Nominations open for Landcare award

Landcare Australia has opened nominations for the 2020 Bob Hawke Landcare Award. This national award publicly recognises an individual involved in championing Landcare who also inspires others to take action on their own property or through a Landcare group.

The award acknowledges a person’s leadership and commitment to Landcare, natural resource management and sustainable agriculture. The award also acknowledges the role that former Prime Minister Bob Hawke played in elevating Landcare from a grassroots community initiative to a national movement with bipartisan government support.

Commitment champions

Landcare Australia CEO Dr Shane Norrish says that the award recipient will be someone who actively pursues, introduces and shapes innovative farming systems to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability and the quality of our natural resources. 

“The nomination is open to an individual who champions the uptake of sustainable agricultural practices and can demonstrate the adoption of improved practices among landholders as a consequence,” Dr Norrish says. “They will be closely involved in Landcare. Further, they can demonstrate an outstanding commitment to local communities.”

The winner will be awarded $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management. This will enable an even stronger contribution to Landcare.

The regenerative journey

Charlie Arnott was awarded the Bob Hawke Landcare Award in 2018. A biodynamic farmer and grazier, Arnott practises regenerative farming and organic, biodynamic and holistic grazing principles on his 5000-acre mixed farming property, Hanaminno, at Boorowa, NSW. He has been an active landcarer since the inception of the Landcare movement in 1989. He’s held previous roles in all levels of landcare, from district groups to being the Sustainable Farming ambassador for Landcare Australia.

Arnott is also passionate about growing clean, top-quality meat. He sells this direct to customers and butchers under his brand, Charlie Arnott Natural Grass Fed Meat. The prize also helped Arnott to create a podcast series, The Regenerative Agriculture Journey. 

For more about the Bob Hawke Landcare Award or to nominate someone, head to the award website.