The OHCG Management Committee is comprised of passionate volunteers living through-out the catchment, from all different backgrounds including; farmers, scientists, NRM specialists, interested community members etc. Other government and community groups are also represented on the committee to make sure all stakeholders are represented. 

Our Team

Heather Adams
​Chairperson
I joined the committee of OHCG in 1998 after being involved with the Kalgan LCDC since the mid 1980’s.  
I grew up on the northern boundary of the Porongurup National Park.  I had a wonderful childhood, with my sisters and friends, always outdoors roaming around down at the creek and up in the mountains.  This fostered in me a love and appreciation for the amazing natural environment that we have here.  I now live on the southern boundary of the Stirling Range National Park which is very different but just as remarkable.  I got involved with OHCG, and the Kalgan LCDC before that, because I wanted to support other landholders with protecting waterways and bush areas on their properties.  
 What keeps me going is travelling around the catchment and seeing the spectacular results of our efforts over the last 20-30 years everywhere I go, as well as identifying the areas that still need attention!!
I am passionate about fencing waterways and bushland on private properties.  Landholders are remarkable with the areas of land they are prepared to hand over to conservation.
I am a farmer and community volunteer
​Lucia Quearry
Vice Chairperson
Not long after moving down to the Great Southern I joined the Kalgan LCDC in the mid 1990’s, meeting in the shearing shed at the Mt Barker High School.  There I found very inspiring people who were passionate about making pastures better, mitigating salt encroachment, protecting waterways and fencing off the bush.  It was a steep and interesting learning curve for me, not raised on a farm, not having grown up in Australia. 
 The older members of the Kalgan group, some of whom are gone now, taught me well and instilled a love of the bush and the animals that live there.  Today the OHCG has grown in size and projects and includes equally inspiring members with all kinds of interesting backgrounds.  Good people that are good to work with keeps me involved.
 My passion is working with the Ranges Link group; ​discovering magical plant and animal communities, discovering like-minded people and organisations with whom I can share information and enthusiasm.
I am a farmer and volunteer.
Jan Williamson
​Secretary ​
I have been involved with OHCG for 5 years.
I’ve always had a love of the natural environment, enjoying caving and bushwalking and just soaking up the refreshment that being in the grandeur of nature brings.
 I want this experience to be available to future generations by maintaining a balance between human activity and the requirements of a healthy environment.
 I am passionate about clean air and water, keeping viable habitats for native species.
 My training - University majors in Zoology and Physiology; administrator; mother of 4; moved to the district from Brisbane 7 years ago; apprentice farmer and community volunteer
David R Williamson
Bsc Agr, MSc (Agric),
​MASSS, MIAH
​Treasurer
Retired as a Principal Research Scientist with CSIRO in 1999 and moved to Kendenup in 2001. Primary applied research field over a period of more than 36 years across southern Australia was in soil physics and hydrology. 
​ My expertise lies in water and salt balance of catchments and associated surface and groundwater hydrology, with application to the causes and strategies for management of salinisation and natural resource rehabilitation in non-irrigated agriculture, and relationships between degradation of arable land and water resources. I participated in several international research activities in Thailand (1985-1988), China (1997-2000) and Malaysia (2003 – 2009) and have been a consultant in salinity and agricultural hydrology 1999 to 2015. I have been a committee member of OHCG since 2003 and was chairman 2007- 2009.  Gathering experience from being a co-ordinator of Western Sub-Regional Group and Member of NRM Committee of South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc 2009-2015.  I am also a member of Kendenup Bushland Management Group (since 2005), a committee member of YouthCare Mount Barker (since 2008) and Kendenup Community Development Association (since 2006).  ​
Steve & Geraldine Janicke
We have been involved with the OHCG in various ways since the mid 1990’s, initially Steve worked supervisor and an environmental officer with the then Waterways Commission and working with the Albany Waterways Management Authority. 
We moved to Albany in 1986 to give our three children a childhood that combined the advantages of both a rural and urban setting. Albany can do that for you. We both greatly enjoy the outdoor environment and have managed to combine that with our careers in natural resource management with a emphasis on how we understand and value our unique South Coast river systems. 
We are both greatly encouraged by the energy and commitment of so many farmers and other community minded people in our part of the world, who go the extra mile to conserve the natural values of the South Coast. This is especially uplifting given the difficulties of running profitable businesses in a demanding economic environment. 
We believe the OHCG provides an excellent way for community members to contribute to keeping our natural environment healthy and vigorous.
Chas Rhind
Vertical Divider
I have always been interested in the natural world from joining the Gould League as a kid in primary school to studying a BA and a BEd in environmental studies,

Teaching in Tambellup provided the opportunity to expose students to their local environments through Ribbons of Blue; Western Shield; Catchments, Coasts and Corridors; Waste 2020 and many other such student programs. While working with students at the Gordon River, I worked with many environmental organisations and contributed to several teacher and school resources. I also had the opportunity to learn much about the Aboriginal culture of the area.

Deciding to live in Mount Barker, my husband and I made the choice to try living sustainably and built our home off grid in 1996. Using permaculture principles adapted to suit our area as our guide we aim to leave our small acreage in a much better condition than when we bought it. Now I wish to enable others to care for our catchment through assisting Oyster Harbour Catchment group in their mission,
Tammy Wiehl
Vertical Divider
Chris Norton
Vertical Divider

Representatives

South Coast NRM Representative: Nat Reeves

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Representative: TBA

Friends of the Porongurup Range Representative: Lucia Quearry

Kendenup Bushland Management Group Representative: Val Saggers

King River Weed Control and River restoration Group Representatives: Justin Hardy

Kalgan River Steward Representative: (proxy) Nat Reeves

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Representative: Karen McKeough

GreenSkills Inc and Yakamia Creek Representative: Anne Sparrow

Shire of Plantagenet and City of Albany Representative: TBC

Big Thank You to Our Past Volunteers

2019- 2022            Jenni York
2020- 2019            Wayne Monks
2021- 2016            Judith Hunt    
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