The history of Wynyard Landcare
Beginnings 1978 - 2014:
Peggy and John Barnard had a problem at their home on Stanwyn Court, Wynyard. Their house was adjacent to Big Creek and it overflowed in 1978 flooding their home. Something needed to be done, so when more homes were built and more people arrived, Peggy door-knocked her neighbours to see if there was support to remove the Crack Willow that was choking the creek and causing the floods. The people responded and with the help of the Waratah Wynyard Council (WWC), the willow, along with dumped rubbish, was removed. This was the beginning of Wynyard Landcare. Soon after, farmers and schools became involved with 'their patches' when an initiative of "adopt a patch." was promoted. The map below shows the locations of the responding Landcare Groups that looked after specific locations and their issues.
Wynyard Landcare invited to an international conference
Wynyard Landcare is one of the oldest Landcare Groups in Australia! The Landcare movement began in 1986 in St Arnaud, Victoria. By 1992, Wynyard Landcare was formed with a dedicated team including Peg Bernard, Wendy Newman, Robin Bell, Mary and Dean Viney, John Groom and Peter Ewington being the inaugural personnel for the group. Having this history, WL was one of four Landcare groups across Australia invited to present at the conference. View the PowerPoint compiled by Peg Bernard who presented it at the 25-year anniversary conference held in Melbourne - notes attached.