Who We Are
Mission Statement
Enable, encourage and empower aligned community groups to undertake projects that increase and improve sustainable agriculture and conservation in New South Wales.
Vision
Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Future.
Western Landcare NSW will achieve this by:
- Educating our Landcare network to actively implement best practice conservation and sustainable agriculture.
- Building networks with global leaders.
Values
Western Landcare NSW values its place in the Landcare movement, its members, committee, staff and stakeholders and also the environmental outcomes that are its purpose.
Within the organisation Western Landcare New South Wales drives and expects open, honest and courteous communication, valuing all those involved in the ongoing principles mission that is the organisations cause and effect.
Where we are now
In 2004 an idea was born to develop a network to support the Landcare movement in Western NSW. From that idea Western Landcare NSW was initiated and by 2010 the Network had formalised with an Executive Committee and Steering Committee comprising of volunteer representatives from across several existing Landcare groups.
In 2015 Local Land Services and Landcare NSW signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising their relationship. From that the Local Landcare Coordinator Initiative (LLCI) was developed. This Initiative invests $15 million over four years to the employment of Local Landcare Coordinators across NSW.
The LLCI has three main delivery goals:
- Local Coordinators; working with networks to build capacity and foster greater action.
- Community of Practice; a mentoring, support and networking program to help landcarers share, communicate and learn from each other.
- Sustaining Landcare; a program to build a sustainable financial footing for Landcare into the future.
Western Landcare NSW was able to hire 3 Local Landcare Coordinators through this initiative based across the region in Bourke, Broken Hill and Buronga. The Coordinators are housed in the respective Local Land Services offices, a demonstration of the strong partnership between Local Land Services and Landcare at both the state and regional levels.
Building on a strong partnership with Western Local Land Services, Western Landcare was able to emply 3 Local Landcare Coordinators and an Executive Officer in March 2016. The strength of the Executive Committee, Executive Officer and partnership with Western LLS has allowed the Network to nearly triple in size since the start of the LLCI program.
Members
Projects Delivered
Area covered (Ha)
Meet the Team
Sonia Carey
Executive Officer
Sonia started with Western Landcare NSW in July 2018 and has held roles as Secretary and Treasurer on the Executive Committee before taking up the role of Executive Officer. Sonia is passionate about her role and loves to support Landcare activities in the region. She is also involved with supporting other local community groups.
Sonia has lived in Western NSW since 2007 with her husband Rod and 2 children. Sonia is now based at Larloona Station which her husband manages for Big Ampi Pastoral. Her two children completed School of the Air and now attend Boarding school.
Sonia loves to be involved in community activities, but most of all, enjoys supporting and attending local gymkhana, bikekhana and motorsport events with her family.
Louise Turner
Project and Business Manager
Vanessa Anderson
Local Landcare Coordinator - Wentworth
Southern Region
Vanessa grew up on a sheep/beef property on the Fleurieu Peninsula SA. She spent time working on farms in Norway on an Ag exchange before becoming a professional wool classer, working in shearing sheds through outback SA and Far Western NSW. She lived and worked on a sheep station at Moulamein before managing a sheep station between Ivanhoe and Cobar, then settling on a sheep station West of White Cliffs where she raised 2 children through Broken Hill School of the Air. Vanessa has spent the last few years working a variety of jobs in Adelaide. She is a Justice of the Peace, has worked in aged care, Education support, administration, amongst a variety of volunteering initiatives including the sheep section of the Royal Adelaide show and BlazeAid. She is community minded along with being passionate about the environment and sustainability.
Tracey Lauritsen
Local Landcare Coordinator - Broken Hill
Western Area
Tracey started in November as the Local Land Coordinator for the Western area.
Growing up in Broken Hill Tracey is very familiar with the region and has managed properties with her partner in both the South and East of Broken Hill.
During this time Tracey has educated her three children through Broken Hill School of the Air, Yanco AG and Dubbo distance Ed, she is now based in Broken Hill as they finish High School.
Tracey has taken many opportunities to gain extra skills and education through employment, volunteering on committees and attending clinics and workshops.
While living out of town for the past 30 years Tracey has lived through and experienced the effects horrendous droughts have had on the land and its inhabitants and is looking forward to working with other land managers to address sustainability and environmental issues.
With this perspective along with vast rural networking skills we look forward to Tracey’s input and local knowledge.
Emily Zappia
Project Officer for Restoration Riparian Project
Emily has come aboard the Western Land Care team as Project Officer for Restoration Riparian Project.
Emily loves to keep herself busy, she runs her own Signage & Apparel Business as well as a mother to three young kids.
Growing up in the small town of Robinvale, Emily spent her life on grape blocks as well as her family block in the Northern Territory for many years of her young childhood. Since leaving school Emily has completed a Certificate III inBusiness and a Certificate IV Accounting & Bookkeeping. During this time, she has grown a love for new challenges, learning and organising.
Emily enjoys spending time with family. Even more so when camping, holidaying and archery. She is looking forward to the challenge of this new position and working with a new team.