Author: admin

Landcare NSW finishes 2017 with significant progress achieved towards the goal of diversifying funding sources, building self-reliance and professionalising the organisation.

‘The Government will always be Landcare’s primary partner but to grow and thrive into the future we need to create new sources to fund the core services Landcare needs,” said Chair, Rob Dulhunty.

‘Landcare needs Local Landcare Coordinators and statewide support services in order to operate,’ said Mr Dulhunty. ‘And we are providing these through our partnership with Local Land Services and the Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative.

‘The NSW Government is also helping us build our organisational capability to generate income streams to help fund Landcare support into the future.

‘In the past two years Landcare NSW has made significant progress towards a diversified funding model,’ he said.

As a statewide peak body, Landcare NSW aims to provide value to the incorporated Landcare groups who make up the majority of paid members.  A key benefit is the cost effective insurance program which has already been taken up by 154 Landcare organisations in NSW.  The program has now been picked up by other state and territory Landcare organisations.

Landcare NSW has built the legal, financial and organisational structures to enable donors to claim a tax deduction and the first donations have already been made.

An initiative has been launched to enable individuals to sign up as financial supporters, offering a Membership and Rewards Program including an ‘e-wallet’ which gives individual Landcare Supporters discounts at 600 retail outlets with a portion of savings donated to Landcare NSW

Contact is being made with new partners, investors and donors who have expressed an interest in learning more about Landcare in NSW.

Another area that holds promise are fee-for-service arrangements.  Landcare NSW has been working to carve out a role in the NSW Government’s new Container Deposit Scheme, working alongside other NFPs with shared goals.  Discussions are also occurring with NSW Government agencies regarding opportunities for Landcarers to work with the Government on areas of mutual interest.

As an organisation Landcare NSW is building organisational capacity.

‘In 2017 we celebrated our 10 year anniversary.  Volunteers and a small group of paid staff have achieved enormous progress building structures that will enable Landcare to grow and thrive into the future.

‘As we commence our second decade, we are focused on meeting the challenge of managing the next stage of growth,’ said Mr Dulhunty.

Landcare NSW notes progress towards creating a new national Landcare organisation, with due diligence to be completed by Christmas and the new entity to be established by 30 June, 2018.

There are currently two national bodies: the National Landcare Network (NLN) – a federation of state and territory peak bodies representing grassroots community Landcare – and Landcare Australia (LA) which provides a range of services and functions on behalf of the Landcare movement.

Following a Joint NLN/LA Board meeting in Canberra on 23 November 2017, the following statement was issued by the Boards:

The boards of the NLN and Landcare Australia met in Canberra on 23rd November to re-affirm their commitment to move forward with the formation of a new national Landcare organisation. They agreed on the next steps to make this happen, with the due diligence to be completed by Christmas and the new entity to be established before the end of this financial year.

Once formed, a new organisation will give the Landcare movement a single national organisation working on its behalf, which will combine and build on the representative capacity and voice of the NLN and the marketing, education, fundraising and program delivery skills of Landcare Australia. Both organisations are committed to doing what is best for community Landcare and recognise that they will have a greater impact together.

Also last week in Canberra there was a meeting of the NLN Members Council. The NLN Members Council is comprised of 24 elected delegates from each of the eight state and territory Landcare peak organisations. Collectively they represent the more than 5400 Landcare groups across Australia.

At their 22 November 2017 meeting, the Members Council unanimously passed the following resolution.

The Members Council strongly endorses the formation of a new single national organisation to represent and support the interests of the Landcare movement. 
We applaud the initiative undertaken by the two partner organisations, the National Landcare Network and Landcare Australia, in progressing this historic opportunity, to create an organisation that represents and has the support of the grassroots landcare community. This single national entity unites the skills and expertise of both organisations to ensure grassroots Landcare is supported and has a has single national voice.

Landcare NSW looks forward to seeing the progress of this important task for the future of Landcare in Australia.

A New National Landcare Organisation – update from NLN and Landcare Australia November 2017

Securing Landcare support across the State is a top priority for Landcare NSW.

Over the past three years Landcare in NSW has undergone a transformation as a result of a renewed partnership with the NSW Government and the growth and development of the organisations and structures that support the movement.

Landcare NSW Chair Rob Dulhunty said, “Landcare has been reinvigorated around the State.  With the help of the NSW Government, Landcare NSW is on the path to becoming a sustainable, professional organisation. This will put us in a stronger position to deliver benefits for agriculture, the environment and the community.”

While much has been achieved, there is still a lot of work to do. The highest priority at the October 2017 Landcare Muster in Albury was the future of Landcare support: that is, the Local Landcare Coordinators and statewide services which are integral to Landcare’s effectiveness.

“Landcare is still not on a stable footing.  With further work we can build the infrastructure and services to support the grassroots movement at all levels,” said Mr Dulhunty.

“Policy certainty and investment from a range of sources will enable Landcare to focus on achieving on-ground outcomes,” he said.

