NOMINATIONS ENCOURAGED FOR THE GENERAL JEFFERY SOIL HEALTH AWARD

A new award to recognise the work done to improve soil health in Australia has been created, with nominations to open this Saturday 5 December – World Soil Day.

The General Jeffery Soil Health Award honours the work done by Australia’s first National Soils Advocate, former Governor-General Major General the Honourable Michael Jeffery.

Deputy Prime Minister and co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Soil Michael McCormack said General Jeffery made a difference to the understanding of the importance of soil.

“General Jeffery over eight years passionately advocated for improvements in the health of our agricultural landscape,” Mr McCormack told the group’s World Soil Day Breakfast in Canberra today.

“By championing soil health from Parliament House to the paddock, he successfully changed attitudes towards soil sustainability and energised change on farms right across Australia.”

Co-Chair of the group, Labor MP Linda Burney, encouraged participation in the awards.

“Our soils are a vital national endowment and an asset which we hold on behalf of future generations,” Ms Burney said.

“The best custodians and advocates deserve to be recognised and celebrated.”

Nominations for the award, initiated by the Office of the National Soils Advocate, are open to any individual farmer, land manager, extension specialist or educator who is making an outstanding contribution to improving soil health in Australia.

The award will be presented at the biennial National Landcare Awards Gala Dinner held during the National Landcare Conference in August 2021.

General Jeffery was National Soils Advocate from October 2012 till August 2020, when he stepped aside due to ill health. Former Queensland Governor, the Honourable Penelope Wensley, AC, succeeded him in the role.

Shane Manning