Ken Hooper, 85, and his wife Jill, 82, have been clearing invasive vegetation and restoring 970 hectares of Moona‑Bingel bushland near Deniliquin, New South Wales, since 2018. The pair, once dairy farmers, now wield chainsaws and ecological plans to turn the former pasture into a mosaic of river red gum wetlands, grey box woodlands and sandhill pine.
Before retiring, the Hoopers bought Wirra‑Lo, a 180‑hectare dairy farm in northern Victoria, in 1992. They later placed the land under a conservation covenant and sold it in 2023 to the Wetland Revival Trust, freeing them to focus on Moona‑Bingel.
Every week the Hoopers slash weeds, cull feral deer, plant seedlings and manage water flow to keep wetlands thriving. According to Landcare Australia, the work involves 2000+ hours of manual labor and 30 tonnes of timber removed.
Observers note that the area now hosts breeding carpet pythons, a return of red‑backed kingfishers and growing native grasses. A local farmer, whose paddocks border the reserve, reports seeing more waterfowl during dawn walks.
The 2018 conservation agreement, backed by NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, locks the 970 hectares in long‑term protection. The Hoopers will submit a progress report to the Trust in February 2027, after which the covenant will be reviewed for renewal.