Inaugural meeting of the working group

On the 1st February 2009, a working group of representatives from state and territory community landcare organisations met in Melbourne to consider the formation of a National Landcare Network.

The commonalities of our experiences and goals, together with our shared vision for landcare, our environment and our communities lead quickly to affirmation: community landcare in Australia needs national representation and a national voice.

The Interim National Landcare Network was formed.

Front to back and left to right: David Walker (NSW), Drew English (ACT), Leon Trembath (Vic), Emma Belfied (Tas), Marion Benjamin (NSW), Lyndley Chopping (Tas), Gerry Butler (SA), Vickie Webb (Qld), Mandi Stevenson (NSW), Cathy Trembath (Vic), Esma Armstrong (Qld), John Chester (SA), Bev Coomb (SA), John Dalton (NSW), Roger Hardley (Vic), Peter Schwarz (Vic).

The Interim National Landcare Network has two working subgroups addressing internal and external issues which need immediate attention. The internal working group, convened by Marion Benjamin from Landcare NSW is considering models for a national organisation and addressing issues such as membership criterion and terms of reference for the new body. The external working group, convened by Emma Belfied from the Tasmanian Landcare Association is focusing on the immediate public issues the Network needs to address. Issues include communication to grassroots landcarers and communication to the policy makers, the decisions of whom impact directly on the ability of community organisations to engage and activate community action for sustainable natural resource management.