The Mulloon Ins Tute
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the mulloon in stute for environment, farming and society ANNUAL REPORT 2019 Contents Who we are Vision & Mission ................................................................................1 Our Founders .....................................................................................1 Chairman's Message ...........................................................................................................2 2019 Reports Science Advisory Council report .......................................................5 Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project report ............7 Mulloon Consulting Contracting & Certifying report .........................9 Mulloon Creek Natural Farms report ...............................................11 Our Team Patron ..............................................................................................13 Board members ...............................................................................13 Science Advisory Council .................................................................14 Key Advisers .....................................................................................15 Mulloon Law Committee .................................................................15 2019 Financials .........................................................................................................17 Partners & Supporters ..................................................................................................... back CONTACT US The Mulloon Institute 3585 Kings Highway [email protected] ABN: 53 153 605 531 Bungendore NSW 2621 www.themullooninstitute.org AUSTRALIA Cover: Volunteer Tree Planting Day at Westview Farm, for the Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project the mulloon in stute for environment, farming and society Who we are OUR VISION OUR MISSION To support the rebuilding of a resilient Australian The Mulloon Institute aims to support the landscape which produces the water, soil and regeneration of 100 agricultural landscapes over the biodiversity required to produce food and water next 10 years. Our current ‘catchment scale’ project security for the Australian population in the short is with landowners from the Mulloon Catchment. and long term. The Mulloon Institute is a not-for-profit research, of NSW. We actively engage with community education and advocacy organisation that actively projects that are working towards similar 'whole- demonstrates, monitors and shares innovative of-catchment' improvement. We aim to connect approaches to regenerative land management. environment, farming and society through practical demonstrations at our 'living laboratory' at MCNF Our landscape rehydration work helps build and more broadly across Australia. resilience into environmental systems and re-establishes the vital links between sustainable We're all about inspiring people to make a agriculture, healthy nutrition and productive difference, with every regenerated inch of land communities. We use cutting edge land contributing to the overall health of the soil, and in regeneration techniques, applied scientific research, turn the wellbeing of us all. training and education events, and community engagement to raise public awareness. The Mulloon Institute is a Registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Our scientific and educational models are based on Commission (ACNC) and has Deductible Gift 30 years experience re-generating Mulloon Creek Recipient status. We have a suitably experienced Natural Farms (MCNF) in the Southern Tablelands and qualified Board, a panel of Key Advisers and Science Advisory Council in place as part of our proper governance structure. OUR FOUNDERS Cover: Volunteer Tree Planting Day at Westview Farm, for the Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project Tony Coote AM, BSc. MBA founded The Mulloon Institute in 2011 with his wife Toni Coote. Tony bequeathed the entire 5,700 acres of Mulloon Creek Natural Farms to the Institute for the continuation of long-term research and demonstration in perpetuity. Tony Coote AM Toni Coote Tony and Toni sadly passed away in August 2018 and FOUNDER FOUNDER November 2018 respectively, leaving behind them a wonderful legacy. The Mulloon Institute — ANNUAL REPORT 2019 1 Chairman's message Gary Nairn AO CHAIRMAN On behalf of the Board of The Mulloon Institute (TMI) rehydrated the landscape which is why we have cover I trust you enjoy reading about our activities over the on our ground. This is what is required to help farmers past year covered in this Annual Report. The interest be resilient for the next drought,” I answered. I saw the displayed by an ever increasing number of followers penny drop! and supporters has been wonderful to see and helps to ensure the ongoing success of TMI and the work we are The second moment was in front of the TV cameras doing. at the barn during the press conference. The Deputy Prime Minister when asked about what he saw and its relevance to drought he made the statement, It is now fifteen months and twelve months “This should be rolled out right across the country!” respectively that we lost our Founders, Tony Coote AM We couldn’t agree more. and Toni Coote. Many people have commented during that period that it is a shame Tony wasn’t here to see the Just four days after that visit the Australian Story many great steps forward that have occurred. But during program “Hope Springs” went to air and it included, as his final days he was very content with what he was a late addition, reference to the PM visit. That episode leaving behind. He knew the foundations he had toiled was a wonderful tribute to Tony Coote and what he had on for so many years were about to be built upon. established. That story plus the media resulting from the PM's visit had an instant impact on the work of TMI. For example, he was aware we had organised for Enquiry levels rose substantially and many more people the Prime Minister to visit TMI, albeit a different Prime just wanted to tell us how much they supported our Minister! He knew that would be a watershed (pun work. Several months later we were also informed that intended) moment for us. As you will recall that visit we were to receive a substantial grant from the Federal also included the Deputy Prime Minister, Michael Government from its National Landcare Program. McCormack, the then Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud and Senator Jim Molan. That grant is now allowing us to complete the Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project (MCLRP) with There were two specific moments during that visit comprehensive scientific monitoring and data collection. that stick in my mind such that I recount them at every Work on the MCLRP is now well underway and there is a opportunity. Firstly, down at Peter’s Pond I told Scott specific report on the MCLRP later in this Annual Report. Morrison that we had just experienced the seven driest months since records commenced in the late 1800’s The escalation in enquiries has been for all aspects so despite no rain coming into the catchment there of our work. One of our most important tasks is to was water still trickling through the leaky weir. “Where train more people in landscape repair and rehydration has that water come from?” I asked the PM. He said, methodologies. During 2019, due to the level of demand, you tell me. “It has been banked in the landscape, we we increased the number of four day workshops 2 The Mulloon Institute — ANNUAL REPORT 2019 "This should be rolled out right across the country!" Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack L-R: Peter Andrews OAM, Gary Nairn AO, Minister David Littleproud,Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Senator Jim Molan, Prime Minister Scott Morrison to seven. Six were held on TMI’s 'living laboratory', eggs. You can read more on that in Farm Manager, Mulloon Creek Natural Farms (MCNF), with a seventh Michael Fitzgerald’s report. held recently at Wombramurra, near Nundle in north west NSW. These workshops, run in conjunction with Our Science Advisory Council (SAC) was of immense Stuart Andrews’ Tarwyn Park Training (TPT), are ideal benefit to our work with all our scientific research introductions for farmers and landholders wanting to get directed by that body. I am very grateful for the input repair and rehydration started on their properties. With from the eminent scientists on the SAC and particularly an increase in the number of people doing this training thank its chair, Professor Stephen Dovers, who has the awareness across the country has increased such detailed its undertakings over the past year in a that I feel there is an unstoppable momentum occurring. separate report. We also maintained our link to the UK’s Rothamsted Research through one of our key advisers, We also experienced a surge in enquiries for the services Professor John Crawford. offered by our wholly owned Mulloon Consulting Contracting & Certifying (MCCC). Please see the separate The newest addition to TMI during 2019 was the report by MCCC’s General Manager, Carolyn Hall, but establishment of a Mulloon Law Committee (MLC) suffice to say we have expanded our professional staff under the leadership of Matt Egerton-Warburton. to meet the demand coming from farmers, landholders, This committee was formed specifically to investigate landcare groups and community organisations in various potential legislative solutions to current regulations parts of the country. Our work in the dry tropics of North involving environmental repair in streams. In the