Continuing on from our two previous Landcarer profiles during January, this week Bob and Margaret Haddin have been kind enough to share about their property and involvement in Landcare and the community.

Bob and Margaret moved to Parkes in 1979 from Bass Hill with two children.  Bob commenced work with Parkes Industries as an Engineer.

In 1982 Bob started Bosmac Pty Ltd and with and expanding family, he and Margaret moved to Cookamidgera in 1985 with four children, who all completed their schooling in Parkes.

After a few years of sheep grazing they decided to change to grazing cattle. Our soil types vary from sandy loam to loam with clay.  It is an undulating surface with some remnant vegetation and areas that are susceptible to tunnel erosion.

Bob and Margaret have been involved with the Cookamidgera Community and Landcare Inc since 1985. The group have ten active families in the Landcare Group, as well as some village participants.

The Group have established fenced tree lines around paddocks and stabilised waterways where erosion has taken place. This has been difficult in the drier years.

The Haddin’s have participated in the establishment of flumes on extreme flow watercourses on a number of properties in the area and are continuing to maintain good ground cover to encourage native pastures where suitable.

Cookamidgera Community Landcare provides an annual Christmas get together for the children of the area and it a good time to reunite the community.

With the help of Parkes Shire Council they have undertaken biological weed control. They are also controlling Paterson’s Curse with crown weevil and flea beetle and at present, trialling rust as a control for blackberry through Central West Lachlan Landcare.

Looking to the future, Bob and Margaret see the opportunity to increase productivity with the use of biological control and management practices by reducing the cost of chemical sprays. By introducing new methods of sustainable agriculture and innovative approaches to production, weed control and animal husbandry, they see possibilities to increase productivity on their property.

The couple are both contributors to Central West Lachlan Landcare as a committee members, with Margaret serving in the capacity as Treasurer for a considerable time. CWLL appreciate their involvement with National Tree Day activities each year.

Bob has been a contributor to the Memorial Hill restoration project, which has been very fulfilling.