drens’ sunflower competition – whocan grow the tallest, or get the largesthead, or take the most creative sun-flower photo.

The Yates Junior LandcareSunflower Challenge is a successor tolast year’s hugely successful YatesJunior Landcare Pumpkin Challenge,in which almost 20,000 childrencompeted to grow the largest pump-kin.

The group winner was the McGrathfamily from Toowoomba, Queens-land, with a 175kg whopper, whilethe individual winner was BoydWales from Walcha in rural New

South Wales with an impressive 94kgpumpkin.

“The previous challenges we haverun in conjunction with JuniorLandcare have been hugely success-ful,” said Judy Horton, Yates’s com-munications manager.

“We hope with this challenge wewill continue to encourage and fostera new generation of junior gardeners.

“We also hope the participants willenjoy discovering their green fingersand seeing the results of their labour.”

Chief executive officer of LandcareAustralia, Heather Campbell, said thenot-for-profit organisation wasdelighted to be able to provideencouragement and support to allyoung budding gardeners out there,“and to help educate them on the

importance of growing produce andthe environmental benefits achiev-able from sustainable gardeningpractices”.

Children under 16, schools andyouth groups are being invited totake part in the challenge.

Participants can register on theYates Junior Landcare SunflowerChallenge website to receive their freegiant sunflower seeds, which they canplant in late October or early Novem-ber and monitor their progress overthe spring and summer months.

Kids can grow their sunflowers athome or at school, but will need tocare for their plants during the hotsummer weather.

They are also required to log onto theYates Junior Landcare Sunflower

Challenge website once their flowerhas reached maturity to update the sizeof their giant sunflower and upload aphotograph. The final winners will beannounced in March 2011.

Yates is also working with JuniorLandcare by providing grants to helpschools and youth groups undertakeSchool Environmental ManagementPlans.

Schools and youth groups acrossthe country can apply for thesegrants by visiting www.juniorland-care.com.au.■ Anyone interested in taking partin the Yates Junior LandcareSunflower Challenge can register atwww.juniorlandcarechallenge.com.au

– MATTHEW CAWOOD

Sunny challenge on for junior landcarers

Children in the garden at Gumnut Children’s Centre, Milton, on the New South Wales South Coast.

Growing healthy school kidsBy MATTHEWCAWOOD

We talked about looking after ourselves, theimportance of the earth ... nurturing the seeds andplants to grow strong which is like us taking care of

ourselves to grow healthy and strong ‘ – Program facilitator, Fran Dobbie

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