Accolades to winners of inaugural Regional NRM Leadership Awards

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery interval=”3″ images=”18800,18801,18792,18802,18804,18805,18810,18798,18806,18807,18803,18808,18809″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Media Release

18 October 2016

The future sustainability of the region took centre stage at the inaugural Regional NRM Leadership Awards conducted in Geraldton last night.

Almost 100 people attended the 2016 awards – presented by the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council (NACC) and Central Regional TAFE – to recognise outstanding achievements and contributions to Natural Resource Management (NRM) in the Northern Agriculural Region of Western Australia.

On-ground outcomes, capacity-building and community engagement were the key foci in several of the organisations and projects that won awards on the night.

Seven categories were presented at these inaugural awards, with the major award – 2016 Outstanding NRM Award – presented to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy for their community engagement and conservation management at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary.

Janet Richards from Ledge Point took out the equivalent individual category as the winner of the 2016 NRM Leadership Award for her coordinating role at Ledge Point Coastcare Group which has included crucial revegetation and protect works at Ledge Point since 2008.

Each category winner took home a beautiful hand-made trophy crafted with traditional Aboriginal methods by Badimia man Vaughan Lane and Wilinyu woman Donna Ronan.

A number the region’s long serving NRM champions were also saluted on the night with their names added to a new Regional NRM Leadership Honour Roll as an accolade to their contribution to land and sea stewardship in the region over many years.

NACC CEO Richard McLellan said “It was an honour for NACC to be able to recognise not only the current champions of natural resource management in our region through these awards, but also the many other individuals who have made significant contributions to NRM over the years”.

“We have some amazing people in our community and beyond who work tirelessly to protect, manage and restore our natural assets on behalf of all of us,” he said.

“NACC looks forward to adding more names to the Honour Roll next year – our 20th anniversary year – and to further recognising the hundreds of people in our region who volunteer their time and effort so generously.”


Winners of the 2016 Regional NRM Leadership Awards

Green Primary School Award

Chapman Valley Primary School

Green Secondary School Award

Jurien Bay District High School

Inspiring Junior NRM Leadership Award

Rheece Turner

NRM Innovation in Conservation and Engagement Award

Australian Wildlife Conservancy

NRM Coordinator Leadership Award

Rachel Walmsley

NRM Leadership Award

Janet Richards

Outstanding NRM Group Award

Australian Wildlife Conservancy


Names added to the ‘Regional NRM Leadership Honour Roll’

Alan Bradley

Alison Doley

Chris King

Craig Forsyth

David Brindal

David Rickson

Don Williams

Elizabeth Eaton

Fiona Falconer

Jenna Brooker

Jim Wedge

John Braid

John Longman

Max Hudson

Micheal Bates

Mike Clarke

Nic Dunlop

Paul Findlater

Paul Robb

Shane Love

Shelley Spriggs

Stuart McAlpine

Sue Middleton

Tim Wiley

Viv Read[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Tagged

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CEO’s Report

In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.