Green shoots of new growth are everywhere the eye can see along the banks of the Mandagery Creek in Eugowra.
Two years on from a flood described as an 'inland tsunami,' locals have launched the Eugowra Catchment Landcare group, their mission to preserve and improve the health of the catchment.
Supported by Mid-Lachlan Landcare, the Eugowra Catchment Landcare began with a few test sites in private paddocks, hoping to 'Slow the Flow' of rushing waters during wet seasons, and to maintain soil moistures during hot, dry summers. Between sausage sizzles and locally-written songs presented by Nerida Cuddy and Adam 'Dr Fish' Kerezsy, the history of Eugowra's plant and water life was shared and celebrated on a balmy spring evening.
This Landcare group has been a long time in the making for chair Therese Welsh, who shared what she's been learning and putting into practice at home on the farm at the launch.
The fires of 2001, the drought of 2017-2019 and the most recent flood of 2022 are all drivers, Mrs Welsh said.
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"How do we help our landscape recover from fires, drought, and floods?" she asked.
"What interventions can we include to protect and nurture our land?
"How can we build resilience in a changing climate and understand the natural processes affecting all of us living here within the Eugowra catchment?"
Therese, with her husband Kevin and their neighbours, did a four-day course on natural sequence farming in 2019, confronted by the effects of drought on their farm.
"Having dry creek beds and only one dam standing during the drought we knew change had to occur to water the land and provide for the stock and family during the next drought," she said.
"My passion is around slowing the flow of water in creeks and off paddocks and building biodiversity on our farm.
"As farmers, our family and our economic livelihood depends on the natural environment.
"The last drought was a time of awakening when we sought to create change to care for the living systems that were suffering."
Therese applied for a grant to fence off a part of a creek on their property from livestock to start regeneration - and the effects she saw were remarkable.
"Our creek bed responded immediately after the first rains, and since the stock had been excluded it began to naturally revegetate, and even more varieties of plants came back as identified by the Kangarooby Landcare group during their visit in 2023. We planted over 400 trees."
Since the devastating floods of 2022 a new partnership has birthed, with the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Sally Neaves from the Sisters of Mercy reached out to Therese, and they now have a number of partners and supporters working in the area.
Following community consultation and supported financially by the Institute, the Mulloon Institute ran a workshop at Reedy Creek in November 2023.
Property holders learned about increasing rainfall infiltration, reducing damaging run-off, and holding more water on farm to increase crop and pasture production.
Therese and Sally began putting the principals into place on the farm, then Sally organised a two-day "boot camp" where property holders learned about mapping their own property, changes in the landscape and regeneration.
And that's what brought some 50 people together on Sunday afternoon for the official launch of Eugowra Catchment Landcare.
"The primary focus for beginning the Eugowra Catchment Landcare Group was to bring together farmers, landholders, businesses and community members together to learn what could be done to Slow the Flow of water coming from hills and paddocks into the creek systems and enhance the natural vegetation around Eugowra," Therese said.
The Mid Lachlan Landcare group has been there to support them as well.
The group has looked at the entire catchment, but the principals can be applied in the garden, and the aim of the group is to involve everyone.
Special guest at the launch was Adam Kereszy, better known as Dr Fish along the Lachlan River, who spoke about native fish in our river systems.
He then picked up the guitar and rounded out the evening with Canowindra's Nerida Cuddy, who runs the Eugowra community choir.
All three levels of government were involved in the launch, with Federal member for Calare Andrew Gee planting a tree on the bank of the creek with State Member for Orange Philip Donato.
Cabonne Deputy Mayor Jamie Jones planted a second tree with two representatives of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea.
The committee is: Chair Therese Welsh; Vice chair Luke Dunn; Secretary/treasurer Tracee Burke; Publicity officer Annabel Dunn; Fundraising officer Marg Broadbent.
Committee members Kev Welsh, Mark and Kerstin Heinzel, Sally Neaves, Tim and Ash Wright, Tess Herbert.
Those interested in joining are encouraged to connect through Eugowra Catchment Landcare on Facebook or Instagram.
