Topic:
Citizen Science
A sense of belonging on Frankland riverbank
Walpole's Prue Anderson warmly conveys her abiding connection to the Frankland River. At six-months of age she moved to the riverside property with her family and has closely observed it over nearly forty years while paddling, swimming, rock-hopping and exploring. As the new President of the Walpole-Nornalup National Parks Association, Prue's keen sense of place and care for nature extend outwards to encompass the nearby Walpole Wilderness area. Weighing on her mind are the entwined impacts of climate change and prescribed burning on the area.
Committed environment campaigner from beginning
Margaret's journey in environmental advocacy began at Yarrak, her family farm near Kojonup, where her father instilled in her a deep respect for the land.
Katrina Syme: Delving into the fascinating world of fungi
The world is waking up to the vital role of fungi in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They enrich our lives too, with their extraordinary shapes and colours. Here's fungi aficionado and expert, Katrina Syme, wooing us to be fungi lovers with her infectious excitement and knowledge about these remarkable organisms.
Balijup farm: family, people and nature working together
Alan Hordacre and Basil Schur tell the heart-warming story of Balijup farm, near Tenterden. Balijup shows how conservation, farming and forestry can co-exist, boosted since 2012 by the enthusiastic collaboration between conservation group Green Skills and the Hoardacre siblings - Alan, Richard and Anne - who own the farm.
Farming family maintains a landcare tradition
Kingsley Vaux, the Shire of Gnowangerup’s Citizen of the Year for 2023, is a passionate leader in landcare, instrumental in founding the Yongergnow Malleefowl Centre. Growing up immersed in the bush, Kingsley credits his mother, Kaye, for instilling a deep love for nature, and highlights the importance of community involvement in conservation. Kingsley recalls how the massive land clearing in the 1950s and 60s negatively impacted local ecosystems, a lesson he learned firsthand. Since then, he and his wife Sandy have engaged in tree planting and land restoration. Despite facing challenges like declining community engagement and climate concerns, Kingsley remains hopeful. The success of the Malleefowl Centre and the resurgence of the Ongerup General Store demonstrate the community's resilience and commitment to sustainability, inspiring him to influence future generations in conservation efforts.
Sayah Drummond: a refreshing perspective on making a difference
"I am a 'people person', so working with the community and working with passionate people is just really energising ... I’ve learned that a lot of environmental recovery is done by volunteers because they care, they make the effort to learn, and they truly make a difference to their little patch."
The Western Ground Parrot and me: A story about Brenda Newbey and Western Australia’s rarest bird
The extraordinary efforts of Brenda Newbey and others to identify, locate and protect Western Australia's rarest bird are conveyed in this rich and important environmental history. Work to save the ground parrot continues.
Habitat plantings bring the birds
From bare paddocks back to bush full of wildlife. In this story, animal ecologist Dr Nic Dunlop explains the rationale behind undertaking high quality ecological restoration.
Nic Dunlop: The power of citizen science
Meet Dr Nic Dunlop, Coordinator of the Citizen Science Program at the Conservation Council of Western Australia. For decades, Nic has used his scientific knowledge to assist and run citizen science projects, mostly involving birds.
Eddy and Donna Wajon: Chingarrup Sanctuary
Meet Eddy and Donna Wajon from Chingarrup Sanctuary, the first private property purchased for conservation in the Gondwana Link.
Chingarrup Sanctuary brings life to the land
With the aim to protect and restore biodiversity, in 2002 Eddy and Donna Wajon purchased two properties within the Gondwana Link, including Chingarrup Sanctuary. This property spans 572 hectares near Boxwood Hill, and has become a thriving field studies center, attracting over a thousand visitors and researchers. The couple's efforts to rehabilitate the land include direct seeding and creating habitats for native wildlife, notably Malleefowl, which have established nesting mounds on the property. The sanctuary showcases rich biodiversity, and to date 780 fauna species and 575 plant species have been identified. Eddy and Donna have fostered a community of scientists and nature lovers, sharing their conservation journey and encouraging others to participate in protecting the environment. Their commitment demonstrates that individuals can make significant impacts on conservation, inspiring others to take action for the future of Australia’s unique ecosystems.
