Rosemary Scott

President

I have lived in the MacDonald valley for nearly 40 years. Initially at Bakers Creek, where I was for over 30 years and more recently at Upper MacDonald, where I am now located. Initially when I was working full time I was a weekender, however in the last few years after retiring from running my own business, which involved interstate and overseas travel I was able to retire and now spend the larger proportion of my time in the Valley.

In my corporate life I presided over my own Company board, which comprised of around 6 people.

I was also actively involved in several State and National Industry Boards within the recruitment industry and was made a Life Member. I was at various times President and Vice President of those bodies.

I was also on the NSW Committee and then the national Board of Australian Women’s Hockey and as Finance Director, during the most successful time in that team’s history.

Having retired I now feel I can give something back to the MacDonald Valley and would like to do this,  in an active capacity within the MVA, where I believe I can add value from being a local resident for many years and with my other committee and Board experience.

Linda Bracken

Vice President / Valley for Wildlife

Attracted to the valley’s natural beauty and isolation, Linda and her partner Andy made the move to Wrights Creek over 10 years ago and these days live in the valley full-time. They found a diverse, intriguing and welcoming community and have formed friendships that are important in their lives.

A life-long equestrian, Linda loves the valley for its abundant trails and has succumbed to the sport of endurance riding that has such a strong history in the valley.

With a passion for nature conservation, bush regeneration and wildlife welfare, Linda is also a WIRES volunteer. As someone from a pioneering farming family herself (in the Western Districts of NSW) she has a keen interest in this area’s early settler and rich indigenous history.

From a professional perspective, Linda is one of Australia’s leading digital and media strategists. As a senior executive at the ABC, she played a pivotal role in the organisation’s digital transformation. She was the Manager of triple j, and as the Head of Audience Strategy and Digital, she oversaw the design of iView, ABC Listen, and ABC News online.

She left the ABC to pursue a portfolio career which is just a fancy way of saying being able to do a variety of work that interests you and allows you to live at the farm and have more time to ride.

Linda now works as a consultant to various organisations including SBS, the ABC and with Board Matters, a leading legal, board strategy and governance organisation.

A graduate and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Linda is the Vice President of the Australian Horse Industry Council and on the Board of the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, Australia’s oldest HIV/AIDS charity.

Catherine du Peloux Menage

Secretary

I have had a property in St Albans for 20 years and my husband and I spend an increasing amount of time here. We have been members of the MVA for many years.

In terms of community involvement, some years ago I was involved in co-creating the St Albans Writers Festival, and in 2019 I helped with meals at the Fireshed during the fires. Currently I am both a volunteer and teach at Macdonald Valley Public School.

I look forward to contributing more to the community of our wonderful valley by working with the MVA Committee

Jane Fulton

Treasurer

I came to the valley in the late 1980s and immediately fell in love with its beauty and uniqueness.

My background includes: UNDP (Water and Ocean Governance); Coordinator of Sydney University Peace Studies (focus on the environment); the Sydney Peace Foundation (focus on human rights); Step into Work (to help women enter the work force); renewable energy advocate (reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming); and I have just signed up to St Albans RFS as assistant secretary.

I believe that The Macdonald Valley’s environment (I’m a member of weed whackers), and access to reliable, fast, affordable telecommunications are key concerns. Last month I made a submission to Federal Government inquiry to the 2021 Regional Telecommunications Review.

Making sure roads and ferries meet the needs of the local residents is also
paramount as well as supporting the arts: musicians, artists and writers; and recognition of the region’s first nations people and history.

I’m delighted to be part of the MVA and its work to support this community.

Siobhan Mahoney

Telecommunications

Originally from the UK, I emigrated to Australia with my husband, Rick, in 2001. We soon discovered St Albans and loved the Macdonald Valley so much we bought our place on Settlers Road soon after, and a few years later moved here permanently with our beloved doggie, Murphy.

I work in the software industry and can work from home much of the time as long as I have good communications. It was with this in mind that I agreed to join the MVA executive.

The telecommunications in our valley are woeful – good communications are a cornerstone to prosperity, safety and general wellbeing and need to be treated like any other core infrastructure of a thriving community and I intend to use my position on the MVA to champion this cause.

I have been a member of St Albans RFS since 2008