The Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) is proud to announce that Sue McIntyre, a local landowner and Vice-President of Murrumbateman Landcare Group (MLG), has been awarded the 2025 John Betts Landcare Award. This honour recognises her outstanding and long-term dedication to Landcare, her invaluable contributions to the local landscape, and her unwavering commitment to ecological conservation.

The John Betts Landcare Award commemorates the memory of John Betts, a founding member of YAN, who made an exceptional contribution to Landcare in the Yass region. Each year, the YAN committee selects a recipient who embodies this same spirit of dedication and leadership in Landcare. This year, we are delighted to recognise Sue’s remarkable work.

 

 

A Lifelong Commitment to Landcare

Sue McIntyre’s contribution to Landcare in the Yass Valley has been invaluable. Her deep passion for grassland conservation, professional ecological expertise, and generosity in sharing her knowledge have inspired and educated many. As fellow team members Sonya Duus and Gill Hall note, 'Sue’s contribution to Landcare in the Yass Valley has been invaluable; her passion for caring for grassland environments, her professional ecological expertise and her willingness to share her knowledge have inspired many.' She has been a driving force in Landcare across YAN groups, offering her time to answer questions, engage in discussions, attend meetings, host field days, present at public forums, write articles, provide feedback on written pieces, and organise guest speakers. Her dedication and insight are widely admired.

 

     

 

   

 

A Key Contributor to the Climate Ready Revegetation Project

Sue has played an integral role in the Climate Ready Revegetation (CRR) project since its inception in 2018. She has been a strong advocate for increasing genetic diversity in grassland species, helping Landcare embrace this innovative approach. Her expertise has shaped and guided the project, ensuring that decisions—both large and small—are informed by sound ecological principles. Sue’s ability to filter complex scientific information and keep the team focused on practical, achievable goals has been critical to the project’s success. Her leadership, mentorship, and sharp analytical mind have strengthened the CRR team and the broader Landcare community.

 

    

 

 

A Trusted Mentor and Friend

Colleagues describe Sue as a grounded, no-nonsense, and straight-talking mentor who is also warm-hearted and generous. As Elizabeth Goodfellow from the CRR team shares, “Sue’s approach is practical and direct, yet open and generous with her deep expertise. Time spent with Sue always leaves you with a sense of having learned something—not just about ecosystems, but about the resilience of nature and humanity’s role within it.”

 

MLG president Jacqui Stol was especially delighted: “When my CSIRO colleague Sue McIntyre bought a property with her husband Jon Lewis in our district 17 years ago, I knew this was a great opportunity to ask one of Australia’s most renowned ecologists to join Landcare. I am just so thrilled to see Sue’s tremendous contributions, and the many Landcare projects that have so significantly benefited from her expertise over the years, be recognised in this award.”

 

Sue’s scientific work and personal commitment to conservation are reflected in her property, Gang Gang. Alongside her husband Jon, she has applied rigorous ecological management techniques, including controlled burning, grazing exclusions, and meticulous weed control. Their efforts have created a landscape nearly indistinguishable from its natural state before settlement, and their property is now permanently protected under a NSW Biological Conservation Trust covenant.

 

       

 

A Lasting Legacy

Sue’s dedication extends beyond her own property. She has shared her knowledge widely through Landcare talks, field days, and natural history columns in the Gundaroo Gazette. She has encouraged others to embrace conservation practices, hosting events such as a Weeding Masterclass and providing plant identification assistance to local landholders. Her research, published in multiple scientific journals, continues to inform and inspire conservation efforts across Australia.

     

YAN is deeply grateful for Sue’s tireless contributions to Landcare and the broader environmental community. Her work has made a lasting impact on local conservation efforts, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her extraordinary commitment.

 

Congratulations, Sue, on receiving the 2025 John Betts Landcare Award! Your passion, expertise, and generosity have enriched the Yass Area Network and will continue to inspire Landcarers for generations to come.

 

 

Award Presentation Event

Sue will be presented with the award on Thursday, 24 April at the Murrumbateman Landcare Group’s evening event. The evening will commence with dinner at 6:00 pm at the Murrumbateman Pub, followed by the award presentation and a butterfly talk by Dr Suzi Bond at 7:00 pm at the Murrumbateman Recreation Hall. We invite all members of the Landcare community to join us in celebrating Sue’s achievements and contributions.

 

About the JCH Betts Memorial Landcare Award

The JCH Betts Landcare Award commemorates the memory of John Betts, a foundation member of YAN, who made a major contribution over many years to Landcare in the Yass region. The award is made to a person who has made an outstanding and long-term contribution to Landcare. The winner is chosen by the YAN committee.

 

Writen by Sarah McGrath, YAN Local Coordinator

__________________________

 

Growing plants from seed sourced from a wide range of provenances is a key strategy in YAN’s Climate Ready Revegetation project. A common question we hear is: Will plants grown from seed collected far away actually thrive in our region?

 

To help answer this, we established an experimental trial in 2021 using three species— Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box), Acacia deanei (Deane’s Wattle) and Dondonaea viscosa (Sticky Hop Bush). The trial compares the 3- to 5-year survival rates of plants grown from local versus non-local seed sources.

