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St. Arnaud, Charlton, Wedderburn & Surrounding Districts
Est. 1864
18 Napier Street, St. Arnaud. 3478. - Advertising & Editorial Material - Ph.: (03) 5495 1055; Fax.: (03) 5495 1937. Email: ncn@iinet.net.au Published weekly. Registered by Australia Post, Publication No. VAC 4217.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 10th 2024.
$2.00
Circulating in:- St. Arnaud, Charlton, Donald, Rupanyup, Bealiba, Stawell, Marnoo, Navarre, Dunolly, Wycheproof, Wedderburn, Birchip, Korong Vale, Stuart Mill, Redbank, Avoca & Moonambel.
(Incl. GST)
Above. Inaugural Hall of Fame recipients of the BNGLN. (left to right) Back row: Lindsay Ezard, Greg Simpson, Steve Jesse, Glen McDonald and Peter Falla. Middle Row: Kate Douglas, Debra Douglas, Liz Russell, Alison Lipshut, Keith Rowley and Wendy Pollard (partly obscured) Front Row: Marg Proctor, Brenda Proctor, Anne Hughes, Lorraine Rowley and Rob Youl (standing).
BNG Landcare Network inducts twelve into inaugural Hall of Fame AT a luncheon at the St. Arnaud Sporting Club that had a few topics last weekend the Buloke Northern Grampians Landcare Network (BNGLN) said thank you to the volunteers that work tirelessly to preserve, develop and repair the land on which we live. This was an AGM with a difference, interwoven cleverly within the announcement of the Hall of Fame recipients, with all the work already done said Andrew Borg Facilitator of the BNGLN.
Hall of Fame presentations There were 30 nominations, all independently assessed and nominations are called for worthy recipients each year. There are already another 18 that have already been submitted. A Victorian version of the BNGLN Hall of Fame, with the suggested name of Landcare Legends, has been suggested to Victoria Landcare, hopefully next year.
Fella Family The first Hall of Fame inductee was to a family, the Falla family, from Donald with a few of the clan in attendance. The family was headed by Ron, who died earlier this year and
David, who passed away in 2019. The award was accepted by Ron’s son and daughter (and David’s brother and sister) Peter Fella and Alison Lipshut on behalf of the family.
Rob Youl The second inductee was Rob Youl AOM, International Landcare chair and member from 2008 to 2018 and Global Landcare from 2018 to 2023. Rob is now as a project developer, with a strong interest in this area in which he has property, who informed the audience on the huge network internationally that is Landcare.
Proctor Family The third inductee was another family, this time from Kooreh, the Proctors. Brenda and Marg Proctor received the award on behalf of the family. The late John Proctor and his family made Kooreh a great piece of land, by planning and management and love of the country.
Anne Hughes The next inductee was Anne Hughes who with a huge knowledge of birds, liaises with the Dja Dja Wurrung on numerous strategies for options. She has been active for 23 years in Landcare.
Anne fosters best practices and shares with all stakeholders. To Anne “nature rules”.
Liz Russell Liz Russell was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Liz and her family have contributed along Richardson River in making corridors for wildlife.
Lindsay Ezard As an employee of government departments, Lindsay Ezard spent 29 years with Parks Vic and other departments and was involved in formation of L andcare at Winjallok. Since his retirement he has collected native seeds which are now forests in this area and owns his ‘bit of paradise’ to practice what he has learned.
Kevin Spence Another Hall of Fame recipient who could not attend was Kevin Spence. Kevin is a former facilitator and a member of the Stuart Mill Landcare group.
Mervyn John (dec) Mervyn John’s Hall of Fame award was accepted by Wendy Pollard, the daughter of Keith and Lorraine Rowley and great-niece of Mervyn John (dec) as well as Lorraine Rowley, Mervyn’s niece. As an early adoptee who worked for the former Wycheproof
Shire and he planted hundreds of trees in the shire.
John Douglas (dec) Debra Douglas with her daughter Kate accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of the late John Douglas. John spent his time in Stuart Mill dedicated to learning and passing on knowledge of the wildlife around him. What he did not know about fauna and flora in the area was not worth knowing. Stuart Mill was one of the earliest Landcare groups and John used to take Joan Kirner (former Premier of Victoria) around imparting his knowledge. He was declared a wonderful man, a good friend. Deb Douglas told of her first meeting with John a great farmer but he was not interested in telling her about farming but in ‘his’ block. Debra and her daughter Kate handed that block of land to Bush Heritage after his passing. A permanent award in John’s name for networking for land management, integrating farming activities with the environment and looking at better ways of doing these things. The first John Douglas Landcare Award for land management was awarded to Luke Batters.
Terry Simpson (dec) Terry Simpson at his property at Winjallok, improved profitability and sustainability and also advised Joan Kirner in 1986. He is known as the “Father of Landcare” in this district. His Hall of Fame award was accepted by his son, Greg, who thanked all involved. The Annual award, the Terry Simpson Landcare award, was given to Wycheproof and District Landcare Group, who continue with protecting flora they have planted, strengthening community ties, with a free feed at the pub each year.
Carrie Jesse (dec) Carrie Jesse, involved at Winjallok in the 1980s, was honoured for her community work and her advocacy for the advancement of landcare and the environment. Her husband Steve Jesse accepted the award on her behalf.
Elvie McDonald (dec) Elvie was honoured for her contribution to diversity and the environment. Her award was accepted by her son, Glen McDonald.