WINNERS

Andrew Stewart, is a Corangamite producer and grazier for environmental and sustainable agricultural advancements on Yan Yan Gurt West Farm. His work includes the establishment of 50,000 trees and shrubs, increasing woody vegetation across the farm from 3 per cent to 18 per cent.

Wynyard producer Michael Nichols cultivates quite the diverse crop. To keep atop of his crops, he employs a mixture of state-of-the-art agri practices including grid soil sampling, satellite NDVI imagery and yield mapping to ensure maximum sustainable output and soil regeneration.

In late 2004 the Kirkby’s bought a 280 ha rundown farming block with scalded, brittle soil and very little groundcover and nutritional grasses, 50km East of Moree. They saw a challenge to regenerate what had been lost with over 50 years of pillaging with industrial methods of farming.

Basil Schur has initiated planning, conservation and restoration of the rivers, wetlands and bushland of Central Gondwana Link zone, Wilson Inlet & Oyster Harbour catchments. He established the Denmark Wetland Centre for community education and was instrumental in coordinating 110ha of fencing of native bushland.

The Wunambal Gaambera people made a Healthy Country Plan – a world first – to help them keep their country and culture healthy and to build the capacity and wealth of their families to live on their country into the future. An independent review has highlighted it as a sophisticated and inspiring plan.

Established by Yolngu land-owners in Northeast Arnhem Land, Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation look after 70 kilometres of beaches tarnished by marine debris. The once pristine coastline is an important nesting habitat for marine turtles and internationally significant breeding populations of Bridled and Roseate Terns.

Emeritus Professor at The University of Western Australia, Lynnett Abbott established the innovative ‘Know your Soil Biology’ workshops for farmers, providing hands-on activities on the benefits of soil biota for soil health/quality. She is acknowledged as a world leader in this field for her pioneering research.

The Floating Landcare Program, formally known as Workers on Water or WOW, provides community volunteers with a unique wilderness land management experience. Greater Sydney Local Land Services has facilitated and strengthened links with key partners to increase the number and diversity of volunteers involved.

The Red Hill Bush Regeneration Group are committed to restoring the native bushland ecology of the Red Hill Nature Reserve, one of the largest remaining remnants of endangered Yellow Box – Blakley’s Red Gum grassy woodland in Australia. It’s now one of the most diverse and best condition remnants.

A remarkable and proud young Wiradjuri woman who Iives on Ngunnawal country, Year 12 student Dhani has a solid cultural education and has grown up involved in Caring for Country practices inclusive of seed harvesting, cultural burning, weed eradication work and native vegetation restoration.

With just 140 students and eight staff, Newham Primary School is achieving great results. Students have planted indigenous vegetation along a tributary of Deep Creek that abuts the school, creating a local wildlife nature corridor that connects with the Cobaw Biolink. They also designed and built a wetland.