Local Landcare Wins National Group Community Champion Award

Pioneer Catchment Landcare has been recognised on the national stage, winning the prestigious Group Community Champion Award at the Clean Up Australia Day Awards in Canberra. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Clean Up Australia Day, making the honour even more special.

The award celebrates outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship, recognising community groups and organisations that champion sustainability. Criteria for the award include the longevity of service, the number of Clean Up events organised and participated in, and the ability to generate enthusiasm and a ‘wow’ factor for Clean Up Australia Day.

Pioneer Catchment Landcare Coordinator Nancy Pratt said the organisation has been a leader in on-ground environmental work in Mackay for many years, hosting four annual clean-ups at Harbour Beach and Pioneer River, as well as the large-scale Clean Up Australia Day event.

“This award is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, staff, and community members who show up year after year to make a real difference,” Nancy Pratt said.

“It’s an honour to be recognised for the work we do and to celebrate this milestone with Clean Up Australia.”

Clean-up activities are driven by engagement officer Taleah Virgona, who travelled to Canberra to receive the award on Thursday February 6.

“Over the years, the group has removed hundreds of kilos of waste from our local environment, preventing pollution from harming wildlife and waterways,” Taleah said.

"It can be challenging work at times: we occasionally have to grapple with some really unpleasant items, but you do it anyway, because it matters for our ecosystem.”

One story that hooked judges was Taleah's valiant efforts with a dumped beanbag on Harbour Beach, that turned out not to be full of beans, but a colony of cockroaches.

“I screamed and ran for the ocean, pulled myself together. Then got back to work!” she laughed.

Beyond their clean-up efforts, Pioneer Catchment Landcare actively engages the community through education, conservation and restoration projects, and partnerships that improve our local biodiversity creating healthy landscapes and waterways. The award acknowledges not only the group’s past achievements but also its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability.

“Pioneer Catchment Landcare extends its gratitude to Clean Up Australia, local volunteers, and the broader community for their support in making each event a success. The group looks forward to continuing its mission of protecting and restoring the natural environment for future generations,” said Taleah.

“Our Clean Up Australia Day event is just around the corner, happening at Harbour Beach on Sunday, 2 March, 2025, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM. We’ll meet at the Mackay Surf Lifesaving Supporters Club.”

_Our cleanups are part of ReefClean and our Landcare Support Program, funded by Mackay Regional Council. ReefClean is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and is delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation in partnership with Pioneer Catchment Landcare along with Mackay Regional Council through the Landcare Support Program._

Taleah Virgona speaking at the award cerimony at Parliament House on Thursday 6th February

Volunteers alongside Landcare at Plytupus Beach, Mirani as part of a Clean Up Event – Cleaning our Freshwater Beaches. Photos supplied

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