Over 250 people came together Saturday 14 September to celebrate 20 years of partnership between Lake Macquarie City Council and the passionate volunteers that make up the Lake Macquarie Landcare network.

Held at the Landcare Resource Centre, the event began with a Welcome to Country from Daniella Chedzey and a smoking ceremony performed by Adam Lee. This was followed by speeches from Maree Edwards (Aboriginal Community Development Officer and former Landcare staff member), Jason Harvey (Landcare Coordinator), Lois Simpson (Chairperson of LM Landcare Network), John Hughson (original Landcare Coordinator), Adrian Zammit (NSW Landcare CEO) and Mayor Kay Fraser. They were then joined by Debra Punton (longest serving LM Landcare staff member) to cut the cake and officially begin the celebrations!

The remainder of the day was jam packed with fun and educational activities such as face-painting, propagating native plant cuttings, planting trees, making bee hotels, and other nature crafts. Local landcarers Gary and Don (aka “the Bush Tucker men”) were there to pass on their knowledge about edible native plants, and visitors could learn about Lake Macquarie Landcare through various multi-media presentations and interactive displays. And of course there was dancing and other frivolity with entertainment from the Pat Eyre band and free cake, coffee, gelato and other tasty treats from our caterers.

Thank you to all that attended and helped out on the day. We are incredibly proud to have one of the strongest Landcare Council partnerships in the country and look forward to the next 20 years to come (and more!).

Thank you to Lake Macquarie Landcare Volunteer Network, Lake Macquarie City Council and 2NURFM for sponsoring this event.