Organisers will encourage people to think about trying something different.

Guest speakers include Annabelle Homer from ABC Radio’s South Australian Country Hour who will provide an observer’s view of Landcare initiatives after working as a rural journalist in three states during seven years.

Andrew Bubb of the Desert Knowledge CRC who will discuss walk over weighing; and CMA staff will discuss the latest Invasive Native Scrub research findings.

Local landholders will also showcase changes they’ve adopted on their properties.

They include Graham Turner of Grassmere Station who will discuss his pest exclusion project; Rick Howard of Moonavale Station who will outline his project to reduce total grazing pressure; and Brendan Cullen of Avenel Station who will describe his move into organic production.

Uncle Bill Riley, a Baarkindji man who is also a member of the Western Catchment Aboriginal Reference and Advisory Group will discuss his connection to country in the White Cliffs and Wilcannia area and discuss what ‘caring for country’ means to him.

Participants have the choice of two field trips.

The rangeland rehabilitation field trip will visit two properties to see the results of past contour furrowing efforts, while the Introduction to GPS on farms field trip will teach basic GPS operations using practical exercises.

On Wednesday night, a formal dinner with live entertainment will be held and the winners of the 2008 Life and Light in the Western Catchment photographic competition will be announced.

A full program and registration form is available at www.western.cma.nsw.gov.au or by ringing (08) 8082 5200 or (02) 6872 2144.