2026 Committee
Photo – 2026 Murdoch Committee L-R Rhys Watkins, Christine Athanassiou, Michael Davies (President), Diana Corbyn, Mat Woods, Kim Dravnieks (Secretary), Thilo Krueger, Christine Polmear (Vice President), Donna Matthews (Treasurer), Nick Stone.
President – Michael Davies has a keen interest in native plants and works in a local government with bushcare teams. Michale is also a past Treasurer of our branch and often leads Guided Wildflower walks for the Branch.
Vice President – Christine Polmear moved to WA over 20 years ago and currently works in administration at Notre Dame University. Her interest in our beautiful native plants grew through exploring Western Australia and falling in love with our wildflowers.
Secretary – Kim Dravnieks has been a branch member since returning from Europe over 30 years ago and Secretary since 2020. With a background in IT, horticulture and community campaigning she has a passion for protecting our natural environment and a real love of our WA native plants.
Treasurer – Donna Matthews is a keen native plant enthusiast who luckily for us has a wealth of knowledge in bookkeeping. Donna also volunteers at the WA Herbarium each week.
Committee Members:
Diana Corbyn has been with the Murdoch Branch since the year dot and was a past President and Vice President for many years. Diana organises and leads most of the Guided Wildflower Walks each year. Her interests are botany, ecology and bushland restoration. She currently represents the WSWA on the Rehabilitating Roe 8 Advisory Committee.
Guest Speaker Coordinator: Christine Athanassiou – Christine is an Environmental Officer with a passion for conserving our natural ecosystems from microscopic fungi and native bees all the way to large Eucalyptus trees and native fauna. She enjoys learning about plants, their ecological function, and connections, sharing this knowledge with others and adding value to our bushland.
Mathew Woods works as a Senior Conservation officer at the company Landcare Weed control. Outside of Mat’s work, he has various hobbies like playing video games and gardening. Mat also really likes plants and is a past President and Treasurer of our branch.
Rhys Watkins is a high school maths teacher who spends much of his spare time engaged in activities around our native flora, particularly supporting the work in the Northern Suburbs Wildflower Society Branch nursery.
Nick Stone is our youngest committee member who we enthusiastically welcome. He studied Biodiversity Conservation at Murdoch University. He is also one of the Friends of Samson Park volunteers.
Thilo Krueger is a Botanist and PhD candidate at Curtin University working on the ecology, taxonomy, and conservation of carnivorous plants. Exploring the bush and trying to find as many interesting species as possible is his greatest passion.
We are a friendly bunch, always keen to see new people at our monthly talks and hear about new activities we could run at the Branch. Please tell us of any specialist subject or guest speaker you would like to hear from: