Tag: Murry

Announcing the 2025 John Betts Landcare Award Recipient

Vice-President of Murrumbateman Landcare Group:
Sue McIntyre

Celebrating a Champion of Ecological Conservation

The Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) is proud to announce Sue McIntyre as the recipient of the 2025 John Betts Landcare Award, recognising her exceptional dedication to environmental stewardship and grassland conservation.

As a distinguished ecologist and Vice-President of the Murrumbateman Landcare Group, Sue has been a transformative force in the Yass Valley’s conservation efforts.

Since 2018, Sue has been instrumental in the Climate Ready Revegetation (CRR) project. Her advocacy for increasing genetic diversity in grassland species and her ability to translate complex scientific principles into practical conservation strategies have been pivotal to the project’s success.

Sue and her husband Jon Lewis have turned their property, Gang Gang, into a remarkable example of ecological restoration. Through controlled burning, strategic grazing exclusions, and meticulous weed control, they’ve transformed the landscape to closely resemble it’s pre-settlement state. The property is now permanently protected under a NSW Biological Conservation Trust covenant.

Sue’s generosity in sharing knowledge extends beyond her professional work:

  • Hosting field days and weeding masterclasses
  • Providing plant identification assistance
  • Writing natural history columns in the Gundaroo Gazette
  • Presenting at public forums and Landcare events

Sue exemplifies the spirit of Landcare: scientific rigor, community engagement, and a deep commitment to preserving our natural environments. Her work continues to inspire current and future generations of conservation advocates.

A huge congratulations and thank you to Sue from everyone at Landcare NSW.

Read more about Sue McIntyre and her incredible contributions here.

Thank you to Sarah McGrath, YAN Local Coordinator, for bringing this wonderful news to our attention.

 

About the JCH Betts Memorial Landcare Award

The JCH Betts Landcare Award commemorates the memory of John Betts, a foundation member of YAN, who made a major contribution over many years to Landcare in the Yass region. The award is made to a person who has made an outstanding and long-term contribution to Landcare. The winner is chosen by the YAN committee.

Ozfish: International Day of Action for Rivers

Transformation on the Murry River

Restoration of Bottle Bend Reserve

On the 28th International Day of Action for Rivers, we celebrate the inspiring restoration of Bottle Bend Reserve on the Murray River in NSW – a powerful example of what community and collaboration can achieve.

Once severely degraded, Bottle Bend is now a flourishing ecosystem, thanks to the efforts of NSW and Commonwealth environmental water and land management agencies, OzFish, First Nations partners, Landcare NSW, volunteers, and environmental groups.

Native fish such as the Murray Cod have returned, wetlands are flourishing, and significant Kureinji Nations cultural heritage is being protected and celebrated.

Marni Holden, Acting General Manager of Landcare NSW, notes, “This transformation at the Bottle Bend Reserve is an inspiring achievement. Restoration at this level has been possible because the communities have come together to bring a degraded ecosystem back to thriving with life.”

Congratulations and well done to everyone involved on this wonderful achievement.

The project is part of the Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership between OzFish and Landcare NSW, made possible with funding support from NSW DPIRD Fisheries, NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts and BCF Boating Camping and Fishing.

Ozfish: Bottle Bend

Photos: OzFish River Culture Officer and Kureinji man, Drew Fincher, assisting volunteers with habitat restoration at Bottle Bend (via OzFish)

Ozfish: Don’t forget the little guys

Ozfish: Don’t forget the little guys

by Sean P. Graham, Ozfish

Let’s chat about the little guys in the water, those small fish we often overlook. In Australia, when people go fishing, they’re usually focused on the big catches like Murray cod and trout cod. But what about the little ones? The ones we call “gudgeons,” “guppies,” or just “white bait”? These small fish might not be the stars of the fishing world, but they sure deserve some attention.

 

Most of the native fish in Australia are actually small. Take the Murray Darling Basin, for instance. Out of all the fish species there, only about six are big enough to get anglers excited. The rest? They’re these cool little creatures like rainbowfish, Hardyheads, Galaxias, Perchlets, Pygmy Perches, and Gudgeons.

What’s wild is that most of these fish are found only in Australia, but sadly, they’re close to extinction. More than half of them in the Basin are threatened or endangered.

To see how one of our Women in Landcare finalists – Janet Heffernan – is doing to reverse this trend visit:  Don’t Forget About The Little Guys | OzFish Unlimited

  • Ozfish - Gudgeon