Volunteers across the district are quietly doing the kind of work that rarely makes headlines, but without them, the landscape would look very different.
Now, those same volunteers are being encouraged to step forward as nominees in 2026 Queensland Landcare Awards.
The awards are designed to recognise the people who roll up their sleeves to protect and restore the region’s natural environment.
People like Col Thompson who worked hard in his capacity as co-ordinator of the arboretum project for the Ipswich branch of Native Plants Queensland and worked on Mason’s Gully.
The late Arnold Rieck, a retired teacher, amateur botanist and naturalist, was the driving force behind the arboretum.
He established it with help from fellow members in 1994, and Col and his wife Bern became involved some years later.
Col recalled how the January 2011 flood caused significant damage to the gully plantings and scoured the banks.
“In the northern gully, channel erosion has been repaired three times,” he said.
“The third and last attempt used a different formula for the repair work and it seems to have stabilised the area.
“The work on stabilising the southern gully offered an even greater challenge but it too, has successfully withstood recent floods.”
Col has long lamented the continuing shrinking of the Rosewood Scrub and said it had been reduced to around 2.5 percent of its original expanse.
Environmental heroes are also found in Council’s overarching Bushcare program.
Donna Lucas has worked with the Banyula Road Reserve in Thagoona.
“Banyula Road Reserve is quite a large bushland area and is home for local wildlife, established trees and native plants,” she said.
“For me its specialness is its beauty of wildness and the dry watercourse.
The group planned three stages for the site to manage the workload, and the first stage involved clearing invasive weeds like asparagus fern.
“Bushcare can help support our goals by providing tools and the support needed to make this area a thriving habitat for wildlife,”she said.
The Queensland Landcare Awards recognise individuals, groups and organisations involved in landcare, who are making outstanding contributions to caring for the environment in their local communities for the benefit of all Australians today, and for generations to come.
“Last year Queensland Water and Land Carers celebrated over 21 years of supporting Landcare Awards in Queensland,” Michael Bond, QWaLC chairperson said.
“We were so proud that two of our leading rural landholders went on from these awards to win at the National Landcare Awards, showcasing some of our best practices to the rest of the nation.
“We encourage individuals and groups to participate again this year.
“Nominating someone is a meaningful way to acknowledge their contribution, celebrate their impact at the state level, raise awareness of their work, while supporting its continuation and growth.”
Nominations close on Friday, July 31, 2026.
