Rushworth Field & Game Club representatives (back) Graeme Wall, Charlie Cerchi, (front) Tammy Donovan, and Rob Donovan with Mayor Daniel Mackrell and Uncle Rick Ronnan at the Campaspe Shire Citizen Awards 2025.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Rushworth's Field & Game Club stands out for its dedicated focus on conservation, challenging common perceptions about such organisations.
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Over the past year, Rushworth Field & Game Club has made remarkable strides in breeding programs, conservation efforts and community engagement.
Their hard work has culminated in their prestigious recognition as Community Group of the Year at the 2025 Campaspe Shire Citizen Awards.
The awards were held on Wednesday, January 22 at Radcliffe's in Echuca, where over a hundred of the region’s most inspiring individuals gathered to celebrate their achievements.
The Communinty Group of the Year award was the first of three presented on stage by Mayor Daniel Mackrell and chief executive Pauline Gordon.
Conservation officer Graeme Wall said in no way was the 64-member group expecting that they would take out the top prize.
“We really didn’t know (they would win) — how do you know?”
When standing on the stage and listening to Ms Gordon read out the club’s achievements, Mr Wall was thinking about how lucky it had been that everything had turned out.
“When you hear (achievements) being read out like that, you sort of think ‘Jeez we’ve done a fair bit’,” he said.
Campaspe Shire Council Citizen Awards 2025: Rushworth Field & Game Club representatives Graeme Wall, Charlie Cerchi, Rob Donovan and Tammy Donovan
Photo by
Jemma Jones
The group's diverse efforts included: creating nest boxes and hen houses for wildlife breeding, and breathing new life into the abandoned Rushworth tennis clubrooms.
These revitalised facilities now serve as a hub for community group meetings and various local activities.
Beyond their hands-on conservation work of managing wildlife and rehabilitating injured animals, the club became local champions of environmental education.
They initiated engaging conservation programs in schools and kindergartens, nurturing a new generation of eco-conscious citizens.
Other nominees for Community Group of the Year included: Kyabram CFA; Kyabram Yarn Bombers; Moora Recreation & Racecourse Reserve Committee; Rochester Community House; Rochester Lions Club; Rushworth Machinery Preservation Club; Winter Blues Festival.
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