The 2020 John Winter-Irving Bequest, made each year by the Winter-Irving family in memory of John, has been awarded to long-time Southern New England Landcare member Ray South.
Acting President of Southern New England Landcare, Steve Harvey, made the announcement at the organisation's annual general meeting on Thursday 29th October in Uralla.
"Ray was a founding member of Sustainable Living Armidale - one of our affiliated groups, and he was a key driver in the HiCUB Advisory Committee and HiCUB Armidale Working Group," said Steve.
"Ray has also been involved in Armidale Urban Rivercare Group, the Soil Health Forum and was crucial in setting up the Armidale Community Garden," he said.
The Armidale Tree Group has also had the benefit of Ray's involvement for 15 years, while he served on the management committee and as a volunteer in the nursery over a long period of time.
Ray’s interests include agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, revegetation and soil health, and he is also currently developing locally adapted vegetable varieties and seed saving.
Since completing a Permaculture Design Certificate course in 2006, Ray has worked together with Jane Pickard to develop their knowledge about soils and sustainable food production and have used permaculture design to plan Banded Bee Farm which incorporates agroforestry and regenerative agriculture techniques at Saumarez Ponds.
Ray is now doing great work with Jane Pickard at Banded Bee Farm, educating and building on the Silviculture information learned from Rowan Reid’s Master TreeGrower Program.
Steve added, "Ray is very community-minded, very open and encouraging of all those who attempt to nurture the Earth".
It was with great sadness that Southern New England Landcare experienced the sudden and unexpected loss of our highly esteemed and hard-working Chairman, Mr John Winter-Irving, in September 2011.
John was in the third year of his Chairmanship of Southern New England Landcare and had been a dedicated volunteer for Landcare and particularly for our organisation for nearly 20 years.
John was involved with Landcare at the group, network and regional levels. In his role as Chairman, he was able to bring a perspective that balanced traditional agricultural with alternative environmental approaches.
In memory of John’s ready smile and infectious laugh, his enthusiasm, and his dignified and thoughtful approach to his job as Chair, the Winter- Irving family makes an annual bequest which will be awarded to a Southern New England Landcarer, to further his or her skills and knowledge or to provide leadership opportunities.
Southern New England Landcare congratulations Ray South on receiving the bequest.
