Sue O’Brien
(Corowa District Landcare)

Sue O’Brien from Corowa has been a dedicated Landcare volunteer since its inception, focusing on improving local environments and cherishing the friendships formed along the way.

Sue’s passion for nature began in 1969, when her family moved to Mount Evelyn, Victoria. Her mum was a keen bird observer and orchid hunter. Many Saturday afternoons were spent bushwalking and enjoying the discovery of flora and fauna.

Luckily, her 6th grade teacher was Fred Rogers who, along with teaching, was a field naturalist and author of guide books in relation to the Little Desert and Acacias of Victoria.

Sue notes, “How lucky was I to be surrounded with people who not only cared for the environment, but were willing to teach the importance of our relationship within this amazing place we called home.”

Reflecting on her experiences, Sue recalls the transformative efforts in the Ancona Valley, including fencing Brankeet Creek and planting native species, which helped reduce soil salinity. Her involvement in these initiatives included bringing her daughter along, instilling in her the importance of environmental care, which she now carries on with her own family and Landcare involvement.

In the early 1990s, Sue and her late husband started a ‘friends group’ for the botanic gardens situated in Mansfield, Victoria. They lived right next door to the park, which now contains art installations, play areas for children, plus facilities for families to gather.

While Sue has stepped back from her physical involvement with Landcare, she is a valued member of Corowa District Landcare and recently joined us at the NSW Landcare Enabling Program State Gathering in Manly.

We wanted to say thank you to Sue for her unwavering dedication to Landcare and the invaluable contributions she and her family have made to our local environments.

Sue is pictured at top with Mansfield Shire Council member Sally Dowling and Council Superintendent of Parks & Gardens John Fogarty, and above with members of Corowa & District S.H.E. Shed Inc.