MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Management Committee members 2021

Elected on 5 December 2020.

President – John Abbott
Vice President – John Perkins
Secretary – John Rohde
Treasurer – Derek Simpson

Other Committee Members
– Mick Bruhwiller
– Di Glynn
– Leo Lee
– Janet Mangan
– Christine Galbraith
– Andrew Galbraith
– Cr Steve Toomey
– Dean Wyatt
– Renee Hovey
– Ed Bennett

President - John Abbott

John was elected President of SOWN in December 2017. He is an urban planner and has been a member of SOWN for over 20 years, doing bushcare and as a Saturday and Wednesday volunteer. He grew up in Gordon Park, backing on to Kedron Brook, and spent many hours playing ‘down the creek’. John wants to continue being down the creek with SOWN. He enjoyed celebrating SOWN’s 25th year and producing the history book in 2019. He wants to continue working on a SOWN Enoggera Catchment Plan to guide our future work.

Patron - Geraldine Knapp

Geraldine served as the Councillor for The Gap Ward on Brisbane City Council from 1996 to 2015. She was President of SOWN over this period until December 2014. Geraldine has been a resident of the Enoggera catchment for over 38 years. She has contributed greatly to the community as a member of numerous groups including SOWN, Meals and Wheels, The Gap Leisure Club and Norths Hockey Club.

Patron and Founder - Brian Hallinan

Brian Hallinan was an Alderman on Brisbane City Council for many years and was the founder of SOWN. In 1993, he became concerned about the impacts of BCC works on the Enoggera Creek environment. He obtained funding and worked with the existing Enoggera Creek Committee to establish SOWN. The SOWN committee was formed on 1 March 1994.

Brian worked closely with coordinator Brian Sait in the early days of SOWN. Together they set up numerous local resident groups to adopt sections of the creeks. They also set up plant propagation groups at retirement villages known as GOSSIP (Golden Oldies Seed Sowing Implantation Project).

SOWN Nursery Manager - Dick Harding

The SOWN nursery manager is Dick Harding and the coordinator of Wednesday morning volunteer activities is Lynn Swan.

Many volunteers help out at the nursery on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Propagating, sorting plants, preparing seed, watering, washing tubes and countless other tasks that need to be done to keep the nursery ticking over and supplying plants to members.

New volunteers are always welcome on Wednesday morning. Come along at 9.00 am and ask for Lynn.