Bunyip’s Susan Anderson gets hands dirty with Landcare and BlazeAid
There isn’t much Susan Anderson hasn’t been involved in within her Bunyip community. But her greatest achievement has ensured the sustainability of the land for future generations.
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SUSAN Anderson isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty in the name of community spirit.
The Bunyip local moved to the Gippsland town in 1987 and wasted no time in getting involved.
She was a founding member of the Bunyip Landcare Group in 1994 and also volunteered for the show committee, all while being on the Highland cattle Society of Australia committee.
More recently she has been involved in co-ordinating local BlazeAid efforts after fires ripped through the area in 2019.
“My husband John and I got involved. He was the co-ordinator and before I knew it my name was on the website too,” Mrs Anderson said.
From March until August last year, Mrs Anderson spent up to 14 hours a day running the BlazeAid projects, which culminated with the local group being awarded a Premier’s Volunteer Champions award.
Despite these accolades Mrs Anderson attributes her greatest success to the work she’s done with the Landcare group, which she has been the president of for the last five years.
A champion of the vegetation restoration movement, Mrs Anderson has helped other properties like her own ensure the sustainability of their land.
“If you can protect the landscape and make it stronger and more viable for flora and fauna that’s a big achievement,” she said.
Her favourite part of her many commitments is the ability to do what she’s passionate about when she wants.
“One of the things is that you can be flexible in your work life balance, not tied to other peoples schedules.
“But you can actually see the difference when you make improvements to your natural resources,” she said.
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