Our recent Muster- a gathering to strengthen connections
On a cold and blustery day in July, more than seventy Landcarers and friends converged from across the Central Tablelands region at the Australian National Field Days site in Borenore, not far from Orange. Although the weather kept us huddled indoors, the mood in the hall was far from dreary, with a thrum of convivial conversation throughout the day. This was the first Landcare Muster for our region at this scale, and it was wonderful to have a diversity of voices in the room- including volunteers from local network committees as well as numerous smaller Landcare groups; strong representation from Local Land Services staff; partner organisations and of course Landcare coordinators from across the region.
The Purpose
This day was the culmination of several months of collaborative planning. Peter Pigott, the NSW Landcare Program Community of Practice and Events Coordinator, had led us through a process for co-design, ensuring that we identified a clear purpose for the event, and then planning to meet that purpose. This included broad consultation with the CTRLN Steering Committee and Local Landcare Coordinators, with a smaller design team then using that input to inform our planning. The purpose of the muster we landed on was to strengthen connections across the Landcare network, and with key partners. We hoped that this gathering would be an opportunity to celebrate Landcare’s work, learn from each other, and walk away inspired and energised.
The Program
To meet our purpose, we planned the muster program [link] to include a mix of sessions, including presentations from a diversity of speakers, interactive workshops, and opportunities for discussion and networking. In the morning, we heard snapshots of Landcare projects and achievements from Local Landcare Coordinators from each of the five local networks. This gave a birds-eye-view of the diversity of Landcare work happening across the region, from soil health to frog monitoring, from Cultural connections to school education programs, and everything in between.
The program also included:
An address from Phil Donato, the State Member for Orange.
Lightning Talks- a series of energising 5 minute presentations from a range of Landcarers and partners
Three breakout sessions:
Enhancing farm dams for multiple benefits – Sustainable Farms, Australian National University
New Hands, New Habits: Rethinking Volunteer Recruitment for Landcare- Kim Boswell, The Forever Agenda
Creative Landcare Connections- Will Love, Local Coordinator, Central Tablelands Landcare
An address from LLS CEO, Kate Lorimer Ward, in which she shared her long history with Landcare, and vision for continuing to improve collaboration between Landcare and LLS
In feedback surveys about the day, many people stated that the highlight of the day for them was the Lightning Talks. Here’s who we heard from:
Wendy Bowman (Mid Lachlan Landcare)- How to increase biodiversity without it costing too much
Christine Bailey (Napoleon Reef Landcare)- Preserving roadside vegetation may save your life
John Fry (Greening Bathurst, and Bathurst Sustainability Eco Hub)- Landcare in a changing climate
Allan Nicholson (DCCEEW)- Salinity for DCCEEW Water in the Basin Salinity Management Team
Allan Wray (Central Tablelands Local Land Services)- Power of Community Collaboration
Shane Laverty (Rivers of Carbon)- Source water Linkages program
Dr Cilla Kinross (Summer Hill Creekcare)- The value of partnerships: Charles Sturt University & Summer Hill Creekcare
Sally Neaves (Blayney Eco Hub and Eugowra Catchment Landcare)- Introduction to Blayney Eco Hub and Eugowra Catchment Landcare
Some other moments that stand out to me in my memories of the day include:
Hearing a Welcome to Country from Uncle Neil Ingram, helping all in the room to feel grounded and connected to Wiradjuri Country.
Sensing the vast experience and knowledge in the room, when, having all come to standing, Peter asked us to gradually sit down as he called out lengths of time we have been involved in caring for land. Several stalwarts were still standing at more than 50 years!
Hearing the hum of conversation in the room at lunch (well nourished by Delish’s hearty warm catering), with people making new connections.
Standing in a circle at the end of the day, around the beautifully decorated Landcare timeline, and hearing the themes of connection, collaboration and togetherness, as each person checked out with one word about the day.
