Resilient Farming Communities Planning for Climate Uncertainty forum a huge success for BCLG

Nearly 100 people from Boorowa, Upper Lachlan, Cowra, Wagga Wagga and beyond attended the hugely successful Resilient Farming Communities Planning for Climate Uncertainty forum hosted by Boorowa Community Landcare Group (BCLG).

There was good line up of speakers sharing their knowledge and stories. Speakers included farmer and mental health advocate John Harper, consultant and holistic management educator Mark Gardner, Associate Professor Health Research Institute and the Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra Dr Jacki Schirmer, research leader with NSW Department of Primary Industries Dr Warwick Badgery and behavioural scientist Toneya McIntosh.

Special guests included Chair of Local Land Services NSW Richard Bull, Hilltops Council Mayor Brian Ingram, local land managers David Marsh and Charlie Arnott and grazing group facilitator Scott Hickman.

There was also a large variety of stalls for attendees to visit, including the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Farmers for Climate Action, Local Land Services (LLS), NSW Farmers, Nutri Soil, Mid Lachlan Landcare, NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment, Australian National University (ANU), HCLG and BCLG.

Local community identity Justin Fleming emceed the forum, while George Coe presented the welcome to country.

Organiser Linda Cavanagh from BCLG was happy the forum was so well received. “Landcare as a community organisation has a strong position to work as conduit between all the networks we are able to bring together. So I’m really excited we were able to bring all these people together in the one room to have a non-threatening conversation to tackle this ongoing dry time.”

“Hopefully people can leave with some information on how to implement changes and feel supported in their community,” she said.

Funding from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) means Boorowa Community Landcare Group (BCLG) and Hovells Creek Landcare Group (HCLG) have support for a number of activities to promote strategies to tackle tough times and to improve ecological, economic and social wellbeing of communities like the recent forum.

With funding by Stockland Care Foundation through the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), HCLG will be hosting a workshop this Friday, the 30th of August on ‘Understanding Dry Times’ in Frogmore.

The workshop will explore current and future strategies to manage climate variability. Speakers include Professor Mark Howden (Director of the Climate Change Institute at the Australian National University), Phil Graham (Technical Specialist Livestock Systems at the NSW Department of Primary Industries) and Melinda Hillery (Climate Change Adaptation team, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment).

HCLG chairperson Dr Gordon Refshauge will host a discussion session. The event is free and includes lunch and afternoon tea with bookings on Eventbrite.

The workshop will be held in the Frogmore Hall at Frogmore between 12pm and 4.30pm.

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• Workshops