Susanne Dennings has won the 2009 Great Southern Development Commission (GSDC) Medal for Excellence in Natural Resource Management (NRM).

Ms Dennings is the Malleefowl Preservation Group coordinator and through her leadership, it has grown to become an internationally-recognised community-conservation organisation, while maintaining its grass roots base.

She received the sterling silver medal and $10,000 to support her future in NRM practice, from the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Terry Redman MLA, at a formal dinner held at Carlyle’s Function Centre on June 24.

Ms Dennings’ activities of community involvement and awareness-raising have included malleefowl mound surveys, the school education program ‘Malleefowl Magic’, and the ‘Gnow or Never’ documentary.

Mr Redman praised Ms Dennings for her work.

“I am delighted to see your outstanding work and dedication to using the Malleefowl as an icon species to engage the community and promote broader issues in NRM that has been recognised with this distinguished award,” he said.

The other competition finalists included Quechinup Forestry proprietors Liz and Bill Hollingworth, Kojonup farmers Robert and Jennifer Warburton and Centre of Excellence in NRM Fellow Dr Geoff Woodall.

Each finalist walked away with $1,000 in prize-money to support their NRM activities. Previous winners have used these funds for study tours, to attend conferences, for on-farm trials, and for research.

GSDC chief executive officer Bruce Manning said all award finalists were outstanding contenders.

“This year’s finalists reflected the diversity of people working in NRM in the Great Southern,” Mr Manning said.

“Our aim is to take a partnership approach with the winner to support and promote best practices, while fostering further innovation investment in this field.”

Judging panel chair Alex Campbell said the NRM award grew in calibre every year.