AVCAT's People
Patron
Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Her Excellency has always been a champion of disadvantaged children in the community, particularly in accessing educational opportunities.
Board of Directors
Chairman:
Major General Peter R Phillips AO,MC (Retd) was appointed Chairman of the Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust in April 2007 and serves at the pleasure of the Minister of Veterans' Affairs. General Phillips has had 40 years of military service including active service in the Malayan Emergency in 1957 - 59 and as a rifle company commander in South Vietnam in 1967 - 68, where he was awarded the Military Cross. His final military appointment was as Assistant Chief of the Army (Personnel) and for this service, he was appointed an Office of the Order of Australia in 1989.
Other Directors:
Rear Admiral I McL Crawford, AO, AM (Mil), RAN (Rtd). A Korean veteran, he served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1949 to 1987. A Korean veteran, he is Chairman of the Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council, Member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial and a Director of the Company since 2003.
Mr K H Foster, JP. A veteran of Malaya and Vietnam, he served in the Australian Army from 1962 to 1979. He is President of the Vietnam Veterans' Australia of Australia, NSW Branch and was Director of the Company from 2001 to 2003, before being re-appointed from 2005.
Mr W Roberts. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the Australian Army from 1969 to 1979. He is President of the Vietnam Veterans' Federation of Australia, NSW Branch. Director of the Company since 2003.
Lieutenant Colonel P J Badcock (Retd). A Vietnam veteran, he served in Australian Army from 1967 to 1992. After leaving the Army he was Director of Logistics for the NSW Department of Corrective Services. Director of the Company since 2005.
Alternate Directors:
Mr N M Robertson, JP, Alternate for Mr Foster. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the Australian Army from 1968 to 1970. Formerly Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans' Association of Australia. Director and Alternate Director of the Company since 1989.
Lieutenant Colonel I M Henderson (Retd), Alternate for Mt Button. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the Australian Army from 1956 to 1979. He is a Member of the State Executive of the RSL (NSW). After leaving the Army he was an executive with Woolworths and subsequently a General Manager in the construction industry. Alternate Director of the Company from 2005.
Brigadier R W Morris, AO, (Retd), JP, BCom, FCIS, FCPA, Alternate for Lieutenant Colonel Badcock. A World War II veteran, he served in the Australian Army from 1942 to 1979. Formerly President of Sydney Legacy. Director of the Company from 1985 to 2005, when he became an alternate.
Mr P A F Kaineder, BA, CertT, alternate for Mr Roberts. A Vietnam veteran, and a teacher by profession, Mr Kaineder recently retired as Senior Science Master of a NSW Selective High School.
Education Committee
Chairman:
Dr Janis Milburn, DipEd, BA, MEd, PhD, FACE
Educationalist Members
Mr Don Smart BA, MEd
Ms Carly Marshall, DipTeach, BA, GradDipComp, GradCertMgmt, MEd
Alternate
Dr Ruth Shatford, DipEd, MA, Dde'lU, FACE, FRSA, MACEdL
Veteran Members
Mr N M Robertson, JP
Ms Dianne Badcock, RN, GradDipGeron
Mr William Roberts, JP
Mr P A F Kaineder, BA, CertT
Consultant Psychologist
Dr Fred E. Orr, BA, BSc, PhD, FAPS, FAIM
Corresponding Members
QLD:
Ms Marjory Neil, BA, BEdS, MACE.
Mrs Barbara Dunne, Bed Dip, Dip Bus(Acct)
NSW and ACT:
Dr Allan Beavis, DipEd, BSc, MEdAdmin, PhD, AMusA, ARCM, FACE
Ms Karen Blackwell
VIC & TAS: Mr Robert F Webster, DipAcct, DipValuation GradDipMgt, MBA, FCPA, FAPI
SA and NT: Mrs H Trebilcock.
WA:
Mr Garry Lindsay, DipTeach, BA (Hons), MClinicalPsych, MEducPsychCounselling
Mr Alan Comac MA, Dip Psych
Vocational: Mr Graeme Gatley, DipTeach, BEd,GradDipEdAdmin, GradDipEd
Chief Executive Officer
Commodore Nick Helyer MBE, RANR is a career naval officer who transferred to the Reserve in 2000. He completed 35 years of service in two navies, 4 in the Royal Navy and 31 in the Royal Australian Navy. He was a watchkeeping engineer officer on HMAS SYDNEY (III) - the 'Vung Tau Ferry' - in 1971-72 during Vietnam trooping operations. He also served on the staff of the Maritime Commander Australia during the first Gulf War in 1990 - 91. His final appointment in the permanent Naval Force was as Naval Training Commander in 1999 - 2000. He remains in the standby Reserve Force. Nick is one of two representatives from NSW on the recently appointed Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-Service Matters. He is also active in Sydney Legacy and the Rural Fire Service as a volunteer.
Staff
AVCAT maintains regular contact with those selected, including on occasions after they are no longer receiving payments from us.
We also are always available to help those applying or wishing to find out more about is or what we offer.
Our permanent staff consists of a part-time CEO, a now full-time Executive Officer and Administration Manager and a part time Scholarships Officer. This staff is augmented from October to March, to deal with the peak loads of the annual scholarship cycle.
Mark Newell is our Executive Officer and Administration Manager. He has been with the Trust over ten years and has a background in finance and personnel administration. He has a keen interest in helping the advancement of students, to reach their full potential in their fields of study.
Anne West is our Scholarship Officer. She came to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1967. Anne commenced duties as our Scholarship Officer and Secretary in February 2005.
She also works part time at the Opera House.
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