2024 Tree of Life Award
Grand finalé for the 2024 Scholars
An audience of 50+ had an inspiring day in Toowoomba on 6th February 2025 watching the six impressive final presentations from the 2024 participants.
They were all wonderful, professional speeches accompanied by power point presentations and led to goose bumps, laughter, and a few tears throughout the room. All spoke of their learning journey during the Program, their on-property projects, and their increased understanding of what is possible on a variety of landscapes and soil types using regenerative agriculture.
Power Tynan accountants generously provided their boardroom for the two days and Wellbean Co, an initiative of the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation, supplied the catering.
The presentation day was followed by a celebratory dinner at Muller Bros Restaurant with 80 guests. It was wonderful to be able to enlist the talents of three of the 2023 Scholars for the evening. Ras Hart as the Emcee, and Neil and Jan-Adele Reinke (2023 winners) with a presentation of their property development and time involved with the Foundation and Program.
Neil & Jan-Adele Reinke's presentation
Some of 2023 cohort - Ben Heathwood, Neil & Jan-Adele Reinke, Ras & Sam Hart, Anna Hughes with Barb Bishop
After a delicious Brazilian style dinner, chair of the Judging Panel Paul Hilton, and Program Facilitator Barb Bishop presented the 2024 participants with their Certificates - Isaac Perina, Genevieve Kane, Emma and Gus King, Lauren Beresford, James Manning, Lexi Hauff, Dusty Elsom and John Hauff.
Isaac, Genevieve, Emma, Gus, Lauren, James, Lexi, Dusty, John with Barb
The winner of the 2024 "Tree of Life Award" was Lauren Beresford who operates a mixed grazing property near Eulo in far south west Queensland.
Lauren accepting the award
CONGRATULATIONS Lauren!
Photos of Lauren taken during the year:
Presenting to the group
April visit from Philip & Adele
In deep discussion with James and Gus
Speaking at Regenerating the Rangelands Conference, Cunnamulla
Final presentation in Toowoomba
Listen to Lauren's Interview on Rural Qld Today
Read the Beef Central article
Read the Queensland Country Life article
Post script:
Lauren's property 'Farnham Plains' at Eulo suffered badly in the recent floods in south west Queensland. However, the on-farm project site she created to regenerate the soils on a fenced off section on a clay-pan using contour banks, rehydration, animal impact, hay and nutrition from a weaner cattle survived the flood, so the huge amount of work Lauren had done was not in vain!
We wish her well in the rebuilding process.