19 Sep 2017 Mountain Views Mail Healesville, Melbourne (General News) by Kath Gannaway Conservation work at Coranderrk in Healesville has been recognised at the Victorian Landcare Awards. Wandoon Estate Aboriginal Corporation was awarded the Australian Government Partnerships for Landcare Award at a ceremony at Government House on 7 September. Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the annual awards acknowledged the work of community land carers, groups and members for their endeavours in conserving and improving Victorias diverse landscape. Coranderrk in Barak Lane, Healesville, was an Aboriginal Reserve of almost 5000 acres from 1863 until its forced closure in 1924. In 1998 the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) purchased 80 hectares of the original property and handed it to Wandoon Estate. Through the endeavour of Wandoon Estate members, volunteers, Yarra Ranges Council and partnerships with organisations such as Melbourne Water, Port Phillip and Westernport CMA, Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater and the ILC, work has progressed towards rejuvenating Coranderrk as a working farm, providing habitat for native fauna and as a place to bring Wurundjeri people together on Country. The award was accepted by Wandoon representatives, Wurundjeri people Jacqui Wandin and David Wandin. Ms Wandin said the award recognised the value of people working together. By planting corridors of plants to help the helmeted honeyeater, that helps us manage the water and grazing (cattle) to help with turnover for our rates, Ms Wandin said. We are introducing more native grasses and about to start direct seeding of kangaroo grasses, instead of planting seedlings. The citation spoke of the value of partnerships, saying the Wurundjeri people through the Narrap land management team, had enabled people to be employed and gain new skills while working on traditional Country. The judges described the project as innovative with powerful partnerships that were an outstanding example of leadership in Indigenous natural resource management that is delivering tangible, on-ground outcomes as well as social and economic values. Ms Wandin said the event was overwhelming. With anything to do with recognition for Coranderrk, I am thinking of the old people every time, she said. I never want their work to be forgotten; they started it and we are here to continue it for them so they know they didnt do it for nothing. Caption Text: Wandoon Estates Jacqui Wandin and Uncle Dave Wandin from Narrap Land Management with Coranderrk project partners. Wandoon Estates Jacqui Wandin and Uncle Dave Wandin from Narrap Land Management accepted the award. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.