Little Haven Board 2018 / 2019

I have been employed for over 21 years in various roles in accounting.  I completed my studies whilst having a family and working full-time. I made the move into Public Practice 14 years ago, after working in Company Accounting for various large and small businesses.  As a qualified CPA with local accounting firm Brown McAulay and Warren Certified Accountants, my role varies and is not limited to Taxation and Management Accounting.

I became part of Little Haven Palliative Care’s committee in February 2017 as Treasurer.  The role enables me assist a service that has provided many families and their loved ones support at end-of-life, and is an integral part of our wonderful community.

Ray worked in Local Government for over 40 years, with the last 22 years as a Chief Executive Officer and then 18 months as a Regional Director with the Dept of Infrastructure & Planning and held the role as a Divisional Councillor on the Qld Division of Local Government Managers Australia, and held the position of State President, and a Federal Councillor.  Ray was a representative and also served as Chairperson of the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation, completed two four year terms as a Government Appointed Director on the South Burnett District Health Council, and held the position as Chairperson for the second term.

Ray hold’s a Diploma of Local Government Administration and a Queensland Local Government Clerk’s Certificate.  A Qld Justice of the Peace (Qualified) for over 45 years, Ray is a Fellow of Local Government Managers Australia, and is a life member.

In 2005 Ray received a Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding service to Local Government, and a Meritorious Service Medal in 2006 for service to the Qld State Emergency Service.

A committed community advocate, Ray is Patron of the Kilkivan Swimming Club; a life member of the Kilkivan & District Historical Society Inc and the Kilkivan Country Club Inc and holds executive positions on many organisations in his local area.

Ray’s wife of 42 years, Sue, was inflicted with “Motor Neurone Disease”, and for the last years of her life cared for her on a full time basis, until her passing in 2014. It was in caring for Sue that Ray began his involvement with Little Haven Palliative Care and was invited to join the Committee as a Carer Advocate in 2016.

Ray’s perspective as an end user of our service, a carer and his vast knowledge of local government, meeting protocols and organisational governance is a great asset to the committee.

I completed nursing training in 1970. Had 4 children.

I returned to nursing in 1989, gaining a lot of experience in many areas with the main focus on cancer care and palliative care.

I moved from Sydney to Tin Can Bay in 1997 and worked at Gympie Private Hospital until the perfect job came along.

Hallelujah.  Little Haven Palliative Care required nurses to work in the community providing palliative care in peoples’ homes in 1999 and I commenced as a casual RN.  2000 I became the Senior clinical RN (Coordinator).  Little Haven is my family, my passion and my pride is seeing it grow and mature.  Joined the committee as the clinical representative in 2013.

Born in Gympie and employed at Nestle for 47 years, Trevor was the President of the Nestle Social Club for around 40 years and saw it go from strength to strength. He has been married to Cherryl for 46 years and has two adult children and two grandchildren.

Trevor is currently and for the last 13 years has been President of One Mile Sports Association. He has also been President of Golden City Soccer Club (4 years), President of Football Gympie (24 years) – in which he facilitated massive improvement to facilities, grounds and fostering of the development of a family friendly club environment.

Trevor has been involved with the Gympie Soccer scene for 34 years as a parent, canteen convenor, grounds person, handyman, financial overseer and has been heavily involved in grant application preparation. He is a life member of Golden City Soccer Club (Qld), Football Gympie, Football Wide Bay and One Mile Sports Association.

Awards received:

• Football Australia Volunteer of the Year 2009
• Queensland Health Service to Junior Sports Award 2009
• Football Queensland Volunteer Award 2009
• Australian Sports Achiever Award 2000
• Australia Day Awards – Widgee, Cooloola Shire Council, Gympie Regional Council

Trevor is an innovative thinker and brings a wealth of knowledge and organisational skills to Little Haven as a Committee member and volunteer at the Market Place.

Sharon O’Brien has lived in the Gympie area most of her life and is a fifth generation Gympie family.

Little Haven occupies a very special place in Sharon’s family, with the service having provided palliative care for her father, and for her husband’s parents.  It was through these experiences and the exceptional level of in-home care that Little Haven extends through its unique model that motivated Sharon to join the committee.

Having worked for three Queensland Members of Parliament and supporting the work of her husband (Llew O’Brien MP Wide Bay) as a volunteer, Sharon has extensive experience in the public sector in both State and Federal jurisdictions to assist Little Haven achieve its sustainability objectives.

Betty was born in January 1946 at Clifton, a farming community on the Darling Downs. It’s interesting to hear of Betty’s early connection with dying and community care. She recalls that her grandmother died at home, cared for by relatives young and old. Her grandfather died in the little cottage hospital where the front verandah opened to the whole community. This is also where Betty was born.

Betty completed her MBBS at UQ and her internship in Toowoomba before commencing her working life as a part time family doctor, in Germany and in Queensland. Married to a religious Minister Betty has traveled extensively in Asia.  It was during these visits Betty noted how in Asia families and communities make the death of a loved one part of the living experience, mourning openly and in view of all.

Betty has had an interest in the development of palliative care and attended lectures at Holy Spirit hospital in Brisbane in this area 35 years ago before moving to Gympie,  where Little Haven became that extension of her learning and love for those who prepare to die.

Joining the committee in 2004 Betty is a highly valued committee member, relied on for her sound clinical advice and compassion in decision making. Betty was awarded a life membership of Little Haven in 2016 for her years of service to the organisation and continues to be an active committee member to this day.

Irene Halliday immigrated from Malaysia in 2000. She finished her tertiary studies in Malaysia before furthering her studies in the UK. She is by profession a music teacher. She works at Cooloola Christian College as a Finance & Purchasing Officer and has worked there since 2004 and is also in charge of the Instrumental Programme.
In 2017 Irene was one of the finalist in the Women in Business Award.
Irene has a passion for music, playing in orchestras and as an accompanist for choirs. She volunteers at Little Haven Palliative Care and gives her time to doing community work. Her hobbies are music, cooking, outdoor activities and craft.

Irene first became aware of Little Haven when we were involved in the care of her husband many years ago and  has remained a supporter of the work we do since. Her personal experience of the service, a family connection to palliative care and experience with grief and loss of family members makes her a very valuable consumer representative on the committee.