About

The NSW Weed Society - established 1966

The Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. was formed in 1966, the first weed society in Australia. It is affiliated with similar societies in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand under the umbrella organisation, the Council of Australasian Weed Societies (CAWS).

The key objective of the Society is to provide a forum for networking between people with an interest in weeds to share information and experience.

The Society frequently holds or sponsors workshops, seminars and field days on aspects of weed biology, ecology and control, as well as environmental issues.

Examples of past workshops and seminars include:

Weeds ‘Woe-to-Go IV’ Poisonous and Allergenic plants.
The olive industry and feral olives.
Aquatic weeds and their management.
Environmental Weeds – Research, Education, Legislation & Control.
GM Crops: Risks and Benefits (in association with the AIAST).

Members receive the quarterly “A Good Weed” newsletter. Current versions are provided directly to members. Newsletter covers with the index are available in the Newsletter menu. Older newsletters are also available through this link.

The Society offers a number of Weed Prizes at Universities and a Travel Study Grant to assist individuals for a range of activities.

Objectives of the NSW Weed Society

Provide opportunities for those interested in weeds and their management to meet, to exchange their knowledge and experiences, and
to learn of new developments and research.

This is achieved by:

Organising meetings/workshops/seminars, held at both urban and rural locations.
Publishing a newsletter containing the latest information on weeds in NSW and the rest of Australia.
Forming regional groups to ensure interaction at local level.
Providing funds for members to travel to increase their knowledge.
Organising Australian Weed Conferences on behalf of CAWS.

Increase awareness of the effects of weeds and their management to general public and policy makers

This will be achieved by:

Mounting and sponsoring displays, as a Society or in collaboration with others, at public events.
Organising and participating in talks in areas/topics in which weeds or weed management is an issue (so that non-members can benefit from the
knowledge of members).
Promoting/encouraging the development and publication of educational material.
Encouraging members to participate in teaching at secondary and tertiary education.

To represent the interests of members at State level and where appropriate at national level through full involvement in CAWS and other organisations

This will be achieved by:

Informing other organisations and individuals of the existence, activities and aims of the Society.
Providing CAWS delegates.
Responding to requests from CAWS for advice and assistance.
When considered relevant to the Society, providing input into formulation of policy at a State level

The NSW Weed Society aims to...

promote a wider interest in weeds and their management.

To encourage the investigation of all aspects of weeds and weed management.

To encourage the study of weed science and the dissemination of its findings.

To provide opportunities for those interested in weeds and their management to exchange information and ideas based on research and practice.

To cooperate with other organisations engaged in related activities in Australia and overseas.

To produce and publish such material as may be considered desirable.

NSW Weed Society Constitution

The Weed Society of New South Wales Inc. Constitution can be downloaded by clicking the link below.

Committee members

Pete Dawson - Vice President

Pete Dawson has spent over 30 years working across the New England and Northwest region of NSW in agricultural and natural resource management sectors. These experiences have provided him with a sound knowledge of the region, its people, places and industries. From working on large grazing properties at Burren Junction, Carinda and across the New England - Northwest, Peter has first hand experience living and working in the unique natural ecosystems which underpin our Northwest communities. Pete is employed as Team leader for Invasive Species and Plant Health for Northwest Local Land Services and is a former Noxious Weeds Officer, Landcare Coordinator and Namoi CMA Catchment Officer, Senior Land Services Officer and Regional Weed Coordinator. Pete is passionate about working collaboratively with landholders, communities, government agencies and research organisations to increase knowledge and improve management of high priority invasive weeds.

Doug Campbell -Treasurer

Doug has worked in NSW local government weed management since 1992, 10 years with Gunnedah Shire Council (1992-2002) and Upper Hunter County Council (2002- present). He has been involved in the development of regional weed strategies and the implementation of mapping software into local government management systems and is the current President of the NSW Weeds Officers Association. Doug has a degree in Environmental Science (Natural Resource Management) as well as an Advanced Diploma in Conservation and Land Management and a Diploma in Management and Leadership. Doug's contribution to planning and coordinating weed management programs was recognised in 2013 when he was the recipient of the Stephenson Award.

Hillary Cherry - Committee

Hillary is a Weed Management Coordinator, working with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the National Parks and Wildlife Service where she coordinates state-wide weed strategy, policy and planning for biodiversity conservation. Originally from Florida, where she obtained a Master’s Degree in Botany from the University of Florida (UF). She worked with the UF Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants on terrestrial weed research, applied management and weed risk assessment before moving to Australia in 2002 From 2005-2013, she coordinated the Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) programs for bitou bush, boneseed and asparagus weeds. She has been a member of the NSW Weeds Society since 2003.

Kim Bishop - Immediate Past President

Kim has a background in horticulture and worked at Lake Macquarie City Council for 21years, the last 16 years as the Vegetation & Pest Management Coordinator dealing mainly with noxious weeds and feral animals. Kim has extensive experience in weed management at both local government and regional levels. Her focus is bio-control programs including alligator weed flea beetle, bridal creeper leaf hopper and rust, madeira vine beetle, salvinia weevil and water hyacinth weevil introductions. Kim has degree in Environmental Science with a double major in Natural Resource Management and Coastal Management.

Daniel Tan - Committee

Professor Daniel Tan graduated from the University of Queensland with a BAppSc (Hort Tech) (Hons 1) in 1991 and a PhD in 1999. He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (2015) and was elected a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (FAIAST) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SF HEA) in 2021 In recent years, Daniel has presented papers at the International Crop Science Congress in Brisbane, the 4th, 5th and 6th International Cotton Conferences in Texas, U.S.A., Mumbai, India and Goiania, Brazil and convened sessions at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) in Vienna, Austria. Daniel is on the Editorial Boards of Agriculture and Frontiers of Plant Science.

Past Executives

Year President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Newsletter Editor