Supporting communities and the natural environment of Melbourne’s west.

NatureWest is a not-for-Profit Environmental Group operating in the Local Government Areas of Brimbank,  Hobsons Bay, Melton and Wyndham.

Vision

To enhance biodiversity values within Melbournes western fringe.

Point Cook Homestead Stables

The NatureWest Team

David Tsardakis

David Tsardakis

Chair

David is an accomplished Network Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Passionate about preserving our planet’s precious resources, David has dedicated his career to fostering collaboration and strategic partnerships within the conservation and natural resource management field. With a diverse skill set that includes Natural Resource Management, Invasive Species Management, Project Management, and Revegetation, David is committed to making a positive impact on our ecosystem. As the owner of Seed 2 Leaves, an indigenous nursery specializing in the indigenous and endemic plants of the Werribee and Keilor plains, David is dedicated to preserving the unique biodiversity of these regions.

Whether it’s coordinating innovative projects, implementing data-driven solutions, or cultivating partnerships, David firmly believes that progress lies in collaboration. By connecting the dots and uniting like-minded individuals and organizations, David strives to create a greener, healthier, and more sustainable world.

Bruce Boddington

Bruce Boddington

Vice Chair

Bruce grew up on a sheep property in remote WA, and graduated from Muresk College of Agriculture in 1968.  In 1970 he joined ICI Rural Division based in Katanning, WA, from where he carried out a series of field trials concerned with the technique of Direct Drilling winter crops. In 1973 he joined the WA Dept. of Agriculture to carry out an extension program based around Albany to eradicate the Sheep Measles disease, which resulted in a complete reduction of the disease in the area.  In 1976 he re-joined ICI Rural to develop the Direct Drilling concept across the southern half of the WA wheat belt. In 1980 he was transferred to Young in NSW to commence extension of the technique across the SW Slopes and Central West.  In 1982 he left ICI to establish his own agronomy practice, which led to an interest in computer programming.  In 1990 he and his family moved to Melbourne, where he established a software development business that still operates today.  Since moving to Point Cook eight years ago he has semi-retired, and developed an interest in community environmental activities.  He is a founding member of Point Cook Open Spaces, which has extended to become Wyndham Litter Warriors. He is a graduate of Wyndham City Council’s Building Blocks program, and a former member of the Wyndham City Council Environment Portfolio Committee. He has been on the NatureWest committee as Chair from 2016 until 2022, and is currently Vice-Chair. He also serves on several other working parties involved in conservation efforts on Melbourne’s western fringe. He is particularly interested in involving suburban community groups in environmental projects across both urban and rural areas.

Asif Hussain

Asif Hussain

Treasurer

Asif is a keen photographer who first connected with NatureWest through his nature photography.

He is currently the treasurer of NatureWest.

Francine Billane

Francine Billane

Secretary

I enjoy gardening, travelling Australia, genealogy and landcare.  Retirement has allowed me to spend more time doing the things I love. Having always been fascinated with genealogy I completed a Diploma of Family History and love researching both people and places.  I am enjoying being involved with NatureWest in a secretarial role which has helped me learn more about my local environment.  My early life was spent camping and bushwalking and now I love heading off in our van for a few days here and there, hitting the backroads, following old and forgotten routes and pulling up by a creek for a night or two. Now retired, I spent my working years in the accounting field.

Paula McGlashan

Paula McGlashan

Board Member

Paula has a great passion and energy for urban environmental projects. She has recently completed a Conservation and Ecology Management course at the Gordon TAFE. Paula is a founding member of Wyndham Wildlife Gardens and now runs workshops inspiring locals to increase native habitat in their backyards using her own garden as a success story, a naturalist, and conservationist with an interest in the Volcanic Plains ecosystems.

Kellie Jackson

Kellie Jackson

Landcare Facilitator

Kellie is employed by NatureWest with funding provided by the Victorian Landcare Facilitator Program (VLFP).

The Landcare facilitator’s role is to enable the effective participation of Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks, landholders and the wider community in natural resource management activities that protect, enhance and restore the natural environment, and improve sustainable land management.

Landcare facilitators also have a strong focus on building group and network capacity, to enable groups and networks to become sustainable.

Personally Kellie changed has careers in the last few years. She felt her previous careers were not enabling her to contribute enough to protecting and regenerating our natural areas.  Previously she worked as a desktop publisher, and owned a small business. Returning to study at the Gordon TAFE she completed a degree in Conservation and Land Management. In doing so she has found her passion and enjoys connecting with like minded people. Believing small changes can have long lasting impacts for the future.

Susie Inglis

Susie Inglis

Landcare Facilitator

Susie has worked in the conservation field for 25 years. First as a Park Ranger with Hobsons Bay City Council and now as a Landcare facilitator with NatureWest. Most recently foucsing on local primary school incursions, introducing young locals to habita gardens. Her love for local natural places has come from many hours spent wandering along Altona Beach in her childhood and many summers camping in Victoria and NSW. Susie has a keen interest in environmental education and enjoys sharing her knowledge about local flora, fauna and habitats that she has gained throughout her working life.

Board Positions

Join Us

The NatureWest board meets monthly to discuss current and new projects. We welcome new members to join our commitee meetings to add their perspective to our projects. Please email David at chair@naturewest.au for more information on our next meeting date.