Our Committee

Michelle has been actively involved with the Capricornia Catchments committee since its inception in 2002 and currently holds the position of President.   As well as juggling family and work, she willingly volunteers substantial hours to being involved with the organisation.

She runs her own consulting business, 3M Endeavours.  Michelle is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), and has qualifications in Environmental Science, Health & Safety and Workplace Training.  She has extensive NRM, Environmental, Health & Safety, Commercial and Community Consultation experience.

In 2013 Michelle was appointed to the Emerald Agriculture College Board and in 2016 appointed to the Board of Queensland Water and Land Carers Inc (QWALC) 2016. She is involved with several community organisations in a volunteer capacity including Emu Park Surf Lifesaving Club and the Wycarbah & District Landcare Group. Michelle is involved with her family’s cattle properties located near the upper reaches of the Fitzroy River.

With 30 years experience in the Landcare movement and industrial development (mining and power generation), Michelle is able to strengthen the Management Committee’s planning and decision-making capacity through her diversity of skills and practical experiences.

Leise Childs has served 10 years on Capricornia Catchments Management Committee including five years as Treasurer.  Leise has been involved in local environmental issues for 28 years, initially as a volunteer with local environment groups. She completed an environmental science degree in 1993 and has worked in a range of positions with community groups, consultants, and local government.

Leise currently works for Livingstone Shire Council as the Senior Land Protection Officer.  She has a long-term association with the Shoalwater Bay Training Area as a community representative for Capricorn Conservation Council and Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland – Capricorn Branch on the Shoalwater Bay Environmental Advisory Committee.

Leise has extensive experience in local weed and native vegetation management, particularly from the local government perspective.

Ken Mason has been farming fruit and vegetable for 35 years, firstly on his parents’ farm at The Caves, in partnership with them. In the last 25 years he has been developing his own farm at Woodbury growing a wide range of certified organic produce. Marketing this product into niche markets in capital cities.

In the past 15 years he has been using biodynamic principles to decrease inputs while still getting good yields of high-quality produce. The farm is now certified biodynamic with NASAA. Ken was a founding member of WARU Permaculture Group Yeppoon and has been involved in many working groups with the group.

In 2010 he was invited by Biodynamic Agriculture Australia to do workshops on biodynamic farming with Hamish Mackay and John Priestly in Brazil. In the last 3 years Ken has been working with CQU, Australia Aid UNDP, MEDEP, DoA Nepal on a Mandarin Supply Chain Project. His main role in the project has been hosting Nepalese farmers, training them on better practices such as composting, drip irrigation, micronutrients, farm certification for organic production, fruit grading and better marketing of fruit into export markets such as China and India, as well as forming growers groups and setting up a packing shed in the Syangja District.

John Wall is Co-ordinator of Raglan Creek Catchment Working Group and works closely with Gladstone Regional Council – Rural Lands Management Coordinator to coordinate and manage group activities.  John is a cattle and grain producer who understands the value of new innovative ideas to develop sustainable farming and grazing methods and protect the natural environment.

As a hands-on manager and producer, John has been an advisor to farmers and land managers on issues such as climate change, adaptation to crop and grain production, water and nutrient efficiency, waste, and salinity management.

John has over 40 years-experience as a stockman, manager/farmer and understands the concepts of self-discipline needed for sustainability in land management to identify opportunities, utilise, plan, trade more efficiently and boost income to better manage difficult conditions.

Lisa Lonsdale is the Director of Lonsdale Agribusiness which specifically services Agribusinesses across Central Qld.

As an independent specialist Lonsdale Agribusiness understand the complex issues and challenges that producers face.  Lonsdale Agribusiness specialise in helping these businesses with a wide range of activities including:  General Business Management, Agriculture Property Purchases, Business Relationship Management and Financial Planning and reporting.

Their clients seek advice on a variety of requirements from breeding operations and cattle enterprises to mixed farming operations.  With clients coming from everywhere as far as South West Qld to Central Qld, Lisa has a daily opportunity to work with the entire community and is passionate about sharing her wealth of knowledge.

Jeff Mills is a grazier from the Morinish area north of Rockhampton.

He was a founding member of FRCC which became coastal catchments. He has represented rural matters as an advisor to GBRMPA at both a Federal and State level. Jeff is also a member of The Rangelands Society. His role has given him the chance to travel Australia and countries all over the world to study different forms of land management and NRM matters.

Jeff spends his time with his wife Karen between “Melrose” and their home at Emu Park. They are keen travellers and have visited many places in Australia and overseas.

Peter joined Rockhampton Regional Council as a pest management officer in 2006 took over as the supervisor or back then senior pest management officer in 2012. The pest management unit consits of 6 people that are responsible for duties under the Council’s biosecurity plan as required under Chapter 3 of the Biosecurity Act 2014 for the RRC area .

These duties include the control of invasive weed species over around 1800 k of rural road reserve control of around 1000 ha of water bodies and impoundments for the control of both anchored and floating weed species the control of invasive animal species on council controlled land, and a compliancy role in enforcement of the  biosecurity as it concerns a person’s general biosecurity obligation to keep their land free of invasive plant and animal species.