A change of guard for the zone committee
Article supplied by C.Hadlow
President's Report
Salinity is still our biggest issue and the down side to the flood event has been the helping hand to the rising water table. The drainage in our shire is doing a sound job for those farmers who are at the coalface here, but as they are only too aware, it is not the sole answer to this issue. Planting trees and perennials on productive land higher in the catchment, as one of our tools, would give a bit of a helping hand here, but unfortunately the margins have become a lot tighter for this to occur on a broader scale. Thankfully though, there are still bits and pieces happening which hopefully can help slow the process a fraction. Every little bit helps.
Like a lot of people, I got involved in landcare a couple of decades ago. It was not only the right thing to do but an obligatory thing to do. For the next generation to carry on in agriculture, we need to keep flying the landcare flag as that important part of our farming environment. In my time here there have been a number of people that have come and gone through the Zone and LCDC committees, with fairly good numbers keen to be a part of the landcare cause. In the last couple of years though, our landcare committee has had a dwindling number of landholders wishing to come and be a part of our important committee, but pleasingly there have been more recently, a few fresh faces come along to carry on the end work done and that still needs to be done. This has been most encouraging.
Without some important support, the Dumbleyung LCDC and Zone would probably not be here today. From very early in the piece, the Dumbleyung Shire Council has backed the landcare movement in the shire, and we are very fortunate for that continued assistance. We have been in a unique situation for a long time and our extreme gratitude is passed on to the Shire of Dumbleyung Council.
I am also very thankful for the support and commitment of all the committee. Without your contribution and dedication, our landcare work would not have maintained its progress in the shire.
Big thanks are forwarded to our NRMO Claudia Hadlow for her work in that role. Her landcare passion energy has meant that we can all benefit from her vast knowledge and receive some finical assistance that may be on offer in the way of grants.
In finishing, I would like to say that being involved in landcare has been pleasing and rewarding for what has been achieved. It may not have been too great in the last few years but there is still a pulse. As your President, I hope I have helped you in some ways to keep us on the map so that there is a benefit for the future landcare activity. Thank you.
Jon Adams