Meet the team: Susan Locke

I’ve been a member of the Rare Breeds Trust of Australia for a number of years. I came on as a Director in 2023 to support the membership role and help in other areas where I am of use.

I’ve always had an interest in sustainable living and since retiring to small acreage on the NSW South Coast I’ve been able to combine that with support for rare breed chickens. After road testing quite a few breeds I now breed Bantam Brahma. The Bantam Brahma still has a number of "type" challenges in relation to the Australian poultry standards since its recreation in Australia in the late 1980s. I’m part of a group of other breeders focussing on improving type in the Bantam Bantams. I’m more interested in poultry genetics than I thought possible, and wish I had paid more attention in high school to Mendel’s work!

I’m passionate about the need to preserve rare breed poultry as a sustainability and biodiversity action for the future. Embedded in that is a deep respect for the 19th and 20th century breeders who created heritage poultry breeds through talent, inspiration and commitment. 

Ethical engagement with the natural world is also important to me. Working with animals according to their physical, social and emotional needs is fundamental to the ways I think about my animal husbandry.

The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi