Welcome to the February 2026 Southern Queensland Landscapes Newsletter
Stay informed with the latest project updates, upcoming events, regional stories and our ongoing initiatives.
Message from the CEO
Gillian Meppem
One month of 2026 down and we have already seen a climate cocktail of fire, floods and heat; it brings new meaning to the adage of “be prepared”. For Southern Qld Landscapes, preparing looks like supporting southern Queenslanders in their healthy land steward efforts through our project delivery. The team are well into the work year, heads down delivering a varied array of projects across our region. We have welcomed nine new team members in my first 12 months with the business. These new colleagues are as delightfully diverse as the projects they deliver, and you will meet a few more in this newsletter along with our newest board director Anthony Glasson from Cunnamulla.
We think a lot about building expertise and capability across our region and the natural resource management sector, with this in mind we welcome Karyn McWhinney to the team, one of three graduates selected for the 2026 Queensland Soil Science Graduate Program. Karyn is a recent Environmental Science graduate from the University of the Sunshine Coast. The Queensland Soil Science Graduate Program supports early-career soil scientists through a 12-month placement across Queensland Government and Natural Resource Management organisations, aligning with the National Soil Action Plan and Australia’s National Soil Strategy, contributing to soil workforce development and the integration of First Nations and scientific knowledge. During her graduate year, Karyn will build core competencies in soil field assessment, sampling, laboratory analysis, data interpretation, soil conservation and GIS, while also working toward accreditation as a Registered Soil Practitioner (RSP – Soil Management). A proud Wiradjuri woman, Karyn brings a diverse professional background and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainable land management and community engagement. She has recently relocated to Toowoomba to participate in the program and is a welcome addition to the Southern Queensland Landscapes team.
We spend considerable time contributing to various strategy reviews and policy documents in an effort to ensure our region’s voice is heard around the board tables and policy chambers where decisions that impact our region are made. We are currently looking at National Environmental Standards and new or revised Carbon Methods, and in the past few months we have contributed commentary to Nature Repair Market Methods, Australia’s Strategy for Nature, Private Protected Areas Program, Biofuels Feedstock Expansion Study and the QLD Wild Dog Management Strategy. In the coming month, the Murray Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) will open for review, as the only Queensland based natural resource management organisation within the Basin footprint, we are keenly interested in this review and its impact on the next Basin Plan.
Best Wishes,
Gillian
Meet Our New Board Member, Anthony Glasson
Southern Qld Landscapes welcomes Anthony Glasson as our new Board Director. Anthony, who operates Picarilli Merinos near Thargomindah, brings broad experience in primary production, regional leadership and natural resource management. His long-standing involvement in rural industries and commitment to sustainable land stewardship will be pivotal in supporting Southern Qld Landscapes delivery.
Anthony Glasson works full-time in the family business, Picarilli Pastoral Company, located near Thargomindah. The 270,000-acre sheep and cattle enterprise runs approximately 8,000 merino sheep and 2,000 beef cattle, managed together with his wife, Gerda, and their children, Janica, Flynn and Kain. He was raised on the property, which has been in his family since 1963.
He has been a long-standing member of Southern Queensland Landscapes and a resident of the West Voting Region for most of his life. He is deeply committed to improving both the landscape and the productivity of the property, working closely with Southern Qld Landscapes over the past five years to support and implement ongoing improvements.
He has served as President of the Thargomindah Polocrosse Club for more than a decade and has been a member of the South-West Leading Sheep committee for nearly 15 years. As a landholder in the west, he completed his schooling at Toowoomba Grammar School and has worked across numerous sheep and cattle stations in the Thargomindah, Cloncurry and Julia Creek districts.
We also celebrated the reappointment of Directors Louise Winten and Pippa Jones and thanked retiring Director Hollie Grimwade for her outstanding contribution.
Welcome to Our New Recruits, Kerry and Caroline!
Kerry Millard (left image) has joined Southern Queensland Landscapes as a Principal Project Officer, bringing a strong academic background and a long-standing passion for environmental sustainability and agriculture. Kerry holds a Diploma of Business Management, a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology with minors in Food Security and Sustainability, and an Honour's degree in Genetics. She supports the delivery of projects focused on healthy landscapes, waterways and productive agricultural systems across southern Queensland.
Originally from Texas on the QLD-NSW border, Kerry developed an early love for the outdoors, the environment and agriculture. While much of her adult life has been spent in Brisbane, her connection to open spaces has remained strong. Now based in Toowoomba, Kerry has experience across both the private sector and government and is actively involved in local community groups. She enjoys contributing to collaborative projects that deliver meaningful outcomes for landholders, communities and Country.
