Environmentalist and NSW Farmers branch chair Margaret Cameron was guest speaker at the May meeting of the Goulburn Evening VIEW Club.
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Introduced by chairperson Lorraine Sweeny, Margaret spoke of her early life. Her father was in Darwin when it was bombed and, in 1952, was granted a soldier settlement plot between Crookwell and Taralga.
She was always interested in plants and animals, and began her education with Blackfriars Correspondence for three years before attending a one-teacher school at Roslyn. She boarded at St Margaret's Hostel while attending Goulburn High, but continued to help out on the farm.
Margaret then gained a scholarship to the University of NSW, where she completed four years of Applied Science in wool and pastoral studies. Her career in the wool industry, then very much male dominated, included classing wool to be sold by measurement rather than by visual means.
Her career involved a lot of travel. In 1973/74 she travelled 30,000 miles in 11 months. She has taught wool classing and other rural subjects at TAFE. In retirement, one interest of many is the Middle Arm/Tarlo Landcare group, which works to prevent Crown Land reserves being overtaken by weeds.
Farmers were once encouraged to clear land, but now the need to plant more trees is recognised, and it is accepted that farming, environment and sustainability are intertwined. Healthy soil and pastures mean healthy stock.
Australia has a clean, green image, and we need to protect this by excluding exotic pests and diseases. With her involvement in Landcare, Margaret is continuing her passion for the environment. Her aims have always been to achieve, to be responsible, to be independent and to be innovative.
On behalf of the members, Kathy Jeffrey thanked Margaret for her very informative presentation and for the items she brought with her to distribute.
The meeting continued with reminders about Convention, AA Zone Conference and Birthday Invitations from other VIEW clubs. Resolutions were discussed and voted on.
Birthday wishes were extended to Enid, who turned 90, and to Kathy, Joyce, Lavina and Irene. The raffle was won by Jan Wright.
VIEW clubs work to improve the life outcomes of disadvantaged Australian children and young people. For more information visit thesmithfamily.com.au
Queries: Wendy on 4821 7492
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