WHO ARE WE?
The Burnett Mary Regional Group for Natural Resource Management Ltd. (BMRG) is the peak body for natural resource management (NRM) within the Burnett Mary region. Established in 2001, we are one of 54 national, not-for-profit regional bodies providing an essential link between the community and various programs procured by Government and other funding sources.
WHAT DO WE DO?
BMRG’s vision is “to protect and enhance the agricultural and natural environment of the Burnett Mary region for future generations”. We achieve this by directing investment into a wide range of community-based programs that deliver positive outcomes in the areas of ecological diversity, sustainable land management, water quality, cultural heritage values and coastal and marine management.Community collaboration and partnerships are paramount to us achieving our vision. We continue to foster strong relationships with a range of organisations including: Local, State and Federal Governments; Landcare and Catchment Care groups; Indigenous organisations; agricultural and industrial sectors; universities and schools.
MEET THE BOARD
In addition to serving for many years as a BMRG Director, Tony also has a long history of service in Local government. He served for seventeen years as an Isis Shire Councillor and post amalgamation, another seven years as a Bundaberg City Councilor. Tony is also a third generation cane farmer and has diversified into other crops including avocados and peanuts. His wealth of Local government experience, rural farming skills and previous experience as a Board member make him the ideal person to take up the role of Chair of BMRG.
Mike has over 40 years of professional experience in public, private and not-for-profit organisations throughout Queensland and overseas. This experience includes roles in agribusiness, economic development, natural resource management and environmental protection. He is currently the Regional Engagement Coordinator for the Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council Inc. Mike is a committed advocate for regional NRM groups and sees BMRG as a leading organisation for delivering environmental protection, natural resource management and economic development outcomes.
Professor Phil Brown has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science and a PhD in Horticultural Science. He is currently the Professor of Horticultural Science at CQUniversity. His research in agricultural and environmental science has focused on the translation and application of research outputs into practices that are adopted by agricultural industries to improve productivity and sustainability. Phil has also been acknowledged by the Queensland Government as a Science Champion in recognition of his work.
Elizabeth (Beth) Shanks operates two grazing properties with her husband Ross in the South Burnett. Her passion for natural resource management began when she worked to preserve habitat for the vulnerable Brush Tailed Rock Wallaby and Greater Glider found on one of her properties. She has a Diploma in Business and is President of the South East Burnett Landcare Group and sits on BMRG’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Committee. She is passionate about NRM and believes in employing Best Management Practices and a holistic management approach to production that is environmentally sustainable and commercially viable.
Vanessa Elwell-Gavins was CEO for six years of NRM South, the southern Tasmanian equivalent of BMRG. She has worked extensively with government in policy and program development and water planning management. She has also worked with the Institute for Aboriginal Development and Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies giving her a broad Indigenous cultural understanding. She is currently secretary of the Wildlife Preservation Society – Fraser Coast Branch and an active member of the Lower Mary River Land and Catchment Care Group. She has a passion for conservation and believes in delivering strategic onground conservation works and the efficient and effective engagement of the community in NRM.
MEET THE TEAM
Leadership is about creating opportunities that enable your organisation to find successful outcomes. It’s also great to see young people develop and grow in their ability to deliver these opportunities. We all want to leave the world in a better place for future generations!
I have completed a dual degree in Sustainability and Accounting in order to become a ‘Green Accountant’. Working within NRM is a privilege and is suited to what I believe in. I am also motivated by knowing I have done my role to the best of my ability and helping other people to succeed.
I’m passionate about working for an organisation that is trying to conserve the natural environment, and its fauna & flora. I like assisting with the continuous improvement processes to achieve outcomes in NRM.
I joined BMRG in 2017 as a trainee for a Cert III in Business Administration. I now have a Diploma in Business and I’m continually provided opportunities for growth & development. I work with such a fine group of people, and I love being able to provide administrative assistance both to them and the wider BMRG community.
Originally from a Czech farming family, I appreciate the diverse and beautiful Australian environment. The need to proactively manage and safeguard it for future generations and my own children is important to me.
I am currently working on two projects that protect coastal saltmarsh and marine turtle nesting sites. A major highlight of my job is also being able to interact with agricultural landholders who want to change the way they produce food towards a more sustainable and responsible system of caring for their land.
I love seeing holistic environmental outcomes achieved through partnerships with our stakeholders. Projects where once completed, everyone has a better understanding of the issue and the solutions – stronger country, stronger people. For me the glass is always half-full, and every cloud has a silver lining.
