Farewell from the National Landcare Facilitator Coral Love 

The time has come after seven and a half years to step down from the role of National Landcare Facilitator. This comes with mixed feelings of course but that usually comes with any change, you would think I would have a handle on change by now!

I am pleased to be continuing my involvement into 2010 on the Australian Framework for Landcare reference group and the National Landcare Forum steering committee and I am keen to see these to fruition.

Landcarer groups have proven community Landcare's resilience through the highs and the lows of the past 20 years and they are continuing to build on their achievements. At the same time situations have been continually evolving and changing due to emerging issues such as climate adaptation, bio-security, demographics in rural areas, bush fires of a catastrophic level and the recent global financial crisis. The same can be said for national, state and regional natural resource management policies, programs and structures. Change seems to be moving at a faster pace too these days and the youth of today have a whole new view of the world and ways of doing things - does this view come with getting older or is it really the globalisation influence?

I have considered for a long time now that strong leadership at a national level, would best assist community Landcare realise its potential and enable the sights to be set on a steady progression towards achieving its goals. For this to occur, many 'planets need to align' and hold fast to a universal vision (a term coined in a Landcare context by the former Australian Council Chair, Bobbie Brazil). This has not been as easy in reality, as one would have hoped.

I have always believed that community Landcare is a valuable part of Australia's fabric and well worth acknowledgement of what it is and what it has contributed, as well its potential for the future. Landcarers know that they have an important and often multi-faceted role in their local communities and, as well as leading by example as volunteer custodians of the land, they also support local economic, social and cultural outcomes. It is important to articulate these attributes clearly and for Governments to understand, value, utilise and maximise the multi-benefits that can come from this.

A universal understanding of why Landcare is important to all Australians could assist community Landcare to improve its operations and build on its achievements, ultimately delivering outcomes into the future. In my role as National Landcare Facilitator, I have always been a strong advocate for this and I believe that the development of an Australian Framework for Landcare will have the potential to make a difference. I am encouraged that the Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, The Hon Tony Burke, has encouraged a vision for Landcare within his portfolio.

I expect it is with a degree of trust that Minister Burke and the Land & Coasts Landcare Futures team have supported the Australian Framework for Landcare initiative. It is based on the understanding that community Landcare wants to be responsible for directing its own future but needs assistance to draw everything together. A national strategy to articulate its aspirations, values and capacity while potentially attracting partners and investors within today's highly competitive market, should ensure the good work and involvement of volunteer custodians of the land continues. At the same time, community Landcare has a degree of reliance on the leadership and directions of all levels of Government to remain an important player and partner in achieving sustainable resource management.

When deliberating on future directions, it would be helpful to think of community Landcare in terms of the following key areas:

• operations - including health of group, capacity and skills, governance, vision & local plans, structure, health of partnerships & networks, quality of communication system, status in community and on-ground works.
• resources to operate - including money, support staff (facilitators and coordinators), equipment, training, communication and partnerships.

So, with 20 years and a wealth of knowledge and experience under the belt, now is a great time to do some navel gazing and fine tune the 'engine'. Wouldn't it be great to have some solidarity on Landcare's relevance for the next 20 years? Then landcarers would be able to do what they are keen to do most and that is to just get on with it.

Ultimately, it is important for community Landcare and Governments to work together with mutual respect and understanding as there is enormous value to be gained for both. Groups are more likely to reach their goals with assistance from government at national, state and regional levels. They in turn contribute in a cost effective way building the social capital that is required to achieve long term sustainable resource management.

The National Landcare Facilitator team - Coral Love, Paul Carroll and Ian Linley, wish to acknowledge the many thousands of people involved in community Landcare across the country, for their long term dedication, commitment and tireless efforts.

During our travels we have enjoyed meeting with and learning from many landcarers at a range of events as well as meeting with groups and visiting their projects.

A special thankyou to:

o        those landcarer groups and support staff (facilitators and coordinators) we were able to visit, for their enthusiasm, generosity and hospitality while giving their time to share their experiences and show us the projects they are involved in

o        the many support staff who coordinated the itineraries and arrangements for our group and site visits. Your efforts have been most appreciated

o        the many people met along the way including staff from departmental agencies, NRM Regions, local government and NGOs

The National Landcare Facilitator team acknowledges the support and cooperation provided by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture Fisheries & Forestry staff over the last four and a half years of this contract and three years of my previous term. These include Ian Thompson, Executive Manager of Sustainable Resource Management in the Land & Coasts team; Charles Willcocks & Rod Shaw, former General Managers of the Landcare & Sustainable Agriculture Branch & Margaret Allan, current General Manager; Rod Lynch & Sue Yates and staff of the former National Landcare Program team, Gail Stevenson and staff of the former Land & Coasts Landcare Futures team, Desley Darby, Brad Thomas and staff of the current Land & Coasts Lan dcare Futures team and many people who operate across the country in Australian Government facilitator roles.

Special thanks also to our colleagues who made up the State Landcare Coordinator network for their valuable contribution to this project during 1 August 2005 - 30 June 2008.

Particular thanks and acknowledgement to:

§         Bruce Lloyd & Bobbie Brazil - Chairs, together with members and Secretariat of the Australian Landcare Council 

§         John Claringbould & Jerry Ellis - Chairs, and the Advisory Committee and staff of Landcare Australia Ltd

Paul and I would particularly like to thank Ian Linley who we have worked with for a number of years now in his roles as State Landcare Facilitator for the National Landcare Program followed by Australian Government facilitator, before joining our team in July 2009 to work with us over the past 6 months. Ian has carried out his role in true professional form and we have appreciated his assistance with the forums and workshops across the country to start discussions for the Australian Framework for Landcare, as well as his management of some of the difficulties that were outside his control during that time.

I would also like to thank Paul for his tremendous support during some very hectic schedules and deadlines and the excellent skills and understandings he has brought to this project.

Paul and I, operating as Marian Partners Australia, plan a break over January. I will continue to be involved in the Australian Framework for Landcare and National Landcare Forum. Paul and I will support the new National Landcare Facilitator during the transition period. The Australian Government will make an announcement about the National Landcare Facilitator role for 2010 shortly.

Again, thankyou all, it has certainly been a great honour and pleasure to be in this role and I will be proud to champion Landcare into the future.