Paul, Jo and three kids Louise, Emily and Angus moved to the Mudgee region in 2001 buying a 400 ac property at Botobolar. There they run first cross ewes and Angus cross cattle to supply their meat Business, Botobolar Beef and Lamb, and the local stock market.

Pauls' interest in running a small farm blossomed when he was growing up on the family farm at Taralga, in the Southern Tablelands.

After finishing school in Sydney, Paul completed an apprenticeship in building & carpentry and ran a small building business on the North Shore and Inner City of Sydney. Eventually the Blackwells sold up and came to Mudgee in 2001.

Pauls' interest in Watershed Landcare developed after completing a Holistic Management course in farming, and (like a lot of other farmers) after dealing with the drought.

Apart from being a Husband and Father to a great little family, running the farm and a small building company, Paul is involved with Watershed Landcare (vice-Chairman), Botobolar Community Committee (Chairman), Cooyal Bushfire Brigade (Deputy Captain) and involved with Australian Rural Education Centre (AREC) as a volunteer.

Pauls' main goal is to create a sustainable farm, promoting native pastures and a balanced ecosystem, to provide his family with an income and encourage an environment for native flora and fauna. He has found the information gathered from the Holistic Management course and the continued support through Watershed and local CMA tremendous for his farm business and the community.

HUNTER WHITE (Treasurer)

Hunter White is a farmer and company director who lives at Havilah, Mudgee (near Lue). With his wife Sue Ann, he operates a mixed farming enterprise in the Mudgee and Yeoval districts based on sustainable and regenerative land management. Hunter and Sue Ann are members of Watershed, Bingman and Little River Landcare groups.  In addition, Hunter is very involved with community activities including Mudgee Show Society, Mudgee Race Club and Lue-Havilah Bushfire Brigade.

Hunter is very focused on importance of the land to the Australian culture and well-being. Farmers have an enormous challenge as land managers to produce food sustainably within our complex ecosystems. This is a very exciting challenge which relies upon our heritage, education, innovation and, within the Landcare movement, building communities and open sharing of ideas and information, to achieve this.

From right, Hunter, Sue Ann, daughter Gina and sister Sarah Inglis.

SONIA CHRISTIE (Secretary)
Sonia Christie, together with her husband and three children run Eastwood a mixed grazing property north west of Rylstone.  Sonia has implemented and manages a cell grazing system and has a passion for sustainable farming ideas and food production. The plan being on Eastwood, to improve biodiversity and sequester carbon in the soils whilst being profitable. Sonia uses Stressfree Stockmanship methods to make livestock management an easier, safer and a calmer way to rotate contented stock around the cell system.

Sonia has a background in health and so has an interest and understanding of the link between healthy landscapes, food production and human health outcomes.

As part of the Watershed executive, Sonia hopes to help promote and encourage the great range of projects and educational opportunities Watershed has on offer.

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.

NIGEL WHITE (Committee Member)

 
We care for the land and the land cares for us.
5th and 6th generation landcarers (from left) Harry, Nigel and Jack White.

RACHEL NORRIS (Committee Member)

CHRISTINE MCRAE (Committee Member)

Christine grew up in the outer western suburbs of Sydney, surrounded by farmlands which were her playground for much of her earlier formative years. An appreciation of the natural environment developed, which was fostered by her mother and grandmother. With her husband Tony, she now runs a mixed grazing enterprise on native pastures in the Carcalgong and Bocoble/Queens Pinch areas to the south of Mudgee.  She is passionate about the importance of plant diversity in pastures, and likes nothing more than introducing landholders to the diversity of plant species on their properties. Christine recently completed a science degree with a Major in Botany through the University of New England. She is also a member of Stipa Native Grasses Association and various plant conservation groups.

Christine plays a key role coordinating our Native Grasses in Rural Cemeteries project.

Joanna, with husband Paul and their three children, run a mixed farming enterprise North East of Mudgee at Botobolar. After tasting the country lifestyle as a young adult, Joanna's love of the natural environment continued and devoloped as she studied and experimented to source better ways of managing their property; through promoting native pastures, grazing techniques and chemical free weed control. Joanna is actively involved with the  Botobolar Community Committee and the Cooyal Bushfire Brigage and continues to think outside the square so as to sustain their rural business and lifestyle for the family.