Recent Changes to the Connecting Country Team
Posted on 1 August, 2016 by Connecting Country
There have been a few comings, goings and changes to the Connecting Country team over the recent weeks that we would like to share. We bid farewell to Alex, Mel and Rachel, welcome Fritz and Scott, and share the details about Chris, Krista and Naomi’s new roles.
Alex introduces education program participants to the tools of the fencing trade.
Alex Schipperen has ably led our work crew for four years. He has done everything from trained and mentored more than twelve new team members, built kilometres of fences for conservation protection, developed and implemented OH&S systems, educated landholders at our workshops, and made engaging land management videos (click here to see Alex star in the ‘how to install a rabbit bait station’ video). He has built excellent relationships with landholders and staff and ensured that our work on-ground is first rate. Although we’ll miss him, we are thrilled for Alex to have landed his dream job as a Park Ranger based in Creswick and we wish him all the best.
Replacing Alex as our new Works Crew Team Leader is Fritz Hammersley. Fritz is well known to many of us involved in Connecting Country and Landcare in the area. He has volunteered for many years on a number of our programs and brings excellent natural resource management knowledge to the team. More recently Fritz has been working with the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation.
Fritz Hammersley inspecting a nest box in Walmer.
We are sorry that works crew member Rachael Campbell needed to resign for personal reasons. She has been a delightful presence in our works crew. We pleased, however, to have Scott Woodman join the crew. A Castlemaine local, Scott has been working recently with the Conservation Volunteers Green Army team.
We also bid farewell to Melanie Marshall who has been working on our Connecting Landscapes program for the past year. Mel has been a brilliant member of the team assisting with our project reporting, community engagement and management plans. She brought a valuable fresh insight to our program. We are thrilled that we will continue to work closely with Mel in her new role as the Natural Environment Officer at Mount Alexander Shire Council.
Finally, Chris Timewell and Krista Patterson-Majoor have commenced new roles this week as co-Directors of Connecting Country. They will be working collaboratively to cover all of the tasks that were previously covered by the single Director role (Chris’s previous role).
- Krista’s new title is Director (Project Management). She will be working 3 days per week – Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. The main features of her role are to oversee Connecting Country’s programs and strategic planning.
- Chris’s new title is Director (Business Administration). He will also be working 3 days per week – Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. The main features of his role are to manage the business and administrative aspects of the organisation.
Naomi Raftery has taken over Krista’s previous role as Engagement Officer. Naomi will be coordinating our education program, publicity, and assisting with Connecting Country’s strategic development and future funding proposals.
It’s a lot of changes, but it’s also exciting times as Connecting Country prepares for our future.
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