21 MAY 2009
DAFF09/256B

A Victorian brother-and-sister farming team has been awarded the prestigious McKell Medal for their pioneering work in sustainable farming.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke presented the award to Alice and Kevin Knight in Hobart, on behalf of the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council.

Mr Burke congratulated the Knights for their work over more than four decades in developing salinity and erosion control programs on their land at Pittong, near Ballarat in Victoria.

“Alice and Kevin show what a difference individuals can make on their own properties – and the direct link between profitable farming and managing our natural resources,” Mr Burke said.

“On returning to the family farm in the 1950s, the Knights were faced with growing salinity due to previous land clearing practices.

“Since then they have planted 70,000 trees to reduce salinity and erosion and produce timber.

“In addition to the large-scale revegetation they have fenced off native vegetation and waterways, added perennial species to pastures and introduced minimum tillage cropping.”

Alice Knight acknowledged the support of her local community over the years of work.

“My brother and I have found that if you work with your local community, you can create a spirit and a momentum that can solve any problem,” Ms Knight said.

The McKell Medal is awarded each year to recognise excellence and achievement in natural resource management.

It honours the contribution to soil and land conservation of Sir William McKell, a former Governor-General and Premier of New South Wales.

Nominations for the 2010 McKell Medal are now open .