I grew up in Badgingarra – a small town that many people know only as the halfway point from Geraldton to Perth – on a typical mixed operation family farm that was over a third native bushland. A childhood enjoyed but in hindsight probably not fully appreciated by the few of us that were lucky enough to grow up in such a place.
It was not until, at nine years old, sitting in a classroom listening to a CALM Officer speak about the degradation of the natural environment that I even realised that the healthy environment that I lived in was not necessarily what the rest of the world was like. This realisation has continued to shape the way I see the world and is a major driver behind my desire to see the agricultural landscape maintained and improved for future generations.
In high school I held no particularly interest in furthering my learning – like most teenagers I was more interested in just about anything else with the only classes I ever really enjoyed being earth and environmental sciences. It was these particular classes that drove me – with some less than subtle encouragement from my parents – to move to Perth and study at university, graduating in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science with a Major in Land Management and Conservation Biology.
My career with NACC started in 2013, when I was contacted to fill a temporary role to help determine the effectiveness of shrubs in reducing wind erosion within paddocks. At the end of that contract I was hooked on NRM – and I have not looked back since.
I have since held several roles in the Sustainable Agricultural Program going from Natural Resource Management Officer to Project Officer and becoming a Project Manager and as of January 2018, the Sustainable Agriculture Program Lead.
It has been a great experience working for NACC and I have been fortunate enough to see several projects through from start to finish – with one of the many highlights being helping farmers tackle environmental issues and ensuring the sustainability of their natural resources.
While the future is never certain I look forward to further contributing to the NACC Region and supporting many more farmers with many more projects in the process.
Callum such dedication you should certainly be congratulated. We regional farmers appreciate your support