Rex Edmundson

In 1983 Rex’s energy was a key factor in Jerramungup becoming WA’s first Shire wide Soil Conservation District. As Chair of that local Committee his leadership was pivotal in the community tackling a wide range of severe erosion problems that emerged after the land was cleared. Jerramungup soon became the exemplar of a successful community led program and was the first group in WA to secure a National Soils Conservation Program grant.

Rex also supported the establishment of the initial Fitzgerald Biosphere Project and developed an environmental tours business to showcase the region to visitors.

Rex served as a member of WA’s Soil and Land Conservation Council (SLCC) for many years, stepping up to become its Chair for a period where he oversaw a rapid growth in government support for landcare, including the Remnant Vegetation Protection Scheme and the State Revegetation Program.

Rex was a strong advocate for community leadership and was well known for suggesting that ‘a closed-door meeting might be required to fix that one’ when groups had issues with the various government programs.

At various times he was also a member or chair of the Australian Landcare Council, the State Salinity Council, the State NRM Council, the Natural Heritage Trust’s Joint Steering Committee, and the Agriculture Department’s Sustainable Rural Development Steering Committee.

Rex was awarded the McKell Medal in 1989 for his outstanding contribution to soil conservation in Australia, the Centenary Medal in 2001 For service to landcare and related conservation activities and made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2007 For service to conservation and the environment, particularly through natural resource management organisations and the Landcare movement, and to local government.