Granite Borders Landcare Committee

Our Committee

Our management committee consists of volunteers who represent many of the diverse Landcare groups and interests of our region. The following office bearers were nominated on the eve of Wednesday 22nd June at our Annual General Meeting.

Clive Smith

Chairperson - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Qualification / education-Dip. Production Engineering.

Interests (relative to Landcare)- Grazing management, landscape improvement, soil health, human health and wild dog control.

Employment history- Currently self-employed for the last 25 years, grazier, superfine wool merinos. Have been employed by CBC Bank, Westpac, NZI Securities, Custom Credit as Database Analyst and Senior Systems Analyst.

Other relevant skills– Secretary & committee member of Trap Rock Wool group, Chair of Southern Downs Wild Dog Advisory Group, Treasurer of  EMS association, President Drumsleed Wild Dog Control Group, Warden Drumsleed Fire Brigade, member  Southern Downs Pest Advisory Committee.

 

Rod Dowe

Vice Chairperson - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Qualification / education- Leaving Certificate, Hawkesbury Diploma of Agriculture , Hons. Sheep and Wool East Sydney Technical, National Service NCO Course, Six month study Tour (Agriculture) England, Scotland, USA, and Canada as recipient of Star Junior Farmer of NSW. Advanced Holistic management with Allan Savory Orange NSW, Zimbabwe Africa, and Albuquerque USA.

Interests (relative to Landcare)- Harvesting sunlight energy in a  regenerative agriculture, soils, compost, biodiversity, fencing, water harvesting and systems, fish, shade and shelter, birds, wildlife, keyline agriculture, improved pastures, grazing management, low stress animal handling, genetics, nutrition and marketing.

Employment history- Casual Weekend work with P.A.Yeomans Keyline Development of his Nth Richmond properties whilst at Hawkesbury.  Self Employed- 60 years on farm producing wool, lambs and beef. Concurrently off farm 10 years wool classing and shearing contracting, 12 years harvesting contracting, 13 years as a voluntary  producer rep. with MLA Research and Development Committee, incl. vice chair of Biodiversity Committee.

Other relevant skills– Captain & Vice Captain Homestead Fire Brigade 52 years. Tenterfield Landcare founding member convened 1st meeting in 1989. Past President of the local branch of the Cattleman's Union.

 

Margaret Smith

Secretary - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc

Qualification / education- Wool Classing Certificate.

Interests (relative to Landcare)- Grazing practices to improve sheep, wool and pastures, animal and human health.

Employment history- Self-employed for 25 years grazier with superfine merinos. Employed on a casual basis as wool-classer to local graziers last 19 years. Previously employed by her father-in-law's medical surgery as part-time receptionist, after 10 years working with CBC Bank as Communications Senior Programmer/Analyst.

Other relevant skills- Sec/Treasurer of Drumsleed RFB and Deputy Warden. Committee member on Sheep and Wool Committee and Catering Committee of Stanthorpe Agricultural Society.  Secretary Drumsleed Wild Dog Control Group.

 

Joanne Crotty

Treasurer - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Registered BAS Agent

Frank Patterson

Public Officer - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Qualification / education- Leaving Certificate at TAS Armidale. Various courses at TAFE. RFI instructor and Group leader with Rural Fire Service.

Interests (relative to Landcare)- Bio diversity, protection of native animal and birds, sustainable agriculture, control of erosion and weeds.

Employment history– Self employed grazier. Contracting jobs- fruit picking and header driver.

Any other relevant skills-Fire management, welding and truck driving.

 

Sarah Hamlyn-Harris

Executive Committee Member - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc

Sarah is a retired tax accountant/bookkeeper with a passion for doing what she can for a healthy planet.

She has lived most of her life around Stanthorpe. In her earlier days she worked for a few years on farms around the Granite Belt, thinning fruit, picking, packing and pruning. Before that she worked in piggeries for several years.

Sarah believes that if we all do our bit, and don’t get caught up in negativity or the blame game, we can ensure that future generations of people and all life will have a healthy liveable planet.

Richard Hicks

Executive Committee Member - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc

Qualifications / education – Yr 12 Corinda State High (Science, Maths, Industrial); Broadcast Technical Officer; Certificate in Electronics & Communications; Business Management Studies; Innumerable Computer Courses; Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training; OH&S Construction White Card.

Interests (relative to Landcare) – Preservation of natural bush, native flora and fauna, natural resources, and farming land in harmonious coexistence and the impact of climate change and population growth on the sustainability of these community assets.

Employment History – 23yrs with ABC (Brisbane) in all technical & operational aspects of radio and television broadcasting; 13yrs with Queensland Health & DPI Forestry in IT Support, Training, Web Development, and Project Work; Private sector work in Technical Writing and Power Protection Systems.

Other relevant skills – Off-grid, sustainable, low-impact living; Mechanical and Electronic design; Computer Aided Drafting.

Alan Horneman

Executive Committee Member - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Qualification / education– HSC and 12 mth Diploma Agriculture (Yanco).

Interests (relative to Landcare)- Land, environment and ecology.

Employment history– Self employed farmer and machinery operator.

Other relevant skills- Organiser, driver, well read, chair of local Landcare group.

 

Jim Landers

Executive Committee Member - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Qualification / education– Intermediate Certificate, Registered Wool Classer

Interests (relative to Landcare)-Swales, pastures, lamb & beef production.

Employment history– Self employed farmer,

Any other relevant skills- Councillor to Agricultural Society NSW, Chairman District Committee Royal Agricultural Society, Voluntary President Tenterfield Showground Trust, President / Treasurer Tenterfield Show Society, Captain Steinbrook Bush Fire Brigade,  Secretary Tenterfield  Wild Dog Control Group and was heavily involved in Scouts and Rural Youth.

 

Kevin Jones

Executive Committee Member - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc.

Qualification / education- Land Surveying/Mapping qualifications from University of Queensland.

Interests (relative to Landcare)– Sustainable land management practices based on biological farming principles.

Employment history– Surveyor with Qld Dept of Mapping and Surveying (formerly Lands Dept), Lecturer/Course Coordinator in Surveying and Mapping QUT (formerly QIT), Currently running a small farm business.

Other relevant skills– Member North Granite Belt Rural Fire Brigade.

Geoff Robertson

Executive Committee Member - Granite Borders Landcare Committee Inc

Qualification / education– Yr 10 Brisbane State High .

Interests (relative to Landcare)- Local ecology, beef cattle production, dung beetles, bird watching & recording.

Employment history– Systems analyst, QLD Dept. of Lands Deputy Registrar of Titles, self employed grazier..

Other relevant skills- Networking, grass, scrub, trees & dung beetle identification, pasture trial work.