The current Watershed Landcare Committee is:

SAM HAMILTON (Chairperson) Sam is a third generation landholder in the Rylstone district. He runs sheep and cattle and is interested in grazing management and perennial pastures. Sam was a key player in the establishment of Landcare in the Mudgee-Rylstone area. He wants to see Landcare inclusive of the whole community and the community’s needs. Here he is with his son Harry in 2007 summer pasture.
ANDREW COOK (Vice Chairperson) Newly elected Vice-chair, Andrew had a tree change from Sydney back in 1998. He now lives with his wife Carol and six year old son on a 15 hectare property in the Cooyal area. Andrew is a horticulturist working full-time in Mudgee. Part-time, he runs a small flock of Texel sheep and works on making landcare focused changes to his farm. His aims are to encourage native perennial grasses using management tools such as grazing management, slashing and spot spraying; ongoing plantings of native species; subdivision of pastures into smaller areas to introduce a more efficient rotational grazing system and installing water points in each paddock utilising an existing bore.
Estelle Lawson (Treasurer)
THEA RIDLEY (Secretary) Thea moved to the Mudgee region in 2003 and has been part of Watershed Landcare since 2004. She has strong roots in agriculture, growing up at West Wyalong on the family sheep and cereal property and later on a cattle property in the Tumut district. After completing a horticulture degree in 2001, Thea has worked in the agriculture industry, primarily as a consultant for sustainable winegrape production. Recently, in 2008, she commenced working (almost) full-time as contract project officer for Watershed Landcare, primarily focusing on building and promoting sustainable land management activities in the Watershed region. She’s part organizer of the Mudgee Microscope Club and can often be found at Roths’ Wine Bar on a Thursday afternoon. She feels passionate about farming sustainably without eroding the environmental systems that support our profitability.
GREG RAFFERTY (Committee Member) No, our treasurer is not permanently based in the Whitsunday’s!! Greg grew up in the Walgett area. He started his work life as a primary school teacher but moved to Rylstone about 22 years ago to become the manager of Fernside Pastoral Company . Greg is interested in sustainable grazing management.
Hunter White (Committee Member)
JOHN STANFORD (Committee Member) John Stanford is the 2nd generation to farm on “Overdale”, Botobolar. He and wife Margaret have operated the farm for 32 years and run beef cattle and 1st cross ewes. John was first introduced to Landcare about 12 mths ago with interest in the disc seeder, particularly how it works to minimize soil disturbance.
BILL BROWN (Committee Member) We welcome Bill to the Watershed Landcare committee, through he's not new to the district. 5th generation farmer in the Rylstone area running a grazing business, Bill is interested in native pasture, grazing and enjoys managing the landscape. His main focus is to maintain groundcover and have a healthy ecology.
BRETT FARROW (Committee Member) Brett has lived in the Central West of NSW for the past thirty years and has been involved with Landcare since the mid 90's. During this time he has lived and worked on grazing and cropping properties. He is currently employed with a contracting business who specialise in mechanical harvesting and pruning of grapevines around the Mudgee District. Brett has a long term interest in native birds of the inland Australian region which started in his primary school days when he was a member of the Australian Gould League. He is now particularly interested in species (and their habitat) that are of benefit to the biodiversity and the control of insects and pests in farming areas.

The executive committee meets on the first Tuedsay of the month, Feb-Dec (generally at the Lue School). Input from members is always welcome and members are encouraged to attend committee meetings. Phone 0417 074 673 for details of place and time.