welcome to revive lake cathie!

Revive Lake Cathie was first formed on the 19th of March in 2019 with the collective desire to save the Lake Cathie/Lake Innes Estuarine System and restore its health and viability for the sake of wildlife as well as local community members. As a non-profit organisation, Revive Lake Cathie is made up of passionate volunteers who work collaboratively with local, state, and federal government, identified lake stakeholders, environmental professionals, and experts to find short term and long term solutions to achieve our vision of the sustainable health and amenity of the Lake Cathie/Lake Innes Estuarine System.

revive lake cathie board members

President: Danielle Maltman

Danielle is one of the founding Community Members of Revive Lake Cathie and has been Revive Lake Cathie's President since inception on 19 March 2019. Danielle volunteered for the role of President of Revive Lake Cathie due to her political advocacy experience as a former Federal, NSW, VIC, and WA Government Lobbyist to assist in reviving our lake.

Secretary: Sanjana Nath

Sanjana is the Secretary for Revive Lake Cathie, having served as Acting Secretary for the 2020 year, which has provided her additional experience for the role. Her organisation and communication skills come from her work at Westpac Port Macquarie.

Treasurer and Public Officer: Karen Puschmann

Karen is Revive Lake Cathie’s Treasurer, after having served as Acting Treasurer for 2020, as well as a Public Officer. Her prior experience includes 25 years of accounting and bookkeeping, as well as ten years as a registered BAS agent.

Committee Member 1: Kate Aston

Kate, a retired Health Professional, has been heavily involved with Revive Lake Cathie since the first meeting. She diligently manages the grand and education program, is the main liaison with Lake Stakeholders and manages volunteer Member Coordinators.

Committee Member 2: Peter Fitzroy

Peter brings an Environmental Science Degree (1979) as well as ten years of experience with a number of environmental projects at Macquarie University to Revive Lake Cathie, as well as 30 years of experience in IT.

Committee Member 3: Bob Small

No stranger to volunteer work, Bob’s previous volunteer roles include 20 years with the NSW Rural Fire Service, as well as work with the Technical Aid to the Disabled and Riding for Disabled Australia, as well as time as an instructor.

advocates and experts

Revive Lake Cathie Revive Lake Cathie – The Voice Of The Lake

Colin Creighton AM

A leading Environmental Scientist, Colin’s work includes researching and advocating for repairs to Australia’s coastal ecology, fisheries and estuaries, as well as the enhancement of the profitability and sustainability of the sugar industry in Australia. In 1983, he authored “The Lake Innes, Lake Cathie Catchment”, where he predicted that inaction would cause the lake system to decline. His work has long been used by other experts in the field. In 2018, he received an Australian Medal in recognition for significant service, leadership, and innovation in environmental sciences and natural resource management, in particular those relating to marine biodiversity, coastal ecology, fisheries, and sustainable agriculture.

Dr Deborah Geronimi

BSc. Hons Marine & Freshwater Biology

Grad Dip Ed Secondary Education

PhD Estuarine Biology

Deborah holds multiple degrees relating to the field, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology (University of London, UK), as well as a PhD in Estuarine Biology (University of Essex, UK). During her PhD work, she focused on nitrogen cycling in estuaries and the effects of climate change on these cycles. She holds an extensive knowledge of the biology of such systems and has completed work in Belize, the Philippines and Indonesia, conducting environmental impact assessments of coral reefs, as well as conducting diversity surveys of fish and coral.

Shalise Leesfield

At the young age of 12, Shalise is an avid environmental campaigner and local resident of Lake Cathie/Lake Innes Estuarine System. She focuses her efforts on taking on the marine world and working to preserve it by targeting ocean litter and the impact it has. Shalise has spearheaded her own environmental movement, Shalise’s Ocean Support, aiming to preserve and protect marine life in Australia and its beaches by working to eliminate plastic debris, discarded fishing lines, and other hazardous materials from human consumption.

Brett Peterkin

Brett has previously worked as the project manager for the Hexham Swamp Rehabilitation Project for the Hunter Catchment Management Trust. At the time, this was the largest wetland rehabilitation project in the southern hemisphere. In the late 90s, he also worked with the Great Lakes Council to reverse the oyster crisis that arose from poor water quality issues in Wallis Lake. The results were so significant that Brett was recognised by the NSW oyster industry as an environmental champion for his groundbreaking work on improving water quality.

our supporters

Thank you to the Phil Smith and the great team at the Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills Lions Club for their support of Revive Lake Cathie

Thank you to Lifeline Mid Coast for their support of Revive Lake Cathie

Thank you to Terry Muldoon, Principal of St Columba Anglican School Port Macquarie for the support Terry & SCAS have shown to Revive Lake Cathie

Thank you to Jock Garvan, Principal of Lake Cathie Primary School for his support and for the support of Revive Lake Cathie from the students and families of Lake Cathie Primary School

Thank you to President Stuart Bate & Marisha Woods & the great team at the Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce for all of your support, particularly for including Revive Lake Cathie in all of your events.