Can you tell me a bit about your family’s history with this property?
Maureen: We bought this property, about six hectares, almost 40 years ago. The property has been home to a few horses and cows in the first 15 or so years but in more recent times it’s had a small flock of sheep and some agisted alpacas. The property also has a dam which was used by the kids as a swimming hole but in the last 15 years it’s become a refuge for waterbirds and fish and naturally water reeds have mostly taken it over.
What inspired you to purchase this property 40 years ago, and what motivated you to commit to conservation efforts?
Peter: We bought this place because we were looking for something a bit bigger than the four hectares we previously had and enough land to support a milking cow and some horses.
We were motivated about conservation efforts initially to give the animals shelter. This was the beginning of the tree planting which grew into an interest in planting out areas that weren’t used for grazing. We also worked with a local Landcare group where we learned more about tree species and the importance of conservation. We also love birds and knew that whatever we planted would benefit them.
How do you envision your family’s legacy in conservation, and what impact do you hope to have on the community?
Maureen: We’re proud that we’ve been able to make even a small difference to wildlife in this area. We hope neighbouring properties might consider also protecting their land so that there are corridors and connectivity of habitat, or at least look after the bush that’s there. Animals need safe habitat to move through to survive and our threatened species list is already too long.
What advice would you give to others who are interested in pursuing conservation efforts on their own properties?
Maureen: Go ahead. Don’t think twice about it. The rewards are great. Some people ask if we’re worried about the impact the covenant will have on the resale value of the land but you can’t put a price on the survival of species and on living amongst such beauty.
