Committee Members

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. 
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

Read more: Heather Adams | Heartland Journeys
​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).  ​
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,
Chris Norton
Vertical Divider
Local Narrikup farmer and fire captain.

I have participated in many of Oyster Harbour Catchment Group's projects through our family farm. Now that I'm handing over some of my responsibilities to my son I am interested in giving back. Including providing my experience to OHCG when planning activities to encourage local uptake, supporting local agriculture to adopt best practices, and facilitating a prosperous community for my grandkids.
Kathy and Kevin Collins
Vertical Divider
Kathy and Kevin are conservation enthusiasts. 
The couple moved to Mount Barker in 1984 purchasing a bare paddock with a few scattered rocks and stumps building a home, creating a full banksia garden with every living species present. see more www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/banksias/9427494
​
Jason Hastie
Vertical Divider
Newly moved to the catchment from the Rangelands where he also volunteered on the committee. 
​
​Interested in sustainable farming activities and initiatives.
Tammy Wiehl
Vertical Divider
First got involved with OHCG restoring degraded sections of the family farm Wittigo when taking over the farm with her husband, Martin. See past works www.ohcg.org.au/past-projects.html

Joined the committee in 2022 

Representatives

South Coast NRM Representative: Johanna Tomlinson

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: Nat Reeves

Department of Water and Environmental Regulation Representative: TBA

Shire of Plantagenet and City of Albany Representative: TBA

Big Thank You to Our Past Committee Members 

See more in our archives
2019- 2022            Jenni York
2020- 2019            Wayne Monks
2021- 2016            Judith Hunt    
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