East Gippsland Shire Council endorsed the appointment of seven new members to its Agriculture Sector Advisory Committee at its meeting on 20 May 2025.
Established in February 2021, the committee plays a vital role in shaping agricultural policy, supporting innovation, and strengthening the resilience of East Gippsland's farming communities. The newly appointed members bring a broad spectrum of skills and industry expertise, complementing the experience of continuing committee members Wayne Dredge (Lake Tyers), Emily Richardson (Orbost), and Edward Mauger (Bindi).
An expression of interest process was undertaken to recruit seven new contributors to join the committee, with Gippsland Agricultural Group stepping into the eighth position as a permanent industry organisation member, alongside Agriculture Victoria, Food and Fibre Gippsland, and the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
The new members are:
• Kate Commins - Swifts Creek (Beef)
• Chris Jehu - Nicholson (Finance and Banking)
• Rob Lightfoot - Lindenow (Viticulture)
• Alister McCallef - Lindenow South (Sheep, Education)
• Ty Mason - Wy Yung (Turf)
• Rohan Reynolds - Hillside (Dairy)
• Joanna Trevakis - Wairewa (Beef)
East Gippsland Shire Council thanks the eight outgoing committee members for their service, acknowledging their valued contributions to the advancement of local agriculture.
Mayor Cr John White welcomed the new appointments and highlighted the importance of local leadership in shaping the future of agriculture in the region.
"These new members bring a wealth of practical experience and industry insight. Council is confident their contributions will help shape a strong and sustainable future for agriculture in East Gippsland," John said.
