The winter solstice is traditionally a time to pause and reflect. For centuries, cultures across the world have honoured this moment as a turning point: a time of renewal, rebirth and remembrance. For the Mulloon team, the winter solstice all-team event at the Home Farm was a time to gather, to reflect on the progress and changes we have experienced, and to share stories and knowledge across our newly expanded team.
The event was also an opportunity to consider how we show up in the important work we do, what drives us, what we bring but also what we can leave behind, what no longer serves us, as we look toward the spring and our growing portfolio of work. It was an important opportunity for the team to provide feedback to the new executive about pinch points and bright sparks within the business and, of course, in true Mulloon style to seize the moment for some fun.
Pictured: some of the team enjoying an exceptional day on Home Farm for our all staff solstice gathering.
It was particularly exciting to have the updates from our project managers. To see the LiFT* tool (Landscape Function monitoring Toolkit) taking shape and the First Nations Water Skills Certificate emerging as a tangible and place-based part of our education and capacity building program. We celebrated the early success of the pilot phase of the WaterNSW and The Ian Potter Foundation-funded Water Stewardship program. The TIMME* project is taking off with our various communities of practice across the country engaged and fired up about landscape repair. The next tranche of funding for the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative (MRI) phase 3* is in, with budget planning in full swing to support the next stage of our icon project.
This event also came at a time when many of the team have been travelling, deeply involved in the delivery of our education and capacity building program with multiple workshops on both sides of the country and in the Northern Territory.
This day-to-day work of liaising with our collaborators on our grant and commercial projects and engaging with community is what we do to bring about positive change in the way landscapes are perceived, valued and managed.
The looming threat of H5N1 Avian Influenza has also certainly been at the forefront of considerations at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms. We have developed an incident management plan to assist in planning for and responding to the threat from this virus. Biosecurity protocols across the farm have been stepped up in response, and all but farm staff and essential visitors excluded. Our previous experience with planning in response to the avian influenza outbreak in the ACT in 2024 is of real value now.
Our Board subcommittees, the Finance Audit and Risk Committee and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee met in advance of the Board meeting at Mulloon Home Farm in June. A number of the new directors had the opportunity to visit the landscape rehydration works undertaken on the Molonglo River at Carwoola prior to the meeting. It was a great opportunity to reflect on the positive changes to the river and discuss the ongoing need for regulatory reform to support nature repair across Australia.
The executive has been fully engaged with policy preparation and upgrading systems and processes to support efficient execution of our grant and project portfolio. These efforts will directly support delivery against the strategic plan.
The executive has also been focused on the governance and operational uplift to support our new Board, and our expanding team. These advances will enable delivery of our strategic plan.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting our team with workflows and processes and in streamlining reporting and communications has been front of mind. The serious considerations around cyber safety and water and energy requirements of AI are also the subject of discussion.
Our team has recently completed three key construction projects. Two of these are through the WaterNSW Water Stewardship program at Kangaroo Valley and in Moss Vale. The third, as part of the Mulloon Rehydration Initiative, the long awaited on-ground works carried out at Landtasia. I joined Erin Healy, Water Stewardship Program Manager, and director Siobhan Toohill at a workshop at Bengalla, the Moss Vale site prior to the on-ground works. I also had the opportunity to tour the Landtasia works with team members who oversaw project outcomes (thanks Mitch Lennon and Ryan Badowski), along with Lance Mudgway from WA, Henry Burt and Nolani McColl and the inaugural chair of the Mulloon Creek Natural Farms Committee, Kathy Kelly (pictured right). It was a joy to spread some seed across the banks of Mulloon Creek and to reflect on the continued growth of Mulloon Institute, growth that I believe our founders would be very proud of.
At the start of this new financial year, thanks must go to those who generously donated prior to 30 June. Your support, as always, means the world to us and makes this important work we do possible. Thank you.
Best wishes,
Carolyn
The all staff event was supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and the Future Drought Fund, Resilient Landscapes Program.
*LiFT and the First Nations Water Steward Certificate are supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.
*The TIMME Project is funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, Resilient Landscapes Program.
* MRI 3 is funded by the NSW Environmental Trust.
