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.

Hi! I’m Meg Drinan, a local Singletonian with a history of working within the environmental sector in the realms of bush regeneration, nursery work, revegetation and volunteer work with Landcare, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Rural Fire Service and SES. I have also enjoyed my time working within the agricultural sphere, having worked on sheep and cattle stations in Southwest Queensland.

Previously a primary school teacher of over 10 years, I enjoy collaborating, communicating and working with people of all ages. On weekends I still enjoy volunteer teaching English as a Second  Language to new Australians, helping to strengthen community ties by assisting with assimilation and creating new cultural bonds and friendships.

The Mid Hunter Local Landcare Coordinator role brings all my passions together – the natural environment, education and communication. I look forward to strengthening local Landcare groups, growing enthusiasm alongside plants, creating partnerships and forging new alliances within local communities.

My love of the Australian bush developed from a young age living in rural Australia where the bush and rocky outcrops were the backyard. A later move to Maitland, a large heritage garden and garden obsessed parents developed a lifelong interest in the relationship between the urban setting and its role in the restoration of natural ecosystems, its challenges and the unique opportunities that it offers.

I bring to Hunter Landcare a wide variety of skills and experience, gained from studies in NRM and working in Australia and abroad for many years, across many realms of NRM and environmental management including education, policy, sustainable living, nature-based technology and ecological restoration. I’m currently based in Port Stephens where I have been actively involved with the Friends of Tomaree NP as a team leader for many years, coordinating bushcare groups and a range of related activities plus volunteering in our local community nursery, Ngioka.

Working for Hunter Landcare brings an exciting opportunity to work alongside other people with a similar passion and focus on conservation projects throughout the Hunter.

Hello, I’m Helen.  I have a background in environmental science and nature education.   I co-managed Wangat Lodge in the Barrington Tops for ten years, where we ran school bushcamps and bushwalking for families.  I have also worked as a primary school teacher in the Hunter. I volunteer for Landcare groups where I live and have been involved in local growers’ markets and Reconciliation projects.  

I completed my Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management with TAFE in 2024.  I am dedicated to helping communities value and restore biodiversity and my dream is for future generations to see flocks of Regent Honeyeaters.  In my downtime you will find me on a piano or at the hockey fields.

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 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. 

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.

Eric is a long-term landcarer and has been the President of Earthcare Park Landcare, Tenambit for several years.  This is a 32 ha section of Tenambit Common with forest and wetland habitats. Volunteers undertake bush regeneration, have regular monthly working bees, conduct field days and engage the local community in environmental learning experiences and events.  This has included habitat restoration for freshwater turtles.