Landcare groups often find themselves uncertain about how to approach an Acknowledgment of Country. Many worry that without a deep understanding of First Nations Culture, their Acknowledgment might feel tokenistic or just a formality. This was a concern for Coolamon Landcare. They didn’t want their Acknowledgment to be just a statement , they wanted it…
Yarran Creek has been identified as a waterway in need of environmental restoration. The creek plays a vital role in the local ecosystem and provides habitat for various native species. However, years of agricultural practices on surrounding land, and unrestricted livestock access have led to the degradation of the creek’s banks and surrounding vegetation. Multiple…
In the years leading up to the devastating 2019-2020 fires , the communities around Junee, Wagga Wagga, and Coolamon had already faced several large-scale fire events. Despite this history, there was a noticeable gap in how prepared residents felt. Many people knew the risks but still lacked the comprehensive fire plans and knowledge needed to…
Home schooling is a growing solution for children who are not happy or comfortable in a traditional school setting. One of the key concerns for parents and carers who may be thinking about home schooling their children is often related to the social networks and peer friendships which children have the opportunity to develop at…
Narrandera has faced significant challenges due to severe flooding, particularly the events of August and September 2022, where the flood reached the major height category, peaking at 8.495m. The highest flood recorded is 8.996m in 1974, followed by 8.989m in 2012. The flooding in Narrandera caused extensive damage to infrastructure, farmlands and residential properties. The…
Education access for Cultural burn and awareness has many restrictions, particularly the available location to undertake a Cultural burn. There is a lack of educational resources and opportunities for youth to learn about Cultural burning and First Nations ecological practices. Whilst some curriculum resources touch on these topics in the classroom, there is a need…
It is known that there is a gap in knowledge and local engagement between our long-term volunteers and the younger generations within the community. Opportunities to pass down knowledge and skills are often few and far between and require external facilitation. Without this imparting of skill and experience, the knowledge of native plant propagation and…
Society needs to be reminded that agriculture has been heavily dependent on women for centuries. Women have only been able to be legally recognised as “farmers” since 1994 and the embedded policy, workplace, flexibility and attitudinal issues in Australian agriculture need to be addressed by leaders in the field to create practical changes in the…
Farmers in Young lack a local community group to discuss sustainable grazing, mental health, and general farming practices, making regular participation in the distant Boorowa group challenging. Richard Paige, Chair of the Young District Landcare Group, saw the need for a local group to address these issues and foster community support. Richard recognized the need for…
As senior high school students start out on their career journey, it can be difficult for them to discern the expanse of opportunities available within industries such as agriculture and environmental science without proper exposure and guidance. This is particularly so in our remote and small town communities. Many rewarding and fulfilling career paths exist…