Our Committee
Our committee brings together people with a shared commitment to caring for the Bellarine’s environment.
Drawing on experience in conservation, education, community services, finance and sustainable development, members contribute local knowledge and strong community connections to the Bellarine Catchment Network.
Our current committee members
Vicki Perrett
President
Geelong born and bred, Vicki had a diverse career within the textile industry and tertiary education. Her Bellarine connection began with family holidays in the 1950s. A seachange retirement to Indented Head in 2007 aroused her interest in sustainability and the imperative to protect the natural environment for future generations. Vicki served on the Geelong Sustainability committee from 2011-2022 and as President from 2016. She’s a committed climate advocate focused on empowering our region to decarbonise, localise and equalise. She’s delighted to be joining the BCN committee and helping to further their mission and strengthen its inclusive and collaborative network.
Beth Ross
Vice President
Beth is passionate about restoring our local ecosystems and preventing local extinction. Her expertise in conservation come from 30+ years teaching in Biology, Conservation and Horticulture, active volunteering, and her farming background. Currently she is semi retired and working casually at The Gordon, where her expertise is in plant identification, vegetation management, ecology and weed control. Beth helps manage the Bellarine Secondary College Landcare Nursery, where she volunteers regularly and works casually as required. She is a committee member of Bellarine Landcare group, Friends of Ocean Grove Nature Reserve, and a member of Geelong Field Naturalists and Friends of Edwards Point.
Brenda White
Treasurer
Brenda retired to Point Lonsdale from Melbourne in 2020 after working in government and small business as an Accountant. Having spent many weekends and holidays on the west coast the desire to live by the sea now a reality. Brenda volunteers with several groups including Borough Coast carers, Friends of Murrk Ngubitj Yarram Yaluk, Friends of the Hooded Plover Bellarine, Swan Bay Environment Association and Ocean Grove Coastcare. All these groups, together with a stint measuring sand movement and a course on Gardens for Wildlife has enabled a greater understanding and awareness of the fragile environment and the need to care for, rejuvenate and educate for its protection. BCN have shown what can be achieved through working together and Brenda is keen to contribute to its ongoing success.
Margot Busch
Secretary
Margot is the current Secretary for the Bellarine Catchment Network. She has a background in community services and more recently in road safety education and walk/ride to school programs, home energy & water reduction program for low income households, and housing tenancy work. She currently works part time for a local diversity festival. She has been a committee member of Ocean Grove Coastcare since 2013 and her favourite outdoor activity is cross country skiing.
General Committee Members
Jacky Noble
Jacky spent her childhood in Altona after a couple of early years living in Torquay. Her Secondary education was in Williamstown, then going onto a long and varied career in nursing. She raised 2 children in the amazing environment of Mt Macedon. Once the children left home, she moved away to Northeast Victoria where she lived at Merrijig for 20 years. Living in these two unique environments spiked her curiosity in the environment. Retirement found her on the Bellarine after traveling Australia for several years, here, Jacky has been a volunteer in several organisations. Her interest in the land and marine environments increased finding herself volunteering with Clifton Springs Curlewis Coastcare and BNC. Throughout her life, Jacky has been engaged in various community volunteering arenas.
Keith Reynard
Brought up on a small dairy farm at Tongala, Keith has always been interested in sustainable development and productivity. Having completed a B.App.Sci. in Environmental Assessment, Keith worked for many years in soil assessment and research in central Victoria. He also completed a M.Sci. in Energy Systems and became a leader in the transition to solar energy working with the City of Greater Bendigo as their energy projects leader. He is also passionate about community involvement having served on many local community committees and since moving to Leopold, Keith was involved as a board member of the Leopold Community Bank, and is current Secretary of the Friends of the Bellarine Rail Trail Inc. with a focus upon restoring the BRT reserve to a high quality environmental reserve. He has an interest in recreational cycling and would like to see more connected off-road cycling trails for the Bellarine Peninsula.