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The VNQ Team
Meet the team behind Volunteering North Queensland!
Management Committee
Deanne Bell - President
Patricia Staines - Vice President
Karon Pearce - Secretary
Cassandra Chong - Treasurer
Ellen Conner - Committee
Anne Fraser - Committee
Staff & Volunteers
Anita Berry - Manager
Paula Johnson - Training Development Officer
Nam Enever - Administration Officer
Beverley Rose Vellnagel - Reception/Admin Support
Jean Keefe - Recorder of Statistics
Cassandra Chong - HR/OHS Officer
Linda Boorman - Volunteer Linking Officer
Andrea Smith - Volunteer Linking Officer
Helen McIntosh - Volunteer Linking Officer
Bill Simpkins - Volunteer Linking Officer
Eddie Tzack - Info Tech Support
Nicole Robertson - Webmistress/Newsletter Editor
Management Committee
Deanne Bell - President
Deanne Bell has been involved with Volunteering North Queensland's Management Committee for many years, holding various committee positions, Deanne is also the Townsville City Council representative on the committee.
Patricia Staines - Vice President
Trish has been a member of VNQ management Committee for 12 months. She is also a member of various international volunteering organisations who do active infrastructure and community building work in developing countries. Trish is the Research and Development Officer for Future Solutions Australia, an organisation committed to Sustainable Economic Development for Indigenous Australians, in remote and regional Australia. They focus on building community outcomes through economic development with the idea of increasing sustainable social and employment inclusion. They are also panel members for Indigenous Business Australia and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and do separate projects relating to research and feasibility studies to identify opportunities for improvement on current business infrastructure.
Karon Pearce - Secretary
Karon is married with two grown children and has lived in Townsville for 10 years. She has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 8 of those years and has been on the VNQ Management Committee for two years. Karon has qualifications in childcare and over the years has been on the committee of childcare, school and social club committees. Karon enjoys volunteering and helping out with organisations she is involved with.
Cassandra Chong - Treasurer
Cassandra is married with one school-aged child and has lived in Townsville for the last year. She has worked for both federal and state government departments in an administrative capacity. Cassandra has qualifications in personnel management, government, management and is recommencing her Master of Business Administration next year. Cassandra enjoys the challenges, satisfaction and experience that volunteering affords.
Ellen Conner - Committee
Ellen has over 10 years of experience working with volunteers in both the US and Australia, including coordinating volunteers for an historic home and a maritime museum. She has also managed programs for, and about, volunteers through the state volunteering centre in Western Australia. She served on the VNQ committee last year as Treasurer. Ellen currently works as the Marine Administration Officer for Pacific Marine Group in South Townsville.
Anne Fraser - Treasurer
Anne has a long history of volunteering in various areas such as archaeology, disability care, vacation care, museum guide and conservation assistant and has six years serving on the VNQ Management Committee in a range of positions including Committee Member, Vice President, Treasurer and President. Three years experience working locally as a Volunteer Program Coordinator.
Lachlan Marsh - Committee
Lachlan is a retired mathematician. He has worked in Mathematics Departments at the University of New England, University of Queensland and James Cook University. He was, for 10 years, the Principal of The John Flynn College, a student residential college at JCU. He volunteered at Lifeline as a telephone counsellor, group facilitator and referral officer for about 12 years and was on the Lifeline Board for several years. He currently serves on The John Flynn College Council and the Committee of Volunteering North Queensland, where he also acts as a volunteer.
Staff & Volunteers
Anita Berry - Manager
I joined VNQ in 1997 and over the past decade have seen VNQ develop into a significant Volunteer and Community hub. I'm one of those fortunate people who enjoy their job. I love the duality of VNQ's pivotal community role as a volunteer referral centre and community support and resource centre and have enormous satisfaction in knowing that I am making a positive contribution to other people's lives and my community. I am deeply appreciative of the role volunteers play in shaping and humanizing our community. I enjoy working in the community sector and I enjoy working with all the VNQ team. Without their enthusiasm, dedication and support VNQ wouldn't be the premier team we are. I look forward to working alongside you all in 2009.
