Lachlan Aboriginal Natural Resource Management Group

Employment & Training Officer- Norma Freeman. Norma is a Wiradjuri woman with many family ties across the Lachlan. She is a long term resident of Young where she has been employed as the coordinator and now CEO of the Local Aboriginal Lands Council for 16 years. Protecting remnant cultural heritage values in an area that has been severely impacted on by the mining industry has provided challenges that Norma has overcome with her skills, empathy and willingness to work with a range of diverse stakeholders and partners. She brings all these assets to her role in LANRMG.


		Chairman-Ian Woods. Ian is a proud Wiradjuri man from the Hay community. Ian is also Chair of Nari Nari Tribal Council and has been instrumental in the development of Toogimbie station as an Indigenous Protected Area with the assistance of the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Department of Environment and Heritage. He has served as CEO of Hay LALC for the last 17 years. He has been Chairman of the LANRMC since its inception and brings many of the skills and personal connections in the Natural Resource Management field to the corporation. Current Membership; Member of Aboriginal Heritage Advisory Panel of NSW Heritage Office Founding Chairman of Nari Nari Tribal Council Land Manager, Indigenous Protected Area Member of the Primary Industries Reference Group Member of lower Murrumbidgee Flood Planning Group Past Membership; First Aboriginal person on the Murray Darling Basin Advisory Panel Delegate on the Wiradjuri Regional Aboriginal Land Council Member of National Park Advisory Committee Chair of Aboriginal Natural Resource Committee Contact: ian.woods@lanrmc.com.au

		Deputy Chairman- Bill Hill. Bill is a Wiradjuri man from the town of Forbes where he is a long term resident. With family connections to the old Talbragar Reserve outside of Dubbo, Bill has developed an awareness of many of the issues facing Aboriginal communities engaging in Natural Resource Management. He is currently employed by the Department of School education and continues to promote sustainable land management practices and cultural heritage protection to the next generation. Current Membership; Member of the Lachlan CMA Revolving Funds committee Member of Forbes branch of the AECG Member of the AEA state steering committee Member of the State PSA committee Member of the Lachlan Aboriginal Advisory Group Past Membership; Regional ATSIC Councilor President of Amaroo Aboriginal Housing, Forbes Contact: bill.hill@lanrmc.com.au

		Secretary- Leeanne Hampton. Leeanne has both the Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa peoples in her lineage from West Wyalong where she is currently the CEO of the local Aboriginal Lands Council. Leeanne has been a successful businesswoman in her own right and bring many of the business management skills developed in the private sector to the Natural Resource Management field. She is a woman who recognises the value of, and has initiated positive partnerships with stakeholders in the West Wyalong community. Current Membership; Member of the Greater Murray Health Steering Committee Member of the Bland Shire Interagency Chair of the Mid Lachlan Aboriginal Housing Corporation Past Membership; Member of the West Wyalong LALC Contact leeanne.hampton@lanrmc.com.au

		The independent position on the board was created to allow objective input to be received from someone with no family ties or connection to country. Linton is of the Ngalakan people from around Booroloola in the Northern Territory. Linton has resided in Bathurst for the last forty odd years and as such meets the requirements for independent. He has worked in the NRM field for the past 4 years with Department of Natural resources and DECC. Current Membership; Member of the Bathurst LALC Member of the Bathurst High School PSPI committee Member of the Bathurst Local Aboriginal Consultative Committee (Council Advisory) Protecting our Places Grant Assessment Committee Lachlan CMA Aboriginal Advisory Group Central West CMA Cultural Heritage Team Member/Instructor of the Bathurst Pony Club Freemantle Bush Fire Brigade (28 years) Past Roles/Membership; Chairperson of the Bathurst LALC Secretary of the Bathurst LALC Deputy Chair of the Aboriginal Support Network Member of the Regional Aboriginal Landscape Forum Member of the Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Higher Education Network Member of the Bathurst AECG (Secretary & Treasurer) Member of the Bathurst High School ASSPA committee (Chair & Secretary) Contact linton.howarth@lanrmc.com.au

		Elders Representative- Aunty Beryl Smith. Aunty Beryl is a Wiradjuri woman originally from Erambie Mission at Cowra who still resides in Cowra. She is a member of the Mooka Traditional Owners group. Her longstanding participation in community affairs and Natural Resource Management issues have led to her involvement in the former Lachlan Regional Aboriginal Reference Group and the now LANRMG. Her connections in the Lachlan are extensive and allow her to keep abreast of developments in NRM across the catchment. Current Membership; Member of the Mooka Traditonal Owners Group Member of the Cowra LALC Member of the Aboriginal Neighborhood Centre Committee Contact beryl.smith@lanrmc.com.au

		Treasurer- Leonie O’Neill. Leonie is descended from Wiradjuri and Ngiyampaa people, has vast experience of living and working in remote and rural areas. She has been involved in all aspects of station life and currently resides within Eubalong township. Leonie has developed a thorough understanding of working with government and non government agencies through her long term association and former employment with Murrin Bridge LALC where she was CEO for 13 years. She will utilize her skills to ensure the highest standards of financial probity are adhered to. Current Membership; Member of the Lake Brewster Aboriginal Steering committee Past Membership; Member of the Mid Lachlan Aboriginal Housing Corporation Contact leonie.oneill@lanrmc.com.au

		Employment & Training Officer- Norma Freeman. Norma is a Wiradjuri woman with many family ties across the Lachlan. She is a long term resident of Young where she has been employed as the coordinator and now CEO of the Local Aboriginal Lands Council for 16 years. Protecting remnant cultural heritage values in an area that has been severely impacted on by the mining industry has provided challenges that Norma has overcome with her skills, empathy and willingness to work with a range of diverse stakeholders and partners. She brings all these assets to her role in LANRMG. Current Membership; Co-Chair Young Shire Council Reconciliation Committee Publicity Officer of the Young Crisis Accommodation Centre Founding Member of the Young LALC Young Community contact person for Police Liaison Officer Member of the Young High School P&C committee Member of the Young Rural Fire Brigade Past Membership; Chairperson Young Public School ASSPA committee Chairperson Young High School ASSPA committee Facilitator for community consultation with Riverina TAFE of NSW Delegate of the Wiradjuri Regional Land Council Contact norma.freeman@lanrmc.com.au

		Youth Officer-Cherie Keed. Cherie is a Wiradjuri woman from Peak Hill. The Peak Hill lands council area falls partially within Lachlan CMA area. Cherie has been employed with the Peak Hill Lands Council for the last 16 years and is the current CEO. The area administered by Peak Hill lands council contains several sites of great Aboriginal Cultural heritage significance and resettlement towns like Forbes. Cherie is keen to follow her passion for facilitating programs and projects that have the capacity to benefit youth not only of her local community but also across the Lachlan Current Membership; Treasurer of the Mid Lachlan Aboriginal Housing Corporation Member of the North Parkes Mines Cultural Heritage Group Member of the Austic Association of Australia Member of the Bogan River Wiradjuri Corporation Member of the Forbes Shire Council Heritage Committee Member of the Parkes Shire Council Heritage Committee Past Membership; Board Member of the Peak Hill Aboriginal Medical Centre Board Member of the Warramunga Aboriginal Housing Association Delegate for the Wiradjuri Regional Aboriginal Land Council Contact cherie.keed@lanrmc.com.au