Sustaining Landcare – The Next Chapter (pdf) sets out Landcare’s value and expresses the views of grassroots Landcare about how we would like to see our partnership with the State Government grow and develop into the future.

The policy was written in consultation with the Landcare community and was approved by the full Council of Landcare NSW at their November 2017 meeting.

For more information:

Sustaining Landcare – The Next Chapter

Over 80 Members of Parliament, Government representatives and Landcarers from across the State attended the annual Trees in the House event at Parliament House in Sydney last night.

The event, hosted by Landcare NSW and the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare (PFL), showcased the success of the Landcare movement and celebrated 10 years of Landcare NSW.

Landcare NSW Chair Rob Dulhunty said, “The environmental problems we face are too big for government or community alone.  To protect our natural resources, government and the community must share responsibility and work together in a genuine partnership.

“An active Landcare community is needed now more than ever.  We’ve got an effective model, we just need to support it.”

Recently-appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare, Kevin Anderson, Member for Tamworth, opened the event and acknowledged the 10 year anniversary of Landcare NSW and its significant and valuable role as the peak body for community Landcare.

“It’s not easy to start a community organisation from scratch so let’s mark this milestone and celebrate what has been achieved.  I encourage MPs and MLCs who haven’t already joined, to sign up to the Parliamentary Friends of Landcare.  Your local Landcare communities will be very appreciative and you will develop many new connections throughout your communities,” said Mr Anderson.

“I believe there is a real energy about Landcare, with community members of all ages keen to get involved.

“Nearly every weekend right across New South Wales you’ll see groups of people doing their bit, out and about looking after and improving our environment,” said Mr Anderson.

The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare (PFL) is a cross-party group of NSW Members of Parliament who have a common interest in demonstrating support for the goals of Landcare.

Members of Parliament were given a native seedling to take away and plant in their electorate which were kindly provided by Sydney’s Habitat Community Nursery as a gift from Landcare.

Louise Turner Western Landcare speech – Trees in the House, November 2017

In his opening speech to 250 participants at the biennial Landcare Muster in Albury (25 October), Landcare NSW Chair Rob Dulhunty praised the founders for their vision and determination and acknowledged Landcare NSW’s 10 year anniversary.

A number of the founders of Landcare NSW were present at the Muster and they took time out of the busy program to reflect on the early days of the organisation and what had been achieved (see photos).

Through their hard work, persistence and dedication – and that of the many who followed in their footsteps – Landcare is growing in credibility, profile and effectiveness in NSW.  While Landcare is based on localism the movement is unified and networked via the existence of Landcare NSW as a state peak body.

The idea for a state organisation was born in June 2007 when volunteers met in the town of Myuna Bay on the shores of Lake Macquarie.  Their mission, during a time of declining Landcare support, was to determine how to get the NSW Government to listen to grassroots Landcare.

In October 2007, the inaugural Landcare Muster was held in Tamworth.  The headline on the flier for that event read: Landcare Finds Its Voice!  The photos of the occasion show enthusiastic agreement to form a peak body.

Addressing the 2017 Muster, Rob Dulhunty noted, “Some of those volunteers are here today – still fighting the good fight.  People like John Hughson, who played a catalytic role in rallying grassroots Landcarers, and Chris Scott, who was quoted in the original press release saying:

The formation of a statewide representative body for Landcare will do much to ensure the contribution of Landcarers across NSW is properly valued.

“Ten years later we’re still here thanks to our founders and many, many others who have played a role. Our Constitution defines our purpose as:

To represent, promote and advocate on behalf of community-based Landcare and community driven sustainable natural resource management in NSW.

“We’ve been fulfilling that purpose since our formation – under the inaugural chair of David Walker, who is also here today, followed by Mandi Stevenson, and during my tenure since 2012.  I’d like to thank Mandi and David, and everyone who has been part of this journey.

“Our Executive Committee and our Councillors are all volunteers and I am extremely proud to be in their company,” said Mr Dulhunty.

Pictured below: David Walker, Stephen Thatcher, John Carter, John Hughson, and Chris Scott.

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.

The Landcare NSW Team and Executive Committee are pleased to announce the appointment of Natasha English to the role of State Landcare Coordinator. 

We welcome Natasha with her long history with Landcare, working as a Landcare Coordinator with several Landcare networks on the North Coast over the past 15 years, and prior experience with programs at the State and National scale with the National Threatened Species grants program.

In the role of State Landcare Coordinator, Natasha will be focusing on supporting the network of coordinators and building the capacity of Landcare organisations through the LLCI.

Sonia Williams will continue the work commenced under the State Landcare Coordinator role to  build and strengthen the partnerships between Landcare and other organisations, with her position re-titled to State Landcare Facilitator.

If you are attending the State Landcare and Local Land Services Conference next week, both Sonia and Natasha will be there to answer any questions you have about their new roles. If you haven’t met Natasha before, please take a little time to introduce yourself and welcome her in her first week with us here at Landcare NSW.