Southern New England Landcare Ltd has marked 25 years as a not-for-profit company by electing a new chair and, for the first time in its history, filling all ten seats on its board.
The organisation, whose member groups include Landcare and Rivercare groups in Armidale, Uralla, and Guyra, held its 25th annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 11 November.
It operated as the Southern New England Landcare Coordinating Committee Inc from 1992 before becoming a company limited by guarantee.
The AGM was chaired by Bev Stubberfield, representative of the Uralla Rivercare Group.
Members farewelled Emeritus Professor Nick Reid at the end of his three years as chair and welcomed David Steller into the role.
“David is a long-serving Landcare board member and representative of the Armidale Tree Group Inc, and the organisation looks forward to his leadership in the years ahead,” said Chief Executive Officer Karen Zirkler.
Zirkler said it was the first time in the 25-year history of Southern New England Landcare Ltd that the organisation had its full complement of ten board members.
Professor Reid has stepped into the role of vice-chair and will support Mr Steller through the transition.
Robert Sieben was re-elected as treasurer for a second term.
Returning board members are Bev Stubberfield, Steve Harvey, Dr Brooke Kennedy, and Dr Andrew Lawson. New board members are Agness Knapik and Rowena Childs. Shane Andrews, an inaugural board member, was also returned to the board.
After the AGM, members gathered for the biannual Member Muster, chaired by Mr Harvey.
“A highlight of every Muster is the ‘Around Our Groups’ segment, where representatives from local Landcare groups share recent achievements and activities,” Zirkler said.
The organisation welcomed Ms Childs as the new group representative for Armidale Urban Rivercare and Michael Colvin as the new representative for the Guyra Landcare Network.
“The positive energy in the room was amazing,” said Guyra Landcare Network group representative Michael Colvin of his first Member Muster.
A special acknowledgement was made for Bill Perrottet, who served as the Guyra Landcare Network representative for 25 years before stepping down this year. Mr Perrottet also served on the board and was chair for several years.
“That was one of the best Musters in 25 years… I really enjoy the Around Our Groups part of the evening because you always learn something new,” Perrottet said.
Guest speakers included Emily Sims, strategic planner with Uralla Shire Council, who spoke about the opportunities presented by the Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and the progress council has made in its engagement with EnergyCo.
Sims also highlighted the contribution of the Biodiversity Reference Group, of which Southern New England Landcare is a member, to the broader rollout of the REZ and its impacts in the region.
Keith Walker, regional Landcare coordinator with the New England Landcare Network, and Dr Julian Prior from Prior Consulting presented on their feasibility study, Building an Investment-Ready Natural Capital Platform, funded through Phase 3 of the Landcare Enabling Program.
The pilot study is designing, testing, and validating a mapping and modelling package for the New England region, aimed at supporting future natural capital investment.
The project was supported by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
The evening ended with the annual awards.
Janet Hodge received the Coordinator’s Choice Award, presented each year to someone who has gone above and beyond to support the organisation’s local Landcare coordinators.
“This award is presented to someone who has helped us not go completely mad this year,” said Southern New England Landcare Local Landcare Coordinator Struan Ferguson.
“I appreciate the award though it’s all just part of the job and enjoy working with a great team,” Hodge said.
The John Winter Irving Memorial Bequest, which recognises outstanding commitment to sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and community leadership in Landcare, went to Elizabeth Rosser.
Ms Rosser, a local Landcare coordinator with Southern New England Landcare, was recognised for her dedication to sustainable agriculture projects across the region and her significant contribution to the community.
“I am honoured and quite stunned to be receiving this award,” Rosser said.
“I look forward to using the bequest to further my knowledge of sustainable agriculture and how it can be used for the benefit of farmers in our region.”
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