Hello! I’m Stacy Mail, an environmental and land management professional dedicated to fostering stronger connections between communities and the natural world. Serving as the Local Landcare Coordinator for HRLN since 2017, my role involves nurturing the growth of local Landcare groups, leading conservation initiatives, and managing restoration projects that foster significant ecological benefits.

I thrive on building strong partnerships with stakeholders to enhance our natural surroundings and educate our community. My career is a fulfilling journey of working hand-in-hand with nature and people, driving change and learning every day.

I’m Paul, I’ve been involved with Landcare and NRM mostly in the Hunter Region since late last century.

Starting as an ecotour guide in the coastal heathlands of Port Stephens I’ve worked in bush regeneration, revegetation, weed control, seed collection, nursery development, management and plant propagation, flora surveys with very few roads or tracts of bush I haven’t been into at one time or another. I have special interests in native grasses and bushfoods and have previously worked for Greening Australia, Local Land Services, Conservation Volunteers Australia as well as TAFE and private consultancies and a few years working on one of the local horse studs. I am BAM Accredited and have over 30 years experience with the Rural Fire Service.

When not playing with plants or chasing fires I can often be found hitting lumps of red hot steel or playing with motorbikes.

As Regional Landcare Coordinator for the Hunter & Mid Coast, I hope to support Landcare Networks, staff, and the wider community through collaborative regional planning, and setting up partnerships to support Landcare activities. I have always found Landcare to be a wonderful way of bringing people together to care for our natural environments, but it also builds on the strength and resilience of our communities. My wish is for Landcare to grow and continue to provide a voice for healthy landscapes and healthy people. I have worked as an Ecologist since 1995 with non-profit and government organisations, almost always involved in Landcare in urban and rural areas. I am also a Natural History Illustrator, which has allowed me to document Australia’s unique flora and fauna in a different way, through watercolour painting and sculpture.

I love to be active and work outdoors. I started my landcare journey in Australia since 2017, while I was involved in similar activities from my young age overseas at my hometown in India. I became a committee member at HRLN in 2020 and since then I have been caring for the land around my dwelling place in the bushlands of Kurri Kurri. In the quest to learn more about the flora, fauna and the overall ecosystems of this region, I tried to enhance my skills through a Certificate III in Land Conservation and Management at Kurri Kurri TAFE.

Through these years, I have learnt a lot from fellow landcarers and the wonderful team at HRLN. My passion towards agriculture has further enhanced looking at the work being done by landholders in the Hunter Valley associated to HRLN. I will continue this journey to be actively working outdoors, and contribute towards better surroundings for our communities.

I have qualifications in agricultural science, education and natural area restoration.

I worked as an education officer for the Royal Botanic Gardens, Mount Tomah and as an agricultural salinity officer in the Murray Valley.

In the Hawkesbury area, I worked in catchment management and as an aquatic weeds officer.

I now live at Congewai where I am a horse breeder, bush regenerator, and president of Congewai Valley Landcare.

I am passionate about natural resource management and biodiversity conservation.

I have lived in Shortland for more than 50 years and worn hats on many environmental committees. I am one of the original members of the Hunter Region Landcare Network and have attended almost every meeting since its formation. I have always been very passionate for the Network. 

I was a founding member of the Shortland to Wallsend Landcare group which was the first Landcare group in the Newcastle local government area. 

I have been actively involved at the Hunter Wetlands Centre at Shortland in many roles including volunteer Landcare facilitator, board member and site committee member. 

In our Australian bush is the place I feel most at ease. There I see the network of life in action, and I must thank my mum for opening my eyes to the wonder of it all. Sadly, we see it fractured more and more as our human footprint expands. Sadly, also, as individuals, we cannot save the world.

I can, however, do my bit as a Landcarer to protect and improve my small patch and I firmly believe that volunteer Landcarers across our land are part of the
answer. That belief has led me to be active in Lake Macquarie for twelve years or so, working on several sites, alongside inspiring people and so well supported by our local council. Add to that our involvement in the broader Hunter Region Landcare Network, and we begin to feel the strength of a large band of like-minded people working for such a worthwhile common cause.