The John Betts Yass Region Landcare Award was established in 2007 to honor the legacy of John Betts, a founding member of the Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN). Following John’s passing, YAN - together with the Betts Family - created this perpetual award to recognize outstanding contributions to Landcare across the Yass region. The award celebrates one or more individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to Landcare. Criteria include:
- Active involvement in YAN or a local member group, demonstrating commitment and distinction.
- Strong leadership or significant service to Landcare, natural resource management, or related community initiatives.
- Sustained contribution over time, often involving personal time or resources.
- Notable on-ground Landcare achievements where other awards may not apply.
YAN is delighted to announce nominations for the 2026 John Betts Award are now open. If you know someone whose dedication has made a lasting impact on Landcare in our region, now is the time to recognize their contribution:
John Betts award winners are selected by the YAN committee and usually announced at the YAN Annual General Meeting. The award is symbolized by a timber shield - crafted from an old strainer post from John’s property - with recipients’ names added over time. Winners also receive a personal medallion to mark their achievement.
In recognition of past recipients, we’ll be sharing highlights of previous John Betts award winners in the coming weeks. Congratulations and thanks again for your incredible contributions to our Landcare community:
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- 2007 Bruce Bray
- 2008 Jeremy Wilson
- 2009 Peter Dawes
- 2010 Lynn & Andrew Bain
- 2011 George Gundry
- 2012 Jacqui Stol
- 2014 Ray Malam
- 2016 Ross Webster
- 2017 Jane & David Vincent
- 2018 Elizabeth Goodfellow
- 2020 Kathryn McGuirk
- 2022 Nan & Mary-Jane Betts
- 2023 Gary & Hansie Armour
- 2025 Sue McIntyre
If you have stories, projects or photos you’d like to share featuring the outstanding work of John Betts or previous award recipients, please get in touch with us:
Share Your John Betts award Story
Written by YAN Project Officer Erin Brinkley, with support of Kath McGuirk