“To me this is a joint award – my wife Heather, the incredible landcarers at Austinville Landcare and the team and volunteers at Watergum have been with me every step of the way. It’s only by working together that we have created real momentum in maintaining and restoring the beautiful natural landscapes of the Gold Coast and hinterland. I am especially inspired and motivated by the young landcarers I have the privilege to work with, and am hopeful that this award shows them that by undertaking meaningful environmental work and combined with passion, energy and good management, we can realise our dream of changing society and making a positive environmental impact.” Wal Mayr, Coordinator of Austinville Landcare and President of Watergum.

Mr Mayr has been a dedicated Landcarer for over 40 years, is the coordinator of Austinville Landcare and the President of Watergum, the umbrella Group for Landcare groups in the Gold Coast Region. Since the 1970’s he and his wife have restored their remote 25ha degraded property back to its original rainforest habitat, protecting the land in perpetuity as Blue Fig Creek Nature Refuge.

Wal is the co-ordinator of Austinville Landcare which has been working actively in the Catchment since 2005. The Group has raised over $1 million in grants which has been used to fund ecological contractors to work with the community to restore over 10km of riparian vegetation including critically endangered sub-tropical lowland rainforest. Wal is also president of Watergum which is the umbrella Group for Landcare groups in the Gold Coast Region, engaging 1000’s of people annually through its Citizen Science Programs, Bioblitz and tree planting events, and national Cane Toad management program.