“I decided to place a voluntary covenant on my property as it is the most significant contribution we could implement in order to protect this fragile landscape from human impact. My covenant is quite a restrictive one with regard to its use as its intention is clear. It is up to individuals to have custodianship over our land and it is only through the title that we can we protect nature and preserve it for future generations.

My favourite flora and fauna on the property are those which are most vulnerable and in need of protection. The Buloke, Murray pine and lignum have my full attention.  I also work hard to secure all turtle nests from the very hungry fox and the ringtail possums from the ever-malicious feral cat.

In the three years since becoming custodian of Hunyani, I have reduced the weeds and prepared a proportion of land for the planting of native trees, specifically Acacia pycnantha  The plan is to harvest its highly nutritious seed whilst minimising water usage and human impact.

I believe that the biggest difference I have made is to allow grasses to grow, invertebrates to flourish and the fauna which is dependent on these vital food sources to prosper. I have been witness to huge increases in the populations of various bird species and, thankfully, I have welcomed some new arrivals.

As a full-time teacher, I depend on nature to manage its own diversity. My responsibility is to make the property fit for purpose and financially viable.  I am grateful to my friend and neighbour, Audrey Dickins, for her substantial support of Hunyani’s vision and mission.

I am also incredibly grateful for the support of Trust for Nature and those visionary people who are patrons of its work. Trust for Nature has offered a secure future for this valuable sand hill as it has done for so many more critically important ecosystems.

All individuals have an obligation to our children to support conservation of nature through worthy organisations. What a very poor, deprived and ravaged world we would be leaving to our children if not-for-profit organisations such as Trust for Nature did not exist!

Let us all work together to build a landscape full of our magnificent, native diversity, providing an abundance of flora and fauna for our children and their children. It is only through such wonderful opportunities afforded us by Trust for Nature that we are able to procure, protect and preserve land for generations to come.” – Siân

This project was funded with the support of the Victorian Government.