The organisation sprung into existence on June 22, 1989, with the first official meeting of the Glen Innes Natural Resources Advisory Committee held at the town hall.

From early days fighting logging and local environmental crises, the organisation grew to a stage where in 2015 it was a state landcare award and in 2017 was a finalist in the national awards.

It now has over 800 members, seven part time staff and a volunteer board representative of all people and groups living in the Glen Innes region.

But the organisation initially aimed to investigate a catchment management plan for the Macintyre valley. Another concern was the crippling environmental and economic consequences of eucalypt dieback in the area at the time.

Founding member Desmond Fitz Gerald was there.

"The ecological health of the landscape around Glen Innes was facing a bleak future in the late 80s, due to significant soil degradation from inappropriate tree clearing and the effects of New England dieback," he said.

"One of the committee aims was to petition the government to provide funding for the development of regeneration programs, such as tree planting and soil rejuvenation, and to educate the wider community about the importance of nutrient rich landscapes."

Councillor and ex-Mayor Steve Toms, also a founding member, said the community-based environmental group was one of the first in the country.

"GLENRAC was founded on the support of fantastic and enthusiastic volunteers, and the backing of local sponsors," he said.

"Seeing the enthusiasm and vision of the founding members evolve over the last thirty years into the well-structured, respected, self-sustaining organisation that GLENRAC has become is quite incredible.

"GLENRAC has been, and continues to be, a voice and facilitator, bringing rural people together with a common interest in sustainable agriculture."

The organisation is hyperactive in organising everything from agricultural field days, to men's mental health support nights. The also help revegetate degraded landscapes and ecosystems and help support endangered species.

GLENRAC was recently granted federal money to help in a drought support role.