MEMBERSHIP
Lyn Coulston – Chairperson
Community Representative North East
As a community member of the Upper Murray Blackberry Action Group and Secretary of the Upper Murray Landcare Network, Lyn is a committed supporter of the community weed model.
Lyn operates a native plant propagation business, is a Board Member of the North East Catchment Management Authority and is involved with a broad range of community organizations in North East Victoria.
Lyn was elected Chairperson of the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce in November 2005
Virginia Harman
Department of Sustainability & Environment
Virginia currently works as a member of the Pest Management Unit in the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Melbourne. She has 20 years experience in natural resource management operations, planning and policy with a focus on public land.
Until 2003 Virginia worked in regional Victoria in forestry, and with her family ran a beef farming business in Victoria's North East.
Virginia joined the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce/National Blackberry Taskforce in 2006 and is keen to contribute to the growing partnerships between government and communities in weed management and supporting the community weed model.
Glen Jameson
Parks Victoria
A Park Ranger and Natural Resource Technical Manager in the Middle Yarra Region for 14 years including time on the Eltham Pest Plant Committee and the Middle Yarra Pest Plant Working Committee. Presently working in the Research Branch of Parks Victoria developing monitoring protocols for pest plants and animals.
Alex Arbuthnot
National Blackberry Taskforce Chair
Alex is an irrigation dairy farmer from Nambrok in Victoria where he has farmed with his family for nearly 30 years. Alex was President of the Victorian Farmers Federation from 1989-92, during which time the Landcare initiative was expanded to be a national program. Alex is still actively involved in the movement, currently a member of two Landcare groups and a member of a regional Catchment Implementation Committee. He had held a number of directorship and advisory roles, including Director of Landcare Australia Limited, Chairman of the Gippsland Agribusiness Forum, a member of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Council, Chairman of the National Blackberry Taskforce, and Member of the Victorian Farmers Federation Land Management Committee. Alex was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1998 for his services to agriculture and Landcare and in January 2005 he was appointed to the Australian Landcare Council representing the National Farmers Federation.
Garry Hammer
Community Representative, West Gippsland
Garry’s professional experience is as a dairy farmer whose personal interests have led him to recognise a need for greater natural resource management and sustainability.
He is an active resident in the Macallister Irrigation District and has developed a keen interest and understanding of Gippsland’s farming practices and varied Landcare issues. Upon completing a Diploma in Natural Resource Management he gained employment with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment where he quickly became immersed in the many aspects of weed management and rehabilitation programs, predominantly in fire affected areas. Garry is now an active member of the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority where he holds a position on the Wellington Community Consultative Committee.
Lillian Parker
Community Representative, Glenelg Hopkins
Lillian was born and bred in North Queensland and undertook a Bachelor of Science in Australian Environmental Science at Griffith University, Nathan, QLD. She has undertook a number of jobs around Australia between 1986 and 1990, eventually settling in the NSW Riverina for 15 years. There she was the Environmental Services Manager for Murrumbidgee Irrigation and led the development and implementation of the MIA Community Land and Water Management Plan. She then moved to Victoria to undertake the role of the Dryland Executive Officer for the Upper Goulburn and Broken River Implementation Committees within the Goulburn Broken CMA based in Yea for three years. While there she completed the AICD Company Director’s course.
In 2008 I took up the role of Executive Manager Catchment Health at GHCMA based in Hamilton and is currently involved in Budj Bim Co- management Council with the Gundijt Mirring Traditional Owners and Parks Victoria, Victorian Gorse Taskforce and the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce, AICD Warrnambool Regional Committee for 2010
Dr. Robin Adair
Department of Primary Industries
Robin is a Research Scientist with Primary industries Research, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria and Section Leader, Weeds of Natural Ecosystems. As project leader for Victorian blackberry research, Robin is currently involved with biological control and impact evaluation.
Robin’s interests include natural ecosystems management, wine appreciation, breeding black Labradors and writing scientific papers.
Dawn Parker
Community Representative, East Gippsland
Dawn has been an East Gippslander since 1985 where the working life was a beef cattle enterprise in the very Far East. She has been actively engaged in the local Landcare group since the late eighties and has expanded that interest to the Network and regional levels. She has a strong interest in fostering a sense of community and people's belief in their ability to " become the expert" in thoughtfully determining their own directions and responsibilities. Living sustainably within ecosystem resources and encouraging holistic decision making, particularly in agriculture, are two themes that she has hoped to contribute in VBT discussions since she became a community representative in 2008.
Shane O Laughlin
Community Representative, Northern Central
Shane lives at Laanecoorie and is passionate about his community. Shane’s is involved in several NRMC sub-committee for the North Central CMA, including the Upper Loddon River Health project, Lower Loddon River Health project, Community Engagement working group, Victorian Blackberry Taskforce and the Invasive Plant and Animal Strategy Regional Working Group. Shane was previously a chair of the North Central CMA Loddon/Campaspe Implementation Committee.
Michael Reid, Executive Officer
Michael Reid is apart of DPI's Farming Services Victoria: Landscape Protection. He joined the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce as the Executive Officer in July 2007.
Michael's professional interests include sustainable farming, community engagement and co-operative forms of governance between community and government. Michael has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Rural and Environment Sociology and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Agriculture.