Paula Johnson - Training Development Officer
Paula Johnson, our Training Development Officer, joined the Volunteering North Queensland team in 2007 as a training consultant. We are pleased to advise that Paula is now permanently on staff and is available to speak to groups and individuals about their training needs on Tuesday and Wednesday's. Paula has 20 years experience working with the community sector and at various levels of government in Queensland and the Northern Territory. For the past 6 years she has also been delivering accredited and non-accredited training specifically designed to assist volunteers, managers of volunteers and not for profit organisations develop the skills to more effectively and efficiently manage their services.
Nam Enever - Administration Officer
I joined the ranks of VNQ in January 2008 to help organise a new project called Friday Flicks for the Tropical Population Health Unit and then began doing all the administration stuff in February as a casual employee before taking care of the shop while Anita went on holidays. I also work two other jobs in marketing and events as well as doing heaps of volunteering during my spare time. I finished university in 2007 after working many years in the disability and education sectors. I am now looking forward to developing a new career path, chasing dreams with my family and pets in tow.
Beverley Rose Vellnagel - Reception/Admin Support
I arrived in Townsville in May 2007 from Redcliffe near Brisbane. I shifted up to live near my eldest son after my husband died. After I retired from Education Queensland as an Administrator and Teacher Aide, I volunteered with Footprints, an arm of Lifeline. I've also been involved in hockey and cricket clubs for about 17 years and was a Girl Guide Leader. I enjoy my work with Volunteering North Queensland as I'm learning something new every day (especially with the computer). I think if possible, everyone should do some volunteering, it enriches your life and you meet some very nice people.
Jean Keefe - Recorder of Statistics
I joined the VNQ team in 2001 after I retired. I work Thursday mornings and manually record volunteer referral statistics to be used for reporting purposes. On several occasions after computer crashes my stats have saved the day. I began volunteering so that I could stay active and keep my mind busy. I enjoy line dancing and Tai Chi. My cats are the love of my life, but I have a fondness for strays and often have one or two turn up on my doorstep for dinner.
Cassandra Chong - HR/OHS Officer
Cassandra is married with one school-aged child and has lived in Townsville for the last year. She has worked for both federal and state government departments in an administrative capacity. Cassandra has qualifications in personnel management, government, management and is recommencing her Master of Business Administration next year. Cassandra enjoys the challenges, satisfaction and experience that volunteering affords.
Linda Boorman - Volunteer Linking Officer
I began volunteering at VNQ as an Interviewer/Referrals Officer in 2002 after a career teaching. I enjoy the challenge of finding rewarding positions for the potential volunteers who contact VNQ and satisfying the organisations who are seeking the people's assistance.
Andrea Smith - Volunteer Linking Officer
I joined VNQ in 2006. I work on a Thursday morning as a Volunteer Linking Officer and get enormous satisfaction from knowing I've helped people find a volunteer position they enjoy. I'm a visual artist and am currently studying at TAFE. I love it.
Helen McIntosh - Volunteer Linking Officer
Hi, I'm Helen MacIntosh and I have been a volunteer at VNQ now for well over 15 months. Born in Townsville many many years ago and decided to settle back here last year as I love the weather and casual lifestyle. Started doing a bit of admin work at VNQ and am now one of the volunteers (Friday is my day) who interview prospective volunteers for various organisations.
Bill Simpkins - Volunteer Linking Officer
Bio coming soon
Eddie Tzack - Info Tech Support
I joined the VNQ team in 2001 as their info tech support person. I work Tuesday mornings and I'm responsible for maintaining the computer systems and network and computers. I've designed a couple of programs for VNQ to use in administration and am currently designing an admin program for Mental Health Fellowship.
Nicole Robertson - Webmistress/Newsletter Editor
I joined VNQ as a volunteer in 2003. My role is Webmistress and Newsletter Editor - which is a fancy way of saying that I'm the one who updates VNQ's website and produces the Willing & Able newsletter every second month. My background is in administration and website design, although I also have certificates in financial services and small business management. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, drawing and model making.