I am honoured to have been part of the 2024 Victorian Landcare Awards ceremony. This event celebrates the immense contributions of individuals, community groups, schools, and organisations working tirelessly to protect and improve our natural environment, promoting sustainable farming practices, and mitigating the effects of climate change.

The spirit of environmental volunteering and the work ethic displayed by every nominee is truly inspirational. I would like to thank the people that took the time to nominate those who we celebrated at the ceremony, and the many dedicated judges who assessed the record numbers of award nominations this year. It was a difficult task to consider the contribution of each nominee and decide
on the winning entries.

This feature issue of the magazine includes fascinating stories on the award winners. Groups and individuals were recognised for bushfire recovery, revegetation, regenerative agriculture, improving biodiversity corridors, coastal protection, weed control, citizen science, school and community education, partnerships, and Caring for Country.

Mallacoota local, Bryce Watts-Parker is the winner of the NextGen Landcare Award. Bryce stepped up after the 2019-20 bushfires in East Gippsland and became the youngest member of the Mallacoota and District Recovery Association. He helped to search the bush for injured wildlife, caring for them at the Mallacoota wildlife shelter and distributing food and water for surviving animals. After the fire, Bryce helped establish the Mallacoota Endemic Garden, which features more than 150 species of native flora and is a seedbank and insurance population for local endangered plants.

The Moorabool Catchment Landcare Group is a fantastic example of what a community group can achieve and has won the Landcare and Environmental Volunteer Group Award. The group has extended its reach and is committed to fostering broad community participation in Landcare, and over the past two years more than 800 people have volunteered for their projects.

Lisa McIntyre is one of the many long-term Landcarers acknowledged in the awards. Lisa has had a remarkable 23-year tenure as the secretary of the Panyyabyr Landcare Group. A champion of sustainable farming, Lisa will use her fellowship for a study tour led by the Regenerative Agriculture Network of Tasmania, with the aim of sharing her new knowledge with members of her Landcare network.

Our winners of the nine National Landcare Awards categories will go on to represent Victoria at the 2025 National Landcare Awards. I wish them all the best of luck.

Steve Dimopoulos MP

Minister for Environment

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events

Minister for Outdoor Recreation