The Yandina community gardens are run by a management committee. Committee members are elected annually by the members of the organisation. The 2017/2018 committee members are:
From top left: Colleen, Robyn, Janenne. Bottom left: Claire, Lissa, MelBorn and raised in Lockyer Valley. Mum and Dad were farmers (onions, garlic, rock melons, sweet potatoes etc) and had a recycling centre. Studied exercise science and health promotion and worked for 10yrs in preventative health care. Moved from Brisbane to Ninderry and completed her Permaculture Design Course with Geoff Lawton. She is also a trained hypnotherapist and practices Quantum Healing Hypnosis from her clinic at home. Colleen became a member at the community gardens five years ago and joined the committee two years ago. Colleen lives with her partner on an organic vegan property and has a menagerie of rescue animals.
Born & raised in Brisbane. Joined an acting group at 10 & opened up a life of creation & litrature. Sewing & Gardening were my childhood passions & still are, Married now separated with 3 grown up Children & grandchildren. Studied fine art & many crafts, over the years have taught Sewing & Creative Art & Craft. Moved to Sunshine Coast 15 yrs ago… joined Noosa Permaculture… then Yandina Community Gardens.
I grew up on a farm in Central England. We had dairy and beef cattle in addition to growing and harvesting barley, wheat and canola. When I was old enough, my Grandpa taught me to maintain our own vegetable patch and we were forever in search of wild food. I’ve always been drawn to the idea that it is possible to live a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. I completed a degree in Civil Engineering where my own research centred around sustainable building materials. I worked for a large engineering company throughout my degree and upon completion I was sent to New Zealand to take up a role as a Project Engineer building overhead transmission lines. After 15 months I transferred to a remote part of Western Australia to complete a similar project. It was here I met my other half. We made the move to the Sunshine Coast in late 2014 and spent every free minute building our own tree lopping business. Once I was no longer required to feed the chipper, I was introduced to the gardens. Very quickly I met a lot of like-minded, friendly and fun people. I hope to be involved for a long time.
I grew up in a gardening family granddad had a veggie patch and chooks and mom won many awards for her garden and was passionate about saving the frogs, bees and birds. So it was inevitable that I would love gardening and nature too. Most of my career was spent in project management, organisation effectiveness and transformation. A few years back I was retrenched for the 3rd time and then decided to follow my dream of becoming a farmer. I started by volunteering at Northey Street City Farm, progressed to an intern and then took up the position of Enterprise Manager. This year my dream came true when my partner and I bought a beautiful Farm east of Gympie. Colleen approached me to join Yandina and having missed contributing to a organisation with a meaningful purpose I said yes. I hope to continue my learning journey at YCG and give some of my skill to the fulfilment of the purpose of this magical place.
Grew up in suburban Ipswich if you call having chooks, goats, galahs and a dog ‘suburban’. I continued the goat breeding when my children were born. I wanted the very best health & nutrition I could for them. After a career in the public service as a Social Worker I have ‘retired’ to a small private practice and volunteering. I profess I’m not a very good gardener. I’m passionate about it, buy lots of plants, books & other goodies. This year I volunteered at Qld Garden Expo with Noosa Permaculture where I met Penny & Linda and my connection & journey to YCG began. The practical hands-on demonstration gardens and the amazing knowledge, skills & experience of the volunteers I thought just might improve my gardening skills & success rates and what a discovery journey that is proving to be and my garden is the beneficiary.
Born in Chch,NZ, lived many places since. Moved to Australia in 1981 and studied Environmental Studies. This led to working with CAA or Oxfam Australia in Melbourne and O.S., as well as WorldWideFund for Nature . I first studied Permaculture with David Holmgren & friends in 1992 & again at Crystal Waters with Robin Clayfield in 1995. Moved to Doonan, Dec 2013 to be with my now husband, Dave. I wanted to make a commitment to place (as well as person) for the 1st time in my life. Dave had been involved with the YCG from the start so we joined. For me it is a place to enjoy meeting like-minded people and I love the focus on sharing Permaculture ideas with anyone interested, especially our local community.
Born in Tassie. My family were always into gardening. Moved to Qld in 1997. Met my life partner not long after and we moved to Cairns where I studied Horticulture, then both Brett and I went to Uni as we both had an immense passion for the environment. We had lots of fun up north and always tried to live sustainably in our rental houses. When we moved to the Sunshine Coast 10 years ago, we decided to build our own sustainable house. Brett is a Sustainable Building Designer, so we were lucky! We fell pregnant when building our home and lived in a caravan on site. We developed a strong connection with our land. 5 years later we now have another bub and the sustainable dream continues. I joined YCG to connect with others in the community as I was a stay at home mum. And also we wanted to learn more about Permaculture. I have an immense passion for the environment, the animals, kiddies, plants, gardening, photography and YCG helps me combine all those passions, which makes my heart sing
“Born in Sydney, schooled in Townsville and lived most of my adult life in Sydney (where my heart will always be). 7 years ago I moved to the Sunshine Coast. I am blessed to have my forever home which has very little flat land but lots of steep slopes and long-term bush regeneration work needed. I’m also involved with Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group and Florabunda Nursery at Woombye. As was expected when I left High School I took secretarial and clerical work and continued for 30+ years. About 15 years ago I changed to community work and loved working in the disability services field. I am very passionate about everyone being provided opportunities to have the best life possible. I strive for a simple effective life myself and try to practice sustainability (not always successfully). Ethical outcomes are important to me – this includes every person, every animal and all living things. I found YCG when seeking out a like-minded community. I’ve enjoyed meeting a special quality of people with honesty, integrity and respect for others.
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