President
Holger Topp
Holger is a Civil Engineer with life membership to the Institute of Engineers Australia. He spent most of his career in the mining industry on site and in corporate roles. Holger’s special area of interest was rehabilitation both here in Australia and in the US. As a result of a “tree change” Holger and his wife live on small acreage on the Capel River.

Vice President
Bill Biggins
Bill has an affinity with the open air and community service having been youth member and more recently, a District Commissioner with the Scout Association of Australia. He is a rural land owner in the Shire of Capel, a member of the Capel Land Conservation District Committee and the Shire of Capel Environmental Subcommittee. Bill has held various roles in technical service and sales management, providing commissioning and technical support for industrial automation products and systems. He holds a Graduate Diploma in Marketing from Edith Cowan University.Secretary

Secretary
Kathy Rutgers
Kathy has lived most of her life in the Busselton area. About 20 years ago Kathy and her husband Peter bought a property at Ludlow, that adjoins the Ludlow Tuart Forest National Park. Her concern for the poor state of the Tuart Forest and the decline of the Ludlow settlement heritage buildings prompted her and Peter to join the Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration Group in 2018. 

Treasurer
Tonina Pinneri

COMMITTEE

Des Donnelly
Past President
Des started work in the timber industry in 1955 and then joined the Forests Department as a forestry cadet in 1959. He gained experience in all aspects of forest management throughout the south west of WA. In 1972 Des was promoted to District Forester at Ludlow. There he successfully established tuart seedlings, ceased tuart timber harvesting in the tuart forest and finally closed the tuart sawmill in 1975. In 1976 Des was promoted to Chief Utilisation Officer in CALM specialising in plantation softwood utilisation, research and development. He played a key role in the introduction of softwood house framing and power poles into WA.

After leaving CALM in 1996 Des set up a saw mill in Capel cutting salvaged tuart logs. Since retiring in 2007, Des has maintained his passion for the Tuart Forest through active community involvement. He brings to the Ludlow Tuart Forest restoration Group a wealth of knowledge and experience in Forest Management. Being a former resident of the Ludlow Settlement, he is committed to its restoration. 

Nick Hornibrook

Jules Hogan
A past resident of Ludlow, Jules has returned as an adult to the playground she once called home.  The journey in between has been a wonderful adventure and, raising an incredible family has been at the heart of it all. Commencing working life as a school teacher, the years that followed were filled with twists and turns that led to a career in leading and developing high performing sales teams across Australia.  Now, semi retired, Jules enjoys part time leadership coaching and working with the wonderful team of the LTFRG on the amazing vision for Ludlow.

Yolanda Cool
Yolanda has a connection to nature, community, and adventure.  On moving down to the Southwest in 2022,  the decline of the Ludlow settlement heritage buildings prompted her to join and get involved with the Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration Group. Yolanda enjoys finding ways in supporting the next generation in gaining skills/knowledge and facilitating opportunities and conversations. 

Debbie Spalding

Jane Croft

Diana Fisher
Diana is a fourth generation local to the Capel Region. Growing up along the Capel River she gained an appreciation of the land and all its natural wonders. Her family operating a mixed farming enterprise in dairy, beef, market garden and contracting work, which included working in plantation timber. Diana completed a Science Degree in Agriculture and worked for the State Agriculture Department for 25 years. Living in the tall timber region of Manjimup for 27-years she fell in love with the beauty of native forests along with their rich history and heritage. Returning to her home town in 2019, Diana is pursuing her passions and is being an active member of the local community including the Capel Land Conservation District Committee, Capel CWA, and Capel Chamber of Commerce.

Jenny Hake

Bellah Hart