2008 Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards
Category: Indigenous Caring for Land
Winner: Kim Wandin & Dion Bender
The 2008 Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards were held on Saturday 6 September at Zinc in Federation Square and the 11 winners announced in front of 250 guests.
The Awards celebrate Landcare Week’s Landcare Heroes and focus on the thousands of volunteers making a difference by tackling some of the big issues in Melbourne’s landscape and catchment environments. Kim Wandin and Dion Bender were announced as the winners for the Indigenous Caring for Land category and recognised for their work in the local indigenous and schools community.
Kim Wandin and Dion Bender have been involved for the last two years with the Greening Australia Yarra River Educating for Sustainability Program, delivered to over 13 schools along the Yarra River. They have primarily been involved in the Upper Yarra area - the traditional home of Kim’s family.
Over past two years they have delivered part of a broader integrated program (eg.Yarra River Recovery Program) with a focus on the Indigenous cultural land management practices to schools across the Yarra catchment.
They have been instrumental in promoting environmental change and a deeper understanding of Indigenous flora and fauna, been involved in succession planning within the Indigenous community including participation of other community members to pass on knowledge and culture.
They have promoted and communicated to parents, teachers and students a clear understanding of and teaching of Aboriginal’s traditional cultural roles and responsibilities, such as men’s and women’s business and the resources available in the natural environment.
All winners of the Port Phillip and Western Port Landcare Awards will go on to be nominated for the 2009 Victorian Landcare Awards. |