My mob is from the Birdsville area, so I’m excited to have the opportunity to be here learning the different cultural practices and the significance of the Bunya Mountains. I love being outdoors and taking care of country, returning fire to the grasslands. I want to pass down what I’ve learnt to the future generations.
I love my work because we don’t do the same jobs two days in a row. We’re outside living and working on the land our ancestors controlled and maintained, and we’re teaching young kids about the Bunya Mountains. Not many people get an opportunity like this!
After high school I felt motivated to become an Indigenous Ranger. Working on and protecting my own traditional country, Wakka Wakka country – it’s a dream come true.
Being a Murri ranger, it’s a position where I can really embrace my culture and my love for the outdoors. What makes me most passionate about this role is that we are caring for and preserving sacred land that was once walked upon by our ancestors.
My culture is my passion. I love working for the Murri Rangers because it enables me to be involved in caring for this beautiful part of the country that I grew up in, where my dad would take us kids out on country to teach us about the land and our culture. He was one of the first Murri Rangers, so I like being able to carry on the hard work that he did getting this program started.
I really love seeing younger staff who are starting their careers at BMRG get out and deliver extension, improving the bottom line for producers and improving our natural resources.
I enjoy working with people, having conversations and sharing information. I believe in healthy food, produced in a healthy environment.
I am passionate about agriculture and everything that keeps our primary industries moving forward. The highlight of my job is the people – meeting producers, groups and extension officers that have so much to share. What inspires me in my role is meeting people on the land who can tolerate so many impacting factors and still stay so passionate about what they do.
I come from four generations of farming in Australia. I live and breathe the Agricultural industry, thriving on the knowledge that I am helping people to improve their business productivity and sustainability.
Having grown up in the grazing industry, I really love working with landholders to enhance their businesses, especially when they reap the rewards of sustainable agricultural practices. This is what motivates me to keep going.
I love healthy landscapes and strongly believe that for Australia to thrive, it needs humans who know the land. It excites me everyday that my job allows me to work with landholders to build their capacity to live on that land.
I’m passionate about the people and industries of rural and regional Australia – my aim is to use my accumulated skills and knowledge to contribute to their development, particularly in the agricultural sector. The highlight for me is interacting with such a range of people, and I’m motivated to see them reach their full potential!
Exploring new GIS and mapping technology to solve real world problems, that’s what keeps me motivated. I’m passionate about providing practical GIS solutions to meet NRM outcomes.
My two greatest passions are people and community. I love working for BMRG because we are a community-based team that is all about connecting people – to one another and to this wonderful, rich and diverse region in which we are so lucky to live.
The Burnett is my home! I want our landscapes and our people to be vibrant and healthy. My work helps our communities to understand and therefore cherish our unique part of Australia. The more our people care, the better they’ll look after it.
OUR VALUES
BMRG’s core values of honesty, integrity, accountability, respect and commitment to excellence guide all of our decisions and actions.
Honesty
Integrity
Accountability
Respect
Excellence
OUR REGION
Covering approximately 56,000km2 of land and 11,000km2 of sea, the Burnett Mary Region is internationally renowned for its ecological diversity, extensive primary production and rich cultural heritage.
The region also supports Queensland’s largest regional population (approximately 300,000 people)- outside of the South East Corner.
The region includes:
- World Heritage listed K’gari [Fraser Island] – K’gari is the largest sand island in the world, It features complex dune systems that are still enduring and have an array of rare and unique features, including dune lakes and tall rainforests. The Island was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1992 in recognition of its outstanding natural universal values. It is characterised by long uninterrupted white beaches flanked by strikingly coloured sand cliffs, majestic tall rainforests and numerous freshwater lakes of crystal-clear water.
- Ramsar listed Great Sandy Strait – This internationally renowned site is a double ended sand passage estuary receiving tidal flows from Hervey Bay in the North and Wide Bay in the South. Situated partially within and between the Fraser Island World Heritage area and the mainland coast, it covers 93, 160 ha. Fresh water is delivered from a 1.25million ha catchment via the Mary and Susan Rivers, creeks, coastal streams and Cooloola Sand Mass to the comparatively small Great Sandy Strait Ramsar site.
The Burnett Mary region provides habitat for more than half of Australia’s bird species and more than 7,500 of its flora and fauna species are rare, threatened or endangered. Abutting the Southern boundary of the Great Barrier Reef, the region’s marine environment has more marine fish diversity than the reef itself.
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