Day 1 - Clear Water Beach & Celtic Concert

Clear Water Beach - just before the storm

Celtic Concert - Searson

Day 1 - A relatively relaxed start. Originally scheduled as a rest day, we slept in and then Martine and Arvil took us on a drive around Clearwater and Clearwater Beach. We had lunch at Frenchies at Clearwater Beach where we where sandblasted by a sudden storm. After sampling the local seafood we hit the shops to update our telecommunications capacity. Then Ann and Anne had a trip to the gym while the rest of the team sought out bargains at the international mall, the most notable being Will's purchase of flip flops containing a bottle opener in the sole.

In the evening we were treated to a concert at the Dundein Community Centre. The bands were local Celtic group Druid Roots and Canadian Celtic band Searson. Evening was enjoyed by all. Back to the hotel 11:30 for a bite to eat before bed. 

Arrival in Florida

After four flights and almost 24 hours we arrived in Tampa, Florida.
We were warmly greeted by our enthusiastic hosts.

Ann McDowell, Team Member

Ann McDowell
Dairy Extension Officer
Department of Primary Industries

Ann grew up on a dairy farm at Glenfyne in the South West of Victoria developing an interest in the dairy industry from an early age. Ann graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) from the University of Melbourne in 1999.


Ann has worked in many capacities in the dairy industry on and off farm. For the past five years Ann has worked as an extension officer, helping farmers implement improved management practices on farm.


Outside of work Ann enjoys spending time with family and playing the family sport of Table Tennis. Her sporting interests also include walking and cycling to keep fit. Ann also likes to make things: this can include a range of activities such as building a set of shelves, sewing a new skirt or baking a cake.

Will Buchanan, Team Member

Dr Will Buchanan

Leader Scientific & Technical Services

Barwon Region Water Corporation

Will is 1st generation Australian, with parents immigrating from Scotland in the late 1960’s. He is married to Natacha, who immigrated with her family from Argentina in 1987, and together they have two boys, Lochlan (8) and Oliver (5).

Will has a strong academic background graduating from RMIT University with a PhD in Chemical Engineering and 1st class honours degree in Environmental Science. He has 10yrs experience in the water sector, in a variety of roles including research, teaching, process engineering, operations and management.

Will is currently employed at Barwon Water as the Leader of Scientific & Technical Services where, along with his multi-disciplined team, is responsible for catchment to tap water quality risk management, and ultimately, the provision of safe drinking water to the entire service region.

Will is an avid distance runner, but above all, enjoys spending time with his family.

Mary Raynes, Team Member

Mary Raynes

Department of Primary Industries 

Victoria

Mary Raynes grew up on a Wimmera grain and sheep producing farm and then, after leaving for study, returned to the region to forge at career in agriculture. She has worked for the Victorian Department of Primary Industries (DPI), Victoria with a particular focus on the broadacre grains industry including plant breeding, research and science extension.

Mary also has extensive leadership skills and experience working in Emergency Response, for fire, flood and locust incidents. She is a highly qualified logistics officer.

Mary is the Chair of the Wimmera Regional Sports Assembly that facilitates community engagement across seven local government municipalise. She has participated in a range of community initiatives and activities to improve the liveability of regional and rural areas.

Mary is a keen traveller, having visited five of the seven continents and more than 20 countries in her pursuits across the globe. Mary holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program.

Anne Pett, Team Member

Anne Pett, Human Resources Manager
Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority

Anne was born in Adelaide, South Australia, the youngest of a family of five. After starting her working life in administration and finance, Anne undertook studies in psychology and human resource management whilst working in her first HR role with South Australia’s Environment Protection Agency.

Anne has received her Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management with Deakin University and is currently studying towards her Masters in Human Resource Management.

Anne’s love of working with people and helping them to achieve their best is her primary motivator for working in the HR industry. She also has a passion for working positively to enhance our natural environment and her current role as the Human Resource Manager with Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority achieves these two goals.

Anne also enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing tennis, walking her dog (Lionel) and keeping fit with swimming and gym work.

Robyn Lardner, Team Leader

Robyn Lardner
Business Owner
Robyn's career commenced as a Registered Nurse with several additional related qualifications, in Adelaide. She was appointed as administrator of Dunmunkle Health Services in the Wimmera in the mid 1980s, and oversaw the successful merger of three small hospitals.

In 1994, Robyn was appointed as the Wimmera Health Care Group Commissioning Officer to manage a major $16 million building program for a new Base Hospital in Horsham, and refurbishment of its residential care facilities.

Her strong interest in continuing education saw the completion of a Health Services degree in the early 90's and a Master of Health Administration in the mid 90's, which in turn help contribute to a substantial career direction change into the water industry. More recently, Robyn is a board member of Leadership Wimmera and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Victoria.

Robyn is a Rotarian and in 2008 and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow for her leadership in community projects.

Robyn has been married to Des for 25 years and her personal interests include cooking, travel, reading, trekking, world affairs, and the environment.