Community is crucial to land care

GETTING the community on board and forging partnerships with local organisations is the key to a successful junior landcare group, according to Sally Hughes, who recently visited Dubbo. Addressing the Dubbo Field Naturalist and Conservation Society, Mrs Hughes discussed her role as the Corowa District Landcare Junior Officer.

Originally from Warren, she said the job helps share her rural upbringing.

“I love being involved in Junior Landcare,” she said. “I get to pass on stuff that my dad and grandad taught me about different habitats, composting and tree planning.”

Mrs Hughes ( below) described some of the activities which contribute to their program.

“We host workshops on history and biodiversity, frogs ‘n’ fish, Aboriginal plant use and sustainable agriculture,” she said. “There’s also a pollination study and tree day planting.

“Junior Landcare is kids’ exposure to nature, using schools as target groups.

“It’s about education and building a circle in the local community and working with children in schools. It’s been very successful.”

Mrs Hughes said one of the most important links was between Landcare and the local Federation Council, particularly for the annual tree planting day.

“Having that partnership is vital to getting funding and for the success of the project. You can achieve more with partners.”

Mrs Hughes said the group is all about increasing awareness through community engagement and providing an education package with school visits.

“We are really trying to get our local community on board with this. We have got to do whatever we can do.”

She said people get a good feeling out of getting involved.

“Our value of volunteers, that’s a positive for our organisation.

Caring for country and expanding knowledge of threatened species. Successful planning and engagement of young people is important. Grants, ideas, planning and people equals good results.”

Mrs Hughes’ presentation provided food for thought for the local society whose aims include preservation of natural history and conservation.

PHOTO: COURTESY ANNE MCALPINE Younger and older generations are involved in Landcare in the Dubbo region. This group was helping with a Shorebird Survey at the Dubbo Sewerage Treatment Plant at the start of 2019.