Landcare Family Has Passion for Property
Sylvia Leighton’s journey began in 1965 when her family arrived on a property teeming with native bushland, a stark contrast to the agricultural landscape that emerged through years of clearing. As a child, Sylvia and her siblings were pivotal in clearing and transforming the land to farm sheep, an experience that instilled a profound sense of responsibility within her. "Returning to this farm as an adult felt necessary," she reflects. "I wanted to rebuild the biodiversity we had lost." Alongside her partner Peter, Sylvia is dedicated to rehabilitating Wilyun Pools Farm, nurturing the once threatened ecosystems. They have transformed 110 hectares into thriving wildlife corridors, enriching habitats with over 30 native plant species. "We hope to create a legacy of biodiversity," she explains, acknowledging the intricate dance of nature and the knowledge she has acquired over the years. Sylvia’s collaboration with local Noongar Elders highlights her commitment to understanding and respecting the land’s cultural heritage. Their efforts aim not just for restoration but for sustainable coexistence with the environment, ensuring that future generations inherit a vibrant, healthy landscape. "Our long-term vision is to harmonize food production with ecological integrity," she states, embodying a deep respect for both nature and community.
The Wonderful Buzz of Katanning Landcare
Ella Maesepp from Katanning Landcare has played a pivotal role in enhancing sustainable land management since joining in 2006, being recognized with the ACM Landcare Community Group Award in 2021. At the intersection of three really distinct vegetation groups across the Shire, she emphasizes Katanning's unique ecological diversity, housing distinct vegetation types and endangered species like Carnaby's Cockatoos and Red-tailed Phascogales. The community has a strong commitment to Landcare, evidenced by a local levy supporting its initiatives for over two decades. While Katanning faces challenges such as erosion, salinity, and climate change, the community has adapted by increasing tree planting and embracing sustainable practices. Ella highlights a positive shift among farmers towards land stewardship, with annual plantings ranging from 100,000 to 250,000 trees. Despite the daunting impact of climate change, Ella remains hopeful, noting the proactive engagement of the community and their resilience in addressing environmental challenges. The future hinges on sustained efforts to adapt and protect the land and its ecosystems.
Chris Lewis: Lifelong work for Kojonup Regional Herbarium
Growing up on the family farm in Tambellup, Chris's love for plants blossomed amidst the bush that surrounded her home. As a child, she often wandered into the wild with her siblings, collecting flowers instead of heading straight home from school. Her father introduced her to tree planting at just four years old, reforesting areas he had over-cleared, which shaped Chris's understanding of landcare. Over the decades, Chris has documented nearly 800 plant species in Kojonup, discovering unique biodiversity between the wheatbelt and southern forests. Her favourite species, from the vibrant Tetrathecas to the intriguing sundews, reveal nature's complexities. As she organized wildflower displays, Chris learned to identify plants by their habitats, fuelling her passion for botany. Yet, challenges remain including invasive weeds which threaten the reserves. She continues to advocate for careful management to protect the rich flora that defines the local landscape.
Balijup Farm and Fauna Sanctuary
Listen to current co-owner Alan Hordacre and others describe the important work taking place at Balijup Farm, including the fully fenced Fauna Sanctuary.
Gen Harvey: Wingedyne Reserve
Listen to Gen Harvey, Landcare Officer at Wagin-Woodanilling Landcare Zone describe what makes Wingedyne Reserve so special.
Wayne Zadow: A passion for birds
Wayne Zadow has been an avid birdwatcher for decades, especially around Kojonup where he farms. He has an extraordinary knowledge of bird species, their behaviour and habitat preferences. Wayne is very concerned about the impact of spring burning on nesting birds.
Yarraweyah Falls Restoration Project
Yarraweyah Falls is a 100 hectare ecological restoration project that is filling a gap for Gondwana Link, in the highly biodiverse Fitz-Stirling area.
Chris Lewis: An enduring passion for Kojonup’s wildflowers
An interview with Chris Lewis, from the Kojonup Regional Herbarium, on her remarkable 45-year commitment to the plant life of Kojonup.
Eileen Croxford: Finding ‘Pingrup Pink’
Eileen Croxford was collector of the extremely rare Eucalypt 'Pingrup Pink' - in fact in between first finding it and then going back to the same spot the area had been entirely cleared.
