This was the second and final project for the area. Over the two projects, Skillset and Holbrook Land Care Network hosted 11 local young participants.

The Green Army initiative has been a great success in the Greater Hume Shire local government area.

Not only do team members learn useful skills and formal qualifications, they also provide benefits to our natural environment.

But most importantly, the graduates also gain many personal benefits such as self-reliance and pride in a job well done.

“The teams worked on a wide range of projects to benefit threatened species in the eastern Murray area – nestbox monitoring for threatened squirrel gliders in Thurgoona, construction of a native seed production area at Wirraminna Education Centre and rehabilitation work on many local reserves and Landcare projects”, said Holbrook Landcare’s Dale Stringer.

“The contact with a wide range of people and organisations working in the environment field, and working on local farms as well has exposed these young people to new experiences and a taste of the NRM sector.

“We hope the community can back them when it comes to finding employment in the future.”

Keeping young people in the rural community, and in some cases drawing them out from regional centres like Albury and Wagga is important for the future of our towns and agricultural industry.

Landcare can provide a lot of opportunities for career starts in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture, and professional employment opportunities in the smaller towns.

Holbrook Landcare employs a mix of locals and commuters from Albury and has brought about $4 million dollars of investment to the region in the past five years.

Grants for fencing and revegetation go to local farmers who spend that money at the local rural supplies and support local contractors.

Through the next phase of investment in the National Landcare Program we hope the benefits continue.

Visit the Landcare Shed at Henty – just next to the Western Gate and see the great work being done.