Caring for the land together

Landcare Victoria and Victorian Environment Friends Network joined forces for the Victorian Environmental Volunteer Showcase.

With more than 60,000 volunteers spread across 650 groups, Landcare Victoria CEO Claire Hetzel said the event highlighted the diversity of projects being undertaken to protect and preserve the environment.

‘Landcare gets on and does the work, gets the job done, and so being able to engage and show the face of Landcare to politicians and what is happening out there in the regions is a unique opportunity,’ she said.

‘Landcare is hoping to tell its story and for MPs to understand just what it means for people to take action locally in the places that they live and work.’

Ms Hetzel said Landcare was shaped by the local communities.

‘Landcare is known for agricultural and environmental action, but it actually is a social network that exists across the state,’ she said.

‘That community cohesion that it offers and the opportunity to provide local resilience in the face of recurring floods, droughts or other disasters is actually part of the real strength that Landcare and environmental volunteering brings to communities.’

As one example of local participation, a group of primary school students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar volunteer their Friday lunch times to plant trees at the school’s farm campus.

Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher David Gorton said they had students returning year-on-year to contribute to the junior Landcare project.

‘We've dealt with produce. We've moved into re-veg and planting. We've done a little bit of work on sustainability. So, we tend to trigger those things that the students really love and create a connection to, that maybe they can't do in their own lives at home or in their communities,’ he said.

‘The students often say that they don't get a chance to do anything like this at home, they don't get to get their hands mucky, they don't get to work on the tools.

‘But just to be out, away from screens, out on the bush campus, I think they really appreciate it.’

Friends of Mount Worth State Park volunteer Paul Strickland said environmental groups were vital.

‘Landcare and environmental groups normally start up because someone notices something in their community that should be better,’ he said.

‘Without the voluntary effort a lot of things just wouldn’t happen, a lot of parks wouldn’t open, a lot of revegetation wouldn’t be possible.’

Mr Strickland said these groups built a sense of connection amongst members.

‘Landcare and Friends of groups build a sub community of people that would never have met in any other context, but they come together in their little patch to do the work,’ he said.

‘Landcare groups are often neighbourhoods of farms, and the honest truth is, there may not be any other reason for them to meet except that there is a joint group project to get together and work on.’

Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said Landcare Victoria volunteers contribute more than 670,000 unpaid hours to the sector.

‘It is a huge army of incredible dedicated people that do the work that benefits all of us now and future generations,’ he said.

‘I’ve heard about some of the wonderful projects that the groups have been doing and I have been out to different parts of Victoria and seen that firsthand.’

Shadow Minister for Environment Brad Roswell said the Landcare movement had always enjoyed bipartisan support.

‘The work carried out by Landcare volunteers and professionals helps to care for and preserve our precious environment. From restoring native habitats to restoring sustainable agriculture, the work that people in this room do for our state is truly invaluable,’ he said.