The Landcare Timeline
Throughout the muster, Will Love (Local Landcare Coordinator for Central Tablelands) led a participatory process to create a timeline of Landcare in the region. Whilst always acknowledging this wouldn’t be a complete history, it was a fabulous way to make visible the depth of experience in the room, and to celebrate some of the many achievements over the past thirty years. It was a space for quiet reflection and chat during Will’s breakout session, with some experienced artists showcasing their talents, and some novices even picking up a paintbrush! The result is a beautiful archive of Landcare stories, well worth perusing with a cup of tea! (Note- zoomable version coming soon!)
The World Café Conversations
In the afternoon session, Peter Pigott led participants through a world-café style conversation. This process is a great way to spark conversations and draw upon the wisdom and perspectives of the diversity of people in the room. It is also a powerful way of recording ideas to help inform our planning for Landcare in the region. There were also some fabulous sketches and artworks blossoming on butcher’s paper across the tables. Here’s a summary of the three questions discussed, and themes emerging:
What are we noticing about Landcare in the Central Tablelands?
There was a strong sense in the room that Landcare in the Central Tablelands is dynamic, diverse and community-driven, with passionate individuals tackling everything from farm productivity to biodiversity conservation. Groups are adapting to big shifts — from demographic changes and new landholders, to centralised structures and project-based engagement. While there are challenges around funding competition, administrative burdens and succession planning, Landcare’s resilience, expertise and grassroots energy continue to shine through.
What are we doing well already?
The discussion highlighted Landcare’s strong grassroots action, where community passion translates into meaningful on-ground outcomes. Groups are excelling at education, awareness-raising and peer-to-peer learning, supported by resilient networks and collaborative partnerships with councils, agencies and other organisations. With diversity, innovation and integrity at its core, Landcare remains a trusted and enduring movement making a real difference across the region.
What can we do together now?
Looking ahead, there was a sense from the room that we need to strengthen collaboration, share stories and knowledge, and build capacity for the future. There’s a strong call to engage the next generation, support volunteers, and work more closely with Traditional Owners, while also celebrating Landcare’s history and achievements. By uniting around shared strategies, embracing innovation, and raising Landcare’s visibility, it is hoped that the movement can secure funding, adapt to change, and keep inspiring positive action across the Central Tablelands.
Going back through the written notes from table conversations, there were a number of interesting ideas for future action not captured in the summary, that I think are worth including here:
· Keep it local but collaborate to eliminate overlap
· Raise awareness around climate change and planting native appropriate plants
· Take the focus back to thinking about catchments- a holistic strategy for each individual catchment
· Workshops on how to build soil biology
· Advertise more via social media (e.g. tiktok or Instagram)
· Eat cake!
What next?
The notes from the World Café conversation were a wonderful resource for us to draw upon the following day, when Landcare staff and key committee members gathered for a Community of Practice Day, including planning projects and processes for regional collaboration. We hope to share more on the plans emerging from these conversations soon, watch this space! The timeline and world café notes will be a valuable resource for us at CTRLN to return to over time, to ensure we stay connected to the voices of grassroots Landcare.
Overall, the 2025 Central Tablelands Regional Landcare Muster was a great success. Based on feedback and observations of the day it fulfilled the purpose of strengthening connections across our network and with partners, incorporating elements of learning, celebration and inspiration. We have already had strong interest in this being repeated in the future. The strength and success of this event was due in no small part to the collaborative codesign process. By continuing to work this way for future regional gatherings, we may identify new or evolving purposes, and so it’s likely that future musters will have a different format. So while we can’t say at this point what the next muster will look like, it will certainly build on the successes of this event, as we continue to support connections and collaboration amongst Landcarers across the region.
Written by Alice Blackwood, Regional Landcare Coordinator
Acknowledgements
Thank you to all the participants in the Regional Muster for coming on board and making this day such a success.
Thank you to the other members of our regional muster design team, of Peter Pigott, William Love, Phoebe Gulliver, Claudia Wythes (LLS) for your consistent input, insights, and creativity. Thank you also to Steve Fleischmann for coordinating the Lightning Talks, and all other staff and volunteers who helped out on the day.
This initiative is made possible by the NSW Landcare Enabling Program, a collaboration between Local Land Services and Landcare NSW supported by the NSW Government.
We are also grateful for funding support from Central Tablelands Local Land Services, and ANU Sustainable Farms.