Rachel is an active community member with a passion for the natural environment as well as sustainability. Along with partner Geoff she is raising five children in Busselton and has a strong belief that it is our duty to protect and enhance our natural resources and environment for future generations.
Rachel holds a Certificate of Trade for Automotive Mechanics. She is affiliated with several community groups, including Bellies and Babes since 2003 (formerly Birth Choices), Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre, the Possum Centre and is owner of the Shire of Busselton freecycleTM group.
She is a founding member of the Busselton Community Garden and recently took up the position of Chairperson of this large community group. Her interests include permaculture principles, in particular the reduction of chemical and artificial product use to reduce associated waterways problems, the recycling of organic matter, worm farming, growing and eating food, working with nature and caring for the earth by repairing, maintaining and protecting all natural resources. Rachel has also completed community education workshops including, ‘How materialism & consumerism affects society’ and ‘How to establish a worm farm at home’.
Additionally, she has presented information workshops at the Community garden on waste water treatment systems, the management of run off and effective filtering systems, as well as organic gardening management and natural fertilisation/pest management methods. Her involvement with FreecycleTM, aim to reduce landfill by providing a forum for people to encourage recycling while connecting them with like minded others with the intention to create a sharing community. New GeoCatch member Rachel Kemp is an amazingly active community member and mother of five. She is affiliated with several community groups, including Bellies and Babes, Busselton-Dunsborough Environment Centre, the Possum Centre, freecycleTM group and is a founding member of the Busselton Community Garden. Talking to Rachel it soon becomes apparent that she has travelled down a unique path in order build a healthy appreciation of natural resource management in the Geographe Catchment. “I grew up in the Fremantle area”, says Rachel. “At the age of 16 I begun (and eventually completed) a Certificate of Trade for Automotive Mechanics.” Rachel’s awakening about the natural world came somewhat later, after the birth of her first child. “I got married, had children and started to focus much more on what was happening around me,” says Rachel. “My first child had pretty bad eczema and to try and find a cure for this I started looking into the effects of chemicals on humans and the environment.” “I worked out that the eczema was caused by all the chemicals in the baby lotions and shampoos that I was using!” “After that I stated looking at food, agriculture and chemical use and realised that there had to be a better way.” “This process also led me into permaculture which is an old science. I’ve recently been reading a book that was written in 1949, and I find the whole field fascinating.”
Apart from gardening, Rachel enjoys reading, cooking, nutrition, socialising and being active in the community. Amazed, I ask rachel how a mother of five can possibly fit so much in and still have time to enjoy herself... “I love the environmental work and community gardening”, says Rachel enthusiastically. “I feel like it is my leisure time when I’m pursuing these activities and that I actually get out more than I put.” “Plus, my smaller children get really involved, they absolutely love the community garden, the playground and the animals, it’s great.” “Especially when there are baby rabbits at the gardens, I have to drag the children away’, she laughs. A growing passion and understanding of the natural world eventually led Rachel to applying for a position on the GeoCatch Council. “I’ve jokingly said that I am the housewife voice on the Council”, says Rachel. “I think that many people may not realise how much our urban lifestyles can affect our natural resources and I think that it is important to get the word out there to the everyday community people.”
When asked what she enjoyed about NRM and being a GeoCatch member, Rachel replies “I’m excited about the new projects that GeoCatch are bringing to the community and I really enjoy working with professionals who are all busy pursuing the goal of preserving and restoring our natural resources.” “Furthermore the creation of the WQIP is a huge step forward for NRM in the catchment, as it gives a clear picture of the state of our catchment’s aquatic condition and maps out a positive direction towards bringing our area back to optimum health.” Currently residing in Busselton with her partner Geoff, who is also a mechanic, I ask Rachel who’s job it is to service the pairs automobiles. “The natural division of labour decrees that he maintains the cars”, laughs Rachel. “Plus, I was a pretty bad mechanic!”
