The awards acknowledge the enormous contributions made by dedicated volunteers, farmers, community groups, schools and organisations right across Victoria to protect and enhance our environment and to make our agriculture sector more sustainable for the years and decades ahead.

That work is more important now than ever as Victorians work together to minimise the impacts of climate change.

The spirit of volunteering and work ethic displayed by everyone nominated for these awards, and everyone who is involved with Landcare and environmental volunteering, is truly inspirational. Thank you for the amazing contributions that you are making for our communities and our state.

I would also like to thank the people that took the time to nominate the people who we celebrated at the ceremony and in this feature issue of the magazine, for valuing the work that these highly motivated people are doing, each and every day.

Thanks also to the judging panels for all the award categories. Each of you has given your time to carefully assess and weigh up the virtues of each nomination, and that was no easy task this year.