Closing out a huge 2017 with the NGT staff workshop and the 2016-17 Annual Report

In recent days, NGT staff from far and wide across our focal region between Melbourne and Adelaide gathered in Nelson for our annual staff workshop.

To get things started, I gave an overview of the organisation’s performance over the last 12 months and presented our annual report, which can be viewed here: NGT Annual Report for 2016-17 Financial Year – Final Approved – 1st Dec 2017

It was great to get the the bulk of the team together in the one place again to share our experiences, after another massive year. This meant we got to hear about a wide range of the interesting things people have been up to. For example:

  • Lachie talked about the successful completion of the 5 year wetland restoration program on private land
  • Sheryl shared her passion for gemstones, mineral and rocks, with plenty of samples to pass around
  • Nicole talked about the long and interesting journey that brought her from Switzerland to Australia (and eventually to NGT!)
  • Bryan covered a range of projects from a busy year, like fauna surveys, work with forestry companies and threatened species recovery
  • Jono shared some of the things he learned during his time undertaking fauna surveys as a volunteer on a major conservation property in the NT
  • Rose continued the travel theme, by taking us into Operation Wallacea bat surveys in Mexico
  • Michelle introduced herself and her Masters research project at Mt Burr Swamp and Marshes NFR
  • Nick covered a range of our Aquasave – NGT projects from the past year, including Murray Crayfish and the upcoming Goolwa Cockle Challenge
  • Lauren V talked about a wide range of her aquatic ecology projects, from fishing clinics, to mulloway research, to Long Swamp fish monitoring
  • Tessa shared the insights from her honours research into Phragmites, and how we’re seeking to apply this and other knowledge to soon test control methods at Glenshera Swamp
  • Ben gave a comprehensive overview of an extremely large and complex project currently underway in the region, the SE Flows Restoration Project, which will ultimately see the restoration of Tilley Swamp and the capacity to deliver additional water into the Coorong when required

We talked about what has been happening at NGT’s restoration reserves, Eaglehawk Waterhole and Mt Burr Swamp, to round out Day 1, and then it was off to Mt Burr Swamp for a field visit on Tuesday to talk about some of our management challenges and opportunities.

On behalf of everyone at NGT, thanks for the fantastic level of interest in what we do, and for your support over the past year. We certainly hope you have a safe and happy festive season.

The blogs will be back in 2018, and without giving anything away just yet, I can tell you that some more very exciting news for our little NGO is just around the corner… so watch this space!

The NGT Team gather for the 2017 Annual Staff Workshop

The NGT Team gather for the 2017 Annual Staff Workshop in Nelson – we wish you all a Merry Christmas and we’ll see you again in 2018!

Mark Bachmann