meet the Barung team
barung landcare management committee
There are currently vacancies on the Managment Committee and we would love to hear from you if you believe you have skills to offer and are keen to make a difference. If you are interested, or would like to learn more about the commitment involved please email president@barunglandcare.org.au
Barbara Kelly
Acting President
Barbara first became concerned about the environmental impact of land clearing in the 70s when she majored in Geography at UQ and lived on a farm at Nanango. Barbara went on to spend 30 years with Education Queensland as a secondary school Deputy Principal and teacher prior to planting a small olive grove with her husband Glynn and running a successful tourist and accommodation business in the Scenic Rim until 2020.
During extended drought periods they realised how difficult native revegetation of some areas has become as they struggled to get the native species they planted to thrive. Barbara moved back to the Sunshine Coast with her husband and settled in Maleny in 2020.
Barbara has joined the Barung committee as she wishes to become more actively involved in promoting the work of Barung Landcare in whatever way she can, drawing on her management and business experience. She is passionate about revegetation and, as well as volunteering at the Porters Lane nursery one day a week, is currently working to revegetate her family’s 64 hectare vine scrub forest property at Nanango.
Mandy Lupton
Secretary
Mandy’s passion for the environment was inspired by her childhood in Bega on Yuin country, far south coast of NSW. In the 90s she was custodian of a beautiful 4-hectare bush property on the banks of Wapengo Lake near Tathra, NSW. Mandy moved to her property at Reesville on Jinibara country in 2019, and in 2020 she joined Gardens for Wildlife and started revegetating her 3000m2 property.
Mandy has a PhD in education and worked for many years as a university academic in education and librarianship. In other former lives she was a high school music teacher, teacher-librarian, and academic librarian. Mandy is now semi-retired and works casually at the Maleny Library. One of her hobbies is local history, and she is currently researching land use and revegetation in the Maleny area.
Joan Dillon
Committee Member
Joan is very concerned about habitat loss and the fragmentation of our natural bushland to the detriment of our native flora and dependent wildlife. With a degree in Agricultural Science, her varied career commenced as a mycologist in the NSW Dept.of Agriculture, specialising in diseases of ornamental plants. After some time in Canada, Joan and husband John moved to Darwin and began teaching in the School of Horticulture at Charles Darwin University and co-presented a local ABC Television Gardening Program.
Following retirement Joan and John moved onto their 4.4 ha of steep country in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, embarked on a major revegetation programme and joined Land for Wildlife. Most of the property is now under a voluntary conservation agreement (VCA) with the Sunshine Coast Council.
Joan is a member of Native Plants Queensland, past president of Barung Landcare and former board member of Greening Australia Queensland. She briefly chaired the Environmental Weeds Management Group (SEQ), and served as a member of the Natural Heritage Trust sub-Regional Assessment panel for the Burnett/Mary. Later, she represented Barung on the steering committee for the ACIAR funded Farmcare project which introduced the landcare model to Mindanao in the Philippines.
On a personal level Joan wrote the native plants section for a national gardening magazine for about 10 years and recently in collaboration with Mapleton resident Nita Lester published Range and Hinterland Gardening, a comprehensive book covering ornamental (exotic) as well as Australian and specifically local native plants.
Christy Samorowski
Committee Member
Christy Samorowski is an accomplished environmental professional with a distinguished background in Environmental Science and a rich conservation history spanning over two decades. She possesses a distinctive combination of strategic vision, hands-on experience, and an unwavering commitment to environmental conservation.
Currently serving as the Senior Policy Officer for the State of the Environment Report with the Department of Environment, Science & Innovation, Christy has held pivotal positions with various government entities and environmental organisations. Her extensive experience includes contributions to the State Government’s Nature Refuges and Koala units, as well as roles with Moreton Bay and Brisbane City Council’s Environmental Planning and Policy. Beyond public service, Christy has successfully navigated the realms of environmental consultancy and entrepreneurial ventures, notably as the owner and Business Manager of an outdoor education company.
In addition to her professional endeavours, Christy is the proud owner of a 60-acre property in Woodford and a 140-acre property in Kenilworth. Demonstrating her commitment to conservation, both properties hold Voluntary Conservation Agreements arranged by Christy and her husband. These agreements cover 50% of the land and safeguard diverse ecosystems, including Eucalypt open forest and koala habitat in Woodford, and Notophyll vine forest and Richmond Birdwing Butterfly habitat in Kenilworth. Over the past two decades, Christy and her husband have implemented ecological restoration techniques, fostering natural regeneration and rehabilitation across these landscapes.
Vacancies
Committee Member
barung landcare staff
Cameron Burton
Landcare and Partnerships Manager
cam@barunglandcare.org.au
Charlotte Pond
Accounts Officer
charlotte@barunglandcare.org.au
Amber Rivalland
Administration Coordinator
amber@barunglandcare.org.au
Wayne Webb
Production Nursery Manager
wayne@barunglandcare.org.au
Maia Stegman
Nursery Assistant
maia@barunglandcare.org.au
Trevour Pitt
Nursery Projects Officer
trevour@barunglandcare.org.au
Renee Ulbrich
SQW Coordinator
renee@barunglandcare.org.au
Vacant
Natural Area Services Manager
Katrina Atkinson
NAS Business Admin Manager
katrina@barunglandcare.org.au
Angus Frazer
Project Officer
angus@barunglandcare.org.au
Sarah Dixon
Project Officer
sarah@barunglandcare.org.au
OUR QUALIFICATIONS
Barung Landcare staff have various qualifications, licences and inductions which include the following:
Bachelors degrees –
- Science
- Land Management
- Coastal Science
- Environmental Science
- Applied Science
- Arts
Certifications including –
- Chainsaw Level 1 & 2
- Construction card (White card)
- Commercial operator’s licence for using herbicides (ACDC)
Certificate in Conservation and Land Management –
1, 2, 3 and 4
Certificate in Horticulture –
2, 3 and 4
Graduate Certificate –
- Environmental Management
- Sustainability
Diplomas –
- Conservation and Land Management
- Business
- Applied Science
- Project Management
Fauna Spotter / Catcher certificate
HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support
HLTAID011 Provide first aid
HLTFA311A Apply first aid
Safety and site induction certificates from –
- Sunshine Coast Council
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- Noosa Council
- Unity Water
- SEQ Water
Barung Landcare holds a number of current licences, certifications and policies including:
Ground Distribution Contractor Licence (ACDC) no.GDC343
ISO certifications –
- ISO 9001: 2015 quality management systems
- ISO 14001:2015 ENvironmental management systems
- AS/NZS 4801:2001 occupational health and safety management systems
Up to date insurances including –
- Public Liability
- Association Liability
- Work Cover
- Personal Accident
- Landcare Activities
