Ray Unger, Chair

My wife Judi and I run a certified organic/biodynamic mixed dry land farm of 1400 hectares, 23 kms NW of Peak Hill in central NSW. On our farm we run Poll Hereford cattle, Merino sheep and winter crop wheat, oats, barley and spelt. My wife is currently Deputy Principal at Parkes Public School. We have three children; Anna (25 yrs), Ryan (23 yrs) and Jacob (18 yrs). I have been farming for more than 35yrs; as well as some part time TAFE Wool classing teaching and wool classing in local sheds. Prior to 1994, we were farming conventionally; I realised early in 1994 that our conventional farming methods were unsustainable and decided to take the organic/biodynamic farming method and apply this to our farm. After more than 16 yrs of biodynamics we are still learning and continue to explore and implement Steiner’s preparations and teachings into our farming practices. Through our journey we have met many other like-minded farmers and gardeners, all of whom share the same outlook of growing and eating healthy food.

Carolyn Ditchfield, Deputy Chair

With an Agriculture Science degree, Carolyn has worked in researching and breeding biological agents, developing the industrial hemp industry and working as the Head Agronomist for Nutri-Tech Solutions. Carolyn has travelled the world presenting papers at international conferences, publishing RIRDC reports and meeting with ministers and related international research bodies. Moving back to Inverell, Carolyn established her own biological consultancy, providing farming advice, selling biological products and hosting local events, though her focus has recently moved back to family, her work as Director of BAA Ltd and continuing her From The Soil Up newsletters, which now reach a diverse range of biological advocates worldwide.

Ted Clarke, Treasurer

Ted had 24 years experience in accounting and management and 18 years as a teacher of Accounting with NSW TAFE before retiring in 2004. Ted joined what is now BAA in December 2000 and following his retirement moved to a 156ha property on the North Coast of NSW. Ted and his wife, Peggy, started a beef cattle business and are seeing the positive fruits of cross breeding. Ted says that working on the property, using organic and biodynamic methods is a journey of discovery, realisation and application of how one grows with the land.

Hugh Lovel, Director

Hugh Lovel is a farmer, multi-disciplinary scientist and international teacher of Biodynamic and Quantum Agriculture. Author of A Biodynamic Farm, his articles appear in ACRES Australia and other periodicals such as ACRES, USA and Farmers Weekly in South Africa. He is a frequent contributor to News Leaf and the Biodynamic Journal of South Africa.

Hugh’s mentor, Peter Escher, was Ehrenfried Pfeiffer’s partner in establishing Threefold Farm, and the Pfeiffer Laboratories. Over 30 years’ experience biodynamic farming and prep making, he started the first CSA in Georgia and hosted a dozen South-East Biodynamic Conferences. He migrated to Australia in 2005 to teach, consult and write, and is committed to implementing Rudolf Steiner’s imperative to “ . . . impart the benefits of our agricultural preparations to the widest possible areas of the entire earth.”

He serves on the BAA board as well as the Standards Australia F-32 Organic and Biodynamic Committee, and aims to raise the level of scientific understanding of how biodynamics works. Hugh donated his paper disc chromatography equipment to BAA for testing preparations, soils, crops and the detection of GMOs. He and his wife, Shabari, reside in the Guyra Shire of New South Wales and welcome contact with other biodynamic growers.

Shane Joyce, Director

Shane has a love of beef cattle and horses, working in the beef industry throughout Qld, Victoria & South Australia till 1974 when he established his own farm at Cooroy, where he stayed until 1982 when he moved to Theodore to operate his own beef cattle grazing/cropping business. He has operated this property biodynamically for the past six years. Keen to share, Shane has utilised his experience and formal training to run horse clinics, coach rural businesses, join committees and boards and present on various topics to many groups across Australia.

John Priestley, Director

I’m a third generation ecological farmer and have been continually evolving my knowledge and practise of bio-dynamics. In partnership with my wife, we own and run a 57 hectare organic certified property on the Paterson River in the New South Wales Hunter Valley, where we grow citrus and vealer cattle for both city and local markets.

I believe as Steiner stated, “the Bio-dynamic Method should be made available as quickly as possible to the largest areas of the entire earth, for the earth’s healing.”

This also is my goal, along with my colleagues, to implement the rapid adoption of bio-dynamic farming and gardening practices through workshops presented by BAA Ltd.

Wayne Rankine, Director

Born and bred in Far North Queensland Wayne lives on his 8 acre farm on the Atherton Tablelands, growing many types of fruit trees and vegetables in the rich, red, volcanic soil. Finding BD FNQ started Wayne’s love of biodynamics and after 8 years he is still enthusiastic about the group and the wonderful people biodynamics attracts. Wayne has been a committee member for 3 years and enjoys sharing what he has learned with others, having a passion to help farmers make the most of their land through the benefits of biodynamic methods.

Louise Skidmore, Secretary

Louise has been an ACO certified ‘A’ organic beef producer since 1991 with partner, Randolf, on the Darling Downs, Qld and in Hernani, NSW. Previous not-for-profit board positions include regional Natural Resource Management body Condamine Alliance, Biological Farmers of Australia, Organic Federation of Australia, Central Downs Landcare, and Clifton Landcare. Louise completed a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors New Directors course. Louise is a General Aviation & RAA pilot; owning an aircraft for inter-farm commutes.