Victorian Landcare Magazine - Winter 2024, Issue 87
An early adopter, advocate and community volunteer, Kevin Nolte was a Landcarer even before the movement officially kicked off in Victoria in 1986. As a young farmer in the Tahara West area, west of Hamilton, Kevin demonstrated a keen interest in revegetation, land improvement, erosion prevention, waterway management, and the care of livestock by planting shelterbelts.
He planted native vegetation on the family farm operated with his parents, Albert and Doris, in the 1970s and 1980s and became an enthusiastic supporter of Landcare groups in the region, before starting the Tahara West Landcare Group in the early 1990s.
Kevin said he developed a fondness for native trees as a child, often drawing pictures of red gums, stringybarks and messmate.
“I thought gum trees were works of art. They always fascinated me, because most of the trees around the farms were either cypress or pines and most of the pines were well past their use-by-date. I wanted to make the area more natural,” he said.
He ignored the critics who said he was losing too much land to trees and ran a plantation along two sides of a hill on the family farm. The shelterbelts made it the safest paddock for sheep after they were shorn in September.
“If you got a storm in the middle of the night, you didn’t have to get up, get the dog and go and shift your sheep. Before then, if you didn’t get up and shift them, they’d be stuck up against the fence, dead.”
Kevin rallied the community to join the Landcare group, applying for grants, implementing projects to restore land and the natural environment, and educating others. He also enlisted the help of his wife Carole and neighbour Ian Robertson, who were formal members of the Landcare group. Kevin and Carole’s shared passion for the environment runs in the family, with a daughter, Sharon Rowe, pursuing studies in aquatic science and now working for local water authority, Wannon Water.
Above: Kevin Nolte has been responsible for planting more than one million native trees in Tahara West and surrounding areas over more than 35 years.
A long-standing supporter of the principles and practices of Landcare, Kevin delivered four projects in the Tahara West region
over a period of more than 10 years with the help of Landcare grants and local community volunteers.
Kevin learned to grow an extensive range of native trees from seed and continues to supply young trees to other local farmers for free to help with restoration works, teaching them about Landcare and paying for fencing materials out of his own pocket when funding was inadequate.
Revegetation projects delivered by Kevin have had a profound impact on the local environment, aiding in land restoration, repairing landslides, helping prevent erosion and significantly enhancing habitat for native wildlife.
Despite the challenges posed by limited funding, remote living, and an ageing population – which led to the Tahara West Landcare Group winding up in the early 2000s – Kevin has continued to advocate for Landcare, educating and collaborating with groups, organisations and farmers.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing the erosion in the creeks and the landslips being stopped, and just the beautification of the whole area. It looks so much better,” he said.
Kevin’s contributions to Landcare extend beyond his personal initiatives. A pivotal figure in community engagement, he has used his long-standing association with service groups such as the Lions Club and the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to promote Landcare principles.
Earlier this year, the CFA recognised his 60 years of volunteer service – first with the Tahara West Brigade and then the Tahara Brigade after their merger in 2017 – with a Service Award and Life Membership.
Above: Kevin and Carole Nolte were mainstays of the Tahara West Landcare Group in the 1990s.
Kevin has formed alliances with other local groups and established positive relationships with organisations such as Wannon Water, local councils, and Agriculture Victoria. His proactive approach in seeking expert advice and educating others about local environmental needs and impacts has made him a respected figure in land management circles.
Kevin’s ability to overcome various challenges, from funding constraints to technological limitations, speaks volumes about his resilience and commitment to environmental stewardship. Now 80 and retired, and despite his declining vision, Kevin continues to grow native plants from seed and supply them to local farmers at no charge.
His ongoing efforts underscore a profound dedication to preserving and enhancing the natural environment for future generations.
Ian Arney farms at Werrimull in the northwest Mallee and is president of Millewa-Carwarp Landcare Group (MCLG). Ian’s farm is a Landcare showcase – he has planted thousands of trees in windbreaks and across laneways from seed collected on the farm and undertaken extensive rabbit and fox control. Ian has been active in MCLG for more than 25 years. He has also been president of the local branch of the VFF, is currently a councillor with Mildura Rural City Council, and a member of Mallee Sustainable Farming. Ian is a leader in his community. He is a tireless promotor of Landcare and sustainable agriculture. He hosts local schools at his farm and is involved in countless local environmental projects. His unwavering commitment to Landcare is inspirational in his community.
Above: Ian Arney checking seedpods on his property Mallanbool at Millewa.