Caroline Webster (right image) has joined Southern Queensland Landscapes as the regional Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator, bringing with her a diverse and well-rounded background across people and project management, strategic partnerships, community engagement, and collaboration with First Nations Peoples. With experience working across complex stakeholder environments, Caroline is passionate about supporting landholders and communities to build resilient, productive and sustainable agricultural systems that balance environmental, social and economic outcomes.
In her role, Caroline works closely with producers, industry, Traditional Owners and regional partners to support the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and strengthen collaboration across the region. She has a strong appreciation for the value of local knowledge and place-based solutions, and is particularly committed to fostering respectful, long-term partnerships that deliver meaningful outcomes for landholders.
Outside of work, Caroline has a strong passion for exploring new cultures and spending time outdoors. An avid trekker, her most memorable adventure was an 86-kilometre trek across mountainous terrain to Machu Picchu. She is also a qualified Rescue PADI diver and enjoys travelling to unique and remote dive locations around the world, including oceanic Sipadan Island in Malaysia.
Image: Dusty Tails undertaking an aerial pest control campaign
Coordinated Feral Animal Control Programs, Augathella
A coordinated two-day aerial pest control campaign was recently completed along the Nive River near Augathella, marking a major step forward in protecting the region’s Coolibah–Black Box and Poplar Box Threatened Ecological Communities. Covering more than 40,000 hectares across six properties, the operation targeted feral dogs, pigs and cats; species that place significant pressure on native vegetation and fauna including Rufus Bettongs and Koalas which have been consistently documented in this area.
This pest control campaign builds on the collaborative pest management effort that began in May last year. Since then, landholders and our project officers have worked closely to survey and monitor pest animal abundance, health, and movement patterns across the area. These insights were critical in shaping the strategy for the November 2025 follow-up aerial shoot, ensuring resources were directed where they would have the greatest impact. The strong partnership with local landholders, continues to be central to the program’s success, supporting healthier ecosystems and more sustainable land management across the Nive River corridor.
Following the floods of last year, it has been continually difficult for landholders and businesses to secure avgas drums. It was great to see the Augathella landholders and community members working together to find a solution in time for the shoot. Thanks to all the landholders who participated and supported the program and thanks to Murray Wingett and Dan Black of Dusty Trails for another fantastic effort.
Image: Kat completing vegetation 'VegCAT' monitoring on a project property
Protecting the Brigalow Belt in Southern Queensland
With our team working alongside landholders to turn planning into practical, lasting outcomes on the ground, our project, Protecting the Brigalow Belt in Southern Queensland, is well underway. This project supports landholders to protect remnant and fragmented Brigalow vegetation, while strengthening the long-term sustainability and productivity of agricultural systems across the region. By aligning conservation outcomes with grazing enterprise needs, the project recognises that healthy landscapes and productive businesses go hand in hand.
Across southern Queensland, we are currently partnering with around 50 landholders to address priority challenges such as weeds and pest animals, alongside targeted property improvements that benefit both production and nature. Supported on-ground activities include both weed and pest management, fencing to improve grazing control and protect remnant vegetation, and infrastructure such as alternative watering points to better manage livestock access and reduce pressure on the Brigalow scrub.
The National Agricultural Land Management Survey (NALMS) gathers detailed information on how farmers across all agricultural sectors manage their land. Run by the Social Sciences Program (SSP) at the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the social research is to advance understanding of the human and social dimensions of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries, and forestry industries. The research is designed to be reliable, practical and useful for shaping policies, programs, and operational decision-making within government. Closes end of February 2026.
Image: Guy and Erin discussing the project at Biddenham
Working Together to Protect Koalas and Riverine Woodlands at Biddenham, Augathella
West of Augathella, along the winding Nive River, sits Biddenham, a family-owned cattle property run by Guy and Natalie Newell. The river forms a defining feature of the property, supporting riparian landscapes and providing important habitat for native wildlife, alongside productive grazing land. Erin recently visited Biddenham to talk with Guy and Natalie about partnering with us as part of the Protecting Threatened Ecological Communities of Coolibah-Black Box and Poplar Box Grassy Woodlands Project.
Image: Board members holding a beautiful artwork gifted by retiring member, Hollie Grimwade
2025 AGM Update
We are pleased to announce key leadership changes following its 2025 Annual General Meeting, including the appointment of Anthony Glasson as the organisation’s newest Board Director. We also confirm the reappointment of Directors, Louise Winton from Morven and Pippa Jones from Goondiwindi. Both Directors bring substantial governance experience and strong regional perspectives, and their renewed terms will continue to support their commitment to community-led outcomes. Members also voted to adopt a new modernised, constitution in line with contemporary not for profit governance expectations.
Southern Queensland Landscapes is proud to join with 11 other regional Natural Resource Management organisations through NRM Regions QLD to provide coordinated, supportive services across the state.
NRM Regions Queensland is the representative body for NRM in Queensland. They coordinate statewide programs and provide a forum for these organisations to collaborate and support each other.
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