Hosted by volunteers on private land, the trial includes two large sites with over 500 plants each and six smaller sites with either 84 or 126 plants, totalling 1,710 plants planted in winter 2021. Every November/December, trial hosts monitor their plantings, recording whether each plant is alive, dead, or uncertain. So far, results continue to show comparable survival rates between local and non-local seed sources.

 

   

 

Last week, six trial hosts gathered to discuss the latest results and share their observations. It was exciting to see Acacia and Dodonaea flowering and setting seed at multiple sites. However, Sticky Hop Bush has struggled with the recent higher-than-average wet years, disappearing entirely from some locations. Kangaroos have also posed a major challenge, causing significant damage at several sites.

 

      

 

Despite the heat, we had the chance to walk through Geoff and Sheridan’s trial site, where some plants are now towering above us! Enthusiasm remains high, with trial hosts keen to continue monitoring their sites into the future.

 

   

 

If you would like to find out more about YAN’s Climate Ready Revegetation Project, check out our project page, or get in touch: [email protected]

 

_____________________________

This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. Landcare Australia Michael King grants enable us to purchase seed from diverse provenances.

 

Written by Sonya Duus, Climate Ready Revegetation Project Officer

 

You may also like . . .

>> Where does YAN's Climate Ready Seed Come From?

The Friends of Yass Gorge have been hard at work this autumn, tackling weeds and helping to maintain the health of this unique and important natural space.

 

The Yass Gorge is home to a critically endangered ecological community — the Natural Temperate Grassland. Protecting this area means actively managing and controlling non-native plant species that threaten the balance of the ecosystem.

 

Weed Control Efforts

Recent efforts have seen a major focus on woody weed control throughout the gorge. With the support of Yass Valley Council, who not only provided funding for the herbicide but also joined in the spraying work, the team has made significant progress:

• - 1200 litres of woody weed spray were applied between Flat Rock Crossing and the Gorge entrance on both sides of the Yass River.
• - 250 litres of woody weed spray were used between the Pumping Station and Grampian Street on the western side of the river.

 

  

 

Weeds targeted included a range of non-native species such as:

• - Blackberry
• - Cotoneaster
• - Wild plum
• - Lucerne tree
• - Box Elder

Spraying these invasive plants isn't as simple as it sounds. Taller weeds were carefully cut down first, and herbicide was painted directly onto the plant stumps within 30 seconds of cutting. This method prevents collateral damage to native species, like the young eucalypts that have sprung up since the last flood.

 

      

   

Exciting News for Native Fish

In addition to the weed control efforts, there's more exciting news for the Gorge! Native fish species have been reintroduced into the Yass River, with Murray Cod and Golden Perch fingerlings released into three weirs:

• - Main Weir
• - Riverbank Park Weir
• - Railway Weir

This initiative helps to restore native fish populations and improve the overall health of the river ecosystem.

 

Get Involved!

Are you passionate about keeping this special piece of land in the heart of Yass in the best possible condition? The Friends of Yass Gorge are always looking for more hands to help with their important conservation work. Whether it’s tackling weeds, supporting habitat restoration, or monitoring wildlife, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.

 

Reach out to the Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups coordinator [email protected] to find out how you can lend a hand. Let’s work together to protect and preserve the Yass Gorge for generations to come.

 

written by Ross Webster & Sarah McGrath, Local Coordinator

 

The majority of the plants grown in YAN’s nurseries are ‘Climate Ready’. This means they are local species that have demonstrated the ability to survive in a hotter climate (you can read more about how we assess species here). The second key factor is that we source seed from both local and non-local ‘provenances’ (places) to maximise genetic diversity, helping plants adapt to climate change over generations.

 

Seed sourcing for 2024–25

In the most recent batch of seed grown by YAN nurseries (covering spring 2024- autumn 2025), there were 278 seed collections, and 259 from known provenances. There was an average of 7 seed collections (mostly from different provenances) per species; while one newly added species had seed from only one provenance, well-established species had seed from as many as 13 provenances. Mapping seed provenances helps us assess our species distribution coverage and identify areas where additional seed sourcing is needed.

 

 

But where exactly are the ‘non-local’ provenances?

Scientists have identified various provenancing strategies suited to different ecological and project goals (you can read more about provenancing strategies here and here). The chosen provenancing strategy guides decisions on seed sourcing.

YAN’s Climate Ready Project has adopted an ‘admix’ provenancing strategy, with a ‘climate-adjusted’ bias. This means that we are focused on maximising genetic diversity by sourcing seed from a wide range of provenances within the species distribution (the focus of an admix approach). We also prioritise seed from areas with climates similar to Yass’s projected future conditions—our 'climate-adjusted' bias. We source seed from commercial suppliers, ensuring it comes from the eastern mainland states and territories—NSW, ACT, Victoria, and Queensland.

 

 Images: Examples of species distributions and our seed provenances

 

If you would like to find out more about YAN’s Climate Ready Revegetation Project, check out our project page, or get in touch: [email protected]

 

written by Sonya Duus, Climate Ready Revegetation Project Officer

______________________________

This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. Landcare Australia Michael King grants enable us to purchase seed from diverse provenances.