Robyn Watson from Boggabri Landcare-Rivercare Group was last night awarded the 2017 Gerald Carnie Memorial Award.
The Gerald Carnie Memorial Award for keeping the Landcare flame alive was established by Landcare NSW to recognise Gerald’s very special individual contribution to the Landcare movement. The award is proudly supported by the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare as the official partner and sponsor of the Award.
At the award ceremony, part of the 2017 NSW Landcare and Local Land Services Conference in Albury, Landcare NSW Councillor David Walker said: “Gerald Carnie had the Landcare fire in his belly. Gerald spoke about the importance of the spark of individual awareness, ownership and action as being basic to getting uptake of practice change and conservation.
“Gerald’s work in Landcare, at the local, regional and State level, was the embodiment of this conviction, and the Gerald Carnie Memorial Award is a testament to people who ensure the persistence and the spread of the Landcare flame.
“Robyn really does have ‘fire in the belly’ for Landcare, and is fiercely supportive of the contribution that community Landcare can make to sustainable and resilient farming, to collaborative landscape-scale nature conservation, and to community capacity and cohesion,” said David.
However the attribute that absolutely qualifies Robyn for the Gerald Carnie Memorial Award is her preparedness to fight for what Landcare stands for. Her success arising from sheer persistence.
The Gerald Carnie Award is awarded bi-annually at the NSW State Landcare Conference to an individual in recognition of their contribution to the development of “the philosophy of Landcare”. The recipient champions the development of Landcare as a means to support and engender change in attitudes, which translates to a more cohesive and resilient community that acts to achieve a healthier environment and/or more productive and sustainable farms.
Applicants are judged on the impact they have had at the local AND regional or state scale to ensure that Landcare can prosper. The finalists for the Award for 2017 are Mr John Hughson– Hunter Region Landcare Network and Robyn Watson – Boggabri Landcare – Rivercare Group.
John Hughson has been involved with Landcare for over 20 years and during this time his passion and enthusiasm for Landcare has grown. He has worked to develop and enable Landcare at a local and district level, leaving a legacy of strong, well established groups. John now also represents the Hunter region at a State level on the Council of Landcare NSW.
Mr Greg Aplin, Member for Albury spoke at the ceremony in his role as a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, “It is my great pleasure to have this opportunity to recognise Landcarers outstanding in their communities and beyond.”
Robyn’s nomination stated: “Robyn was one of the strong voices raised in defence of community Landcare at the Myuna Bay Landcare Gathering in 2007 and encouraged a new generation of passionate Landcarers to man the barricades.
It was the indomitable spirit of Robyn, and others like her, that led to the formation of the strong, self-confident ‘voice for Landcare’ that is Landcare NSW.”
In June 2011, Gerald Carnie, a committed Landcarer from the Parkes area, died suddenly at the age of 46, leaving his wife Lorraine and sons, Ryan and Jarrod, grieving and the Landcare community shocked. We continue to recognise Gerald and his contribution to Landcare with this special Award.