About us: Bannockburn Community Planning Group Inc
The Bannockburn Community Planning Group (BCPG) Inc, first formed in 2017 and with financial support from the Golden Plains Shire, developed and completed a number of projects in the community interest. Unfortunately, as for so many other community groups, COVID disrupted our work.
But again with support from Council and consultants we re-formed the group in August 2024 and developed a new set of priority projects for 2024-2027. This Bannockburn News is one of those as was the Christmas Sparkle in the High St over the festive season.
But our BCPG committee is still growing and we need more ideas and more people to step up and play a role in helping to make Bannockburn and District an even better
place to live.
We have the ear of the council, help us to whisper in it.
About us: Our team
Who we are
Stuart McCallum
Editor
Born Ballarat 1949.
BSc Monash University Botany and Zoology 1971,
Married Philippa 1972. Two children, Rowena (b 1977) and Warwick (b 1979)
Worked as a Microbiologist, Limnologist and Marine Biologist for Latrobe Valley Water and Sewerage Board to 1981. Got “Jeffed”
Diploma of Education, Science, Maths and Biology, Ballarat University 1982
Geelong College 1983 to 2009. Taught Science, Maths and Environmental Science.
1984, Joined Geelong Underwater Hockey Club.
2004. Foundation member of The Victorian Volcanic Plain Biosphere Inc. A group of concerned ecologists wishing to protect the Biodiversity of our rapidly shrinking Grasslands
Deakin University Institute for Koori Education Tutor, and Greening Australia, Grassland restoration, water Quality Testing of Western District Ramsar Lakes. 2010 – 2015
1993 Foundation Member of Friends of Bannockburn Bush, recognising that State Government did not have the resources to manage our Bushland Reserves without community support.
2017. Became part of the first iteration of the Bannockburn Community Planning Group, recognising that Golden Plains Shire needed more informed community support.
2023. became Secretary of Geelong Landcare Network.
2025. Philippa and I and our Border Collie Io live on a 1.5 Ha block in Bannockburn with a usually empty dam, lots of fruit trees and veggies. We are both involved in several community activities.
Much of my time is now spent on editing the revived Bannockburn News, exercising our dog, playing Underwater Hockey, gardening and trying to wrest control of the Bannockburn Bushland Reserve from the invading WREN group.
Who we are
Julia Makin
Lead designer and Co-Editor
I am the founder of Sink or Swim Marketing. I believe people should stand out, forget the norm and be unforgettable. As a Certified Practising Marketer (CPM) and a digital marketing native, I help business owners navigate today’s fast-moving, digitally disruptive landscape.
Seeking a tree change, I moved from metropolitan Melbourne to Bannockburn with my family in December 2024. Since settling in, I have been actively involved in the revival and redesign of the Bannockburn & District Newsletter, serving as lead designer and co-editor to craft the fresh new look and feel of Bannockburn News.
Beyond marketing and communications, I’ve built a successful career in the tertiary education sector, previously serving as Deputy Vice Chancellor, Learning and Teaching at RMIT University. Over the years, I’ve held senior roles across student experience, strategic program development, quality and compliance, marketing, communications and public relations. I now consult within the sector on quality and compliance related matters and teach marketing at Swinburne University of Technology (Online) to first year university students.
My insights have been featured in leading media outlets, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The National Retail Magazine of Australia, realestate.com.au, and 3AW.
Who we are
Jenny Taylor
Treasurer
I was born in Melbourne and spent most of my life in Melbourne. I am married and have 3 children and seven grandchildren. I moved to Bannockburn in 2017 and transferred to Bannockburn CFA on my arrival. I have been a volunteer fire fighter since January 1999 and for most of the last 26 years I have also performed various administration roles within my brigades and the Groups of brigades. I have also been a CFA Peer Support since 2004. For the last seven years I have also helped Bannockburn Fire Brigade service fire equipment in local businesses.
I have danced (mainly tap, jazz and ballet) since I was three and have performed in many amateur musical theatre productions. I occasionally do some background extra work in commercials and films. I still love dancing although now it is line dancing and hopefully Zumba in the near future. I enjoy gardening and travelling around Australia as well as overseas. I am a member of Bannockburn Probus. I have recently joined the local soft tennis group and will be joining the Bannockburn Lawn Bowls soon.
Who we are
Linda Sayers
Community Outreach
My name is Linda Sayers. I have been living in Bannockburn for the last 12 ½ years. I support the local community through volunteering with Bannockburn CFA, Probus as a newsletter and social media officer, and now Bannockburn News.
I have over 20 years of experience as a Nurse, working in different areas of Nursing. Additionally, I worked at Bunnings as a DIY presenter, making things and teaching on tools.
