Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Horrie Poussard

Ingrid STITT (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Early Childhood and Pre-Prep, Minister for Environment) (09:50): I wish to remember and pay tribute to Horrie Poussard, a remarkable Victorian, environmentalist and conservationist. Like so many, I was very sad to hear of Horrie’s passing. Horrie was instrumental in the foundation and establishment of Landcare in 1986 while working in the then Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands under the late minister Joan Kirner. Horrie played a key role in designing a new community-based program to address land degradation in Victoria across public and private land, which they named Landcare.

The first Landcare group was formed in November 1986 near St Arnaud. In less than four years there were around 70 Landcare groups. Today there are around 600 Landcare groups operating in Victoria and thousands across Australia and Landcare projects in more than 20 countries around the world. That is an incredible legacy. Horrie became the first secretary of Australian Landcare International when it was formed in 2008, which would then become Global Landcare. He also helped launch the Overseas Landcare Fund. In June 2021 Horrie was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to conservation and the environment. Because of Landcare and the work of Horrie Poussard, more members of the community than ever before are being empowered to protect, enhance and restore our natural environment, and this work will live on for generations to come.