Meet The Team
Pink Heath
MDLN Board members are elected for two year terms at the Annual General Meeting in October, held across the Network on a rotational basis.
The executive positions are elected each year.
The Network appreciates the work of past and present board members.
Board members provide their expertise, insight, feedback and strategic views to Landcare's important work.
The current board members are:
Secretary
Sandra Jefford
As a local organic farmer and dedicated member of the MDLN board, Sandra brings a wealth of experience to the team and to the community of farmers in the district.
Treasurer
Peter Neaves
Peter is a dairy farmer at Newry with his wife Kate and three boys.
Board Member
Dennis Gedye
Dennis has a Diploma in Horticultural Science from Burnley Horticultural College. He and his wife Betty milked cows for 40 years near Maffra and although retired still on acreage with beef cows. Dennis enjoys growing seeds and grafted plants and bottling fruit.
Board Member
Dr Derek Harms
Derek joined the board in 2022 while continuting his profession as a Veterinarian. He brings extensive experience in ruminant health for on-farm benefit while also having an interest in seed collection and fire-retardant plants.
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Board Member
Kate Mirams
Kate Mirams is quietly working towards understanding and using profitable farming practices that create thriving life on farm.
Kate is grateful to farm with her husband, three sons and some incredible staff, on the deep alluvial flood plain soils of the mighty Wirn wirndook Yeerung (Macalister River).
Kate loves winding up the strip fence to give the cows a bit more grass, worms, birdsong, dancing and doing the hard yards for community projects.
Kate has worked in extension and community development, and is a board member of the Macalister Demonstration Farm.
Board Member
Dr John Caldow
John joins the board with a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental, biodiversity and sustainability education. A primary school teacher for 21years, then Bug Blitz Trust Program Director since 2008, John’s pioneered single-day field events for school students in local wetland and outdoor habitats and authored five environmentally themed books for school students and numerous curriculum guidelines for teachers.
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John wants to highlight and progress people’s understanding of terrestrial invertebrates and use of informed citizen science projects for all ages.
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John lives in a mud brick and recycled material house on a conserved for nature block and his 2018 PhD thesis was Connecting Biodiversity Field Studies with Classroom Curriculum: Understanding Children’s Learning and Teachers’ Perspectives.
Board Member
currently vacant
Please contact us if you are interested in joining the team.
Chair
currently vacant
Please contact us if you are interested in joining the team.
MDLN Community Facilitator
Bonnie Reeves
Bonnie commenced with MDLN in November 2021. She works with local community groups and industry partners to develop projects that help to restore the natural environment and benefit rural communities.
MDLN Agriculture Facilitator
Callam Reynolds
Callam commenced with MDLN in January 2025, committing his skills in revegetation, wetlands, carbon and agroforestry project development. He supports community groups to develop on-ground natural resource management projects that restore the health of the natural environment while enhancing sustainable agriculture initiatives in the region.
Strategy and Governance Manager
Jenny O'Neill
Jenny is a long-term Landcare volunteer, formerly with Flooding Creek. With governance qualifications and experience, Jenny is enjoying her role supporting the board and staff to ensure MDLN meets its legal and regulatory obligations whilst achieving great outcomes.
Growing Firewise Coordinator
Van Ong
Van commenced with MDLN in March 2024 and is working with community groups who are planting and establishing low fire-risk revegetation projects at five demonstration sites throughout the region. Go to FIrewise