CCMA thanks Landcare volunteers

THE Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CCMA) has recognised Landcare volunteers and groups for their care of the environment.

The CCMA asked people to submit their nominations for the Corangamite Landcare Volunteer Recognition Program before National Volunteer Week in May.

CCMA board chair Alice Knight said the authority aimed to acknowledge the profound contributions volunteers made through Landcare.

“These volunteers are working hard all year round to ensure everyone can enjoy an improved environment,” said Ms Knight. “We would like to thank and acknowledge the amazing efforts of all of the 152 volunteer Landcare groups and 11 Landcare Networks across the Corangamite region.”

Among the recognised volunteers was Margot Busch for her contributions to Ocean Grove Coastcare and Bellarine Catchment Network.

Ms Busch is now president of the Ocean Grove Coastcare but has been involved with the group for about seven years. She said her involvement in the group gradually became more significant.

“I just started out going along to their weeding working-bees and pulling plants out of the dune system that was stopping the native vegetation from thriving. Eventually, I did a little bit more, and a little bit more, and ended up on the committee,” Ms Busch said.

Ms Busch also serves as a representative for Ocean Grove Coastcare on the Bellarine Catchment Network, who she is now also the secretary for.

Ms Busch’s contributed greatly to both groups but said she has also gotten a lot out of her involvement with them.

“Not coming from an environmental background, something that’s been really fabulous about being involved with both of those groups is learning about this local environment.”

Other individuals the CCMA thanked included Malcolm Gardiner of the Land and Water Resources Otway Catchments Landcare Group, Ken Forrester from the Southern Otway Landcare Network, Jennifer Morrow, Peter Greig, Lachlan Gordon, Janet Gordon, Fiona East and Mandy Baker from the Upper Barwon Landcare Network, and Terry Cliff from the Torquay and District Landcare Group.

Among the groups recognised this year were Barrabool Hills Landcare Group, Winchelsea Land and River Care Group, Bellarine Catchment Network, Geelong Landcare Network, Surf Coast Inland Plains Network, and Upper Barwon Landcare Network.

Ms Busch said there were great benefits to being part of a Landcare group. “I think it’s pretty exciting to be able to learn through these groups and have a nice time with some nice people.

“You can see it on people’s faces too. At a planting day we had last year, some of the delightful smiles on little kids faces as well as the adults who just enjoyed getting out there, getting their hands dirty, and feeling like they were really contributing something. And they were.”