Chairman Sam Archer has been shortlisted for the prestigious Bob Hawke Landcare Award which acknowledges an individual who has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to caring for the land, champions better practices, and gives their time to share knowledge with others so that they too can prosper. 

Mr Archer is an active member of a number of Landcare groups and has turned around the operations of his sheep and cattle farm which had previously been heavily degraded with salinity issues and declining productivity. He has been involved in championing the Landcare ethic and has inspired others to take action on their own property.

The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded with a prize package to the value of $50,000 for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management and Landcare.

Land Services officer Louise Hufton is a finalist in the Australian Government Landcare Facilitator/Coordinator Award.  

Mrs Hufton has spent more than two decades driving fundamental, cultural and philosophical change in the Harden Murrumburrah region.

In her role as coordinator for the Harden Murrumburrah Landcare Group (HMLG), Louise has inspired members, facilitated change and achieved ambitious on-ground projects such as HMLG’s Community Stream Monitoring Project where she played a pivotal role in linking science (Bureau of Rural Science) with on-ground practitioners – farmers.

The awards have attracted 69 finalists representing each State and Territory in nine diverse categories, celebrating the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land where they live and work. 

The winners will be announced as part of the National Landcare Conference.