2011 ACT Landcare Award Categories

The ACT Landcare Awards showcase and recognise the efforts of members of the community involved in natural resource management.  The Awards ceremony is a major event during ACT Landcare Week and was celebrated at a breakfast event on Thursday 8 September 2011.

A total of ten award categories were celebrated in the ACT. Eight of these categories are National, the remaining two categories are local categories sponsored by the ACT Government.

1. Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award

This award will be made to an individual who carries out and/or promotes Landcare definition of through practical on-ground or community awareness activities, as a volunteer.

Winner: Sarah Hnatuik

2. Local Government Landcare Partnership Award

This award will be made to an outstanding local government organisation which is collaborating with its community to preserve and manage its local environment and natural resources. The organisation encourages a Landcare ethic (of local community groups caring for the land by addressing local environmental issues) and action in the local community, and cooperates on Landcare issues and projects with neighbouring organisations, businesses, other councils and landowners. Judges will be looking for active partnerships between Landcare groups and the Local Government organisation.

Winner: Banksia Street Wetland Carers and Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate.

3. Rural Press Primary Producer Award

This award will be made to a primary producer (i.e. to an individual, family or farm partnership) for their significant contribution to Landcare, shown through many years of sustained implementation of sound management practices resulting in improved productivity and environmental outcomes.

Primary production includes agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and farm forestry.

Winner: French Black Truffle

4. Toshiba Community Group Award

This award will be made to an outstanding community group that is working towards sustainableland use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.

Highly commended: Greening Australia – ACT Landkeepers
Winner: Red Hill Regenerators 

5. Westpac Education Award

This award will be made to a primary or secondary school or youth group – either as a whole class or special group. The award is for the school/group’s contribution to raising awareness, knowledge and understanding of Landcare amongst students and the community, and for implementing Landcare practices on its own property or within the local community.

Winners: St Peter and Pauls Primary School

6. Urban Landcare Award

This award will be made to a group or individual delivering projects or initiatives that inspire and involve an urban population in Landcare. Projects may be anything from on-ground works to campaigns but must have demonstrable natural resource management outcomes connected with the city.

Winners: Friends of Mount Majura, Mt Ainslie Weeders and Watson Woodlands working group

7. Leighton Holdings Indigenous Award

This award will be made to an outstanding Indigenous community group or individual that is working towards culturally sustainable land use and/or enhancing or protecting an area on behalf of the community.

Winners: Namadgi Rock Art working Group

8. Be Natural Young Landcare Leader Award

This award will be made to a group or individual delivering projects or initiatives that inspire and involve an urban population in Landcare. Projects may be anything from on-ground works to campaigns but must have demonstrable natural resource management outcomes connected with the city.

Winners: Maris Tobecis

9. The Quiet Achiever Award

This award is to be presented to either a group or individual who has shown consistent contribution in volunteer work for the environment. This award is designed to recognise long term dedication and commitment to the environment.

Winner: Leanne Barrett

10. The Environment Community Support Award

This award will be made out to a Community Coordinator working with Landcare/ParkCare groups.

This award is designed to recognise the efforts of Community Coordinators in the ACT supporting community activities.

Winner: Steve Welch