Patron

Board of Directors

Vice Admiral Russ Shalders AO,CSC, RAN (Retd) was appointed Chairman of the Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust in August 2010 and serves at the pleasure of the Minister for Veterans Affairs . Admiral Shalders retired from the Royal Australian Navy in July 2008 after 41 years in the Service. His last three years were as Chief of Navy. Prior to that posting, he had served as the Vice Chief of the Defence Force and Chief of Joint Operations from 2002 to 2005.

He has commanded four ships – The Patrol Boat SAMARAI in Papua New Guinea in 1975, the Frigates SYDNEY and DARWIN ( the latter during the first Gulf War) and the Destroyer PERTH. He has also held the RAN’s senior sea going appointment as Commodore Flotillas. During an early posting in his career, Admiral Shalders served in South East Asia, including the Vietnam War.

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. He is Chairman of the Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council, a Member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial and a Director of the Company since 2003.

Mr K H Foster, OAM, JP. A veteran of Malaya and Vietnam, he served in the Australian Army from 1962 to 1979. He is National Secretary of the Vietnam Veterans Association and was a Director of the Company from 2001 to 2003, before being re-appointed from 2005.

Mr W Roberts. A Vietnam veteran in the Australian Army from 1963 to 1972 & served in Malaya and Borneo 1965 to 1967, Vietnam 1968 to 1969.  He is Secretary of the Vietnam Veterans' Federation of Australia, and the Senior Vice President of the Vietnam Veterans' Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Association of Australia, NSW Branch Inc. Director of the Company since 2005.

Lieutenant Colonel P G Badcock (Retd). A Vietnam veteran, he served in The 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.

Commander Brian Loftus (Rtd) is the RSL National Director on the Board and the only member with formal legal qualifications. He is a member of the ACT Administrative Appeals Tribunal. He is also a director of the Cancer Council of the ACT. Director of the Company since 2007. Legal Advisor to AVCAT.

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 Commander Brian Loftus (Rtd).  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.

Squadron Leader Gordon Johnstone, OAM, JP, RAAF (Retd) is an Alternate Director and was appointed by the Australian Veterans and Defence Services Council (AVADSC)

Mr D J Norton, MA, FCA is Alternate Director for Lieutenant-Colonel PG Badcock (Retd).  Mr Norton holds a Masters degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University.  He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (England and Wales).  A veteran of the Malayan Emergency, he experienced active service in the early 1950s.  Mr Norton brings to AVCAT his professional experience in Investment Banking with specialisation in financial research and fund management.

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

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, D. de l'U, 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

Consultant Physician
Dr Rod Bain, MBBS, FANZCA, FRCA, JP

Corresponding Members
QLD:
Mrs Barbara Dunne, B. Ed, Dip. Teach , Dip Bus(Acct)

NSW and ACT:
Dr Allan Beavis, DipEd, BSc, MEdAdmin, PhD, AMusA, ARCM, FACE
Ms Karen Blackwell, B. Ed, Dip. Teach

VIC & TAS: Mr Robert F Webster, DipAcct, DipValuation GradDipMgt, MBA, FCPA, FAPI
Ms Evelyn Morgan Brooker, M. Ed, Dip Teach

SA and NT:
Mrs Helen Trebilcock, MEd, BA,MACE, AAIM

WA:
Mr Garry Lindsay, DipTeach, BA (Hons), MClinicalPsych, MEducPsychCounselling
Mr Alan Camac 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

Our permanent staff consists of a part-time CEO, a Scholarship Manager,  part time Scholarship Officers, Accountant and a Bookkeeper. This staff is augmented from October to March, to deal with the peak loads of the annual scholarship cycle.

AVCAT maintains regular contact with those selected, including on occasions after they are no longer receiving payments from us.  Also, we are always available to help those applying or wishing to find out more about us or what we offer.

Debbie Fahey is our Scholarship/Office Manager who joined the Trust on 01 September, 2010.  Debbie comes with a background in office management, accounting & also with the experience of owning and managing a successful family business for over 20 years with her husband.  She has three grown up children now but was actively involved in volunteer programs throughout their school years. 

Milly Yeo is our Accountant. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics and is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA). Milly has been with the Trust since 2007.

Joanna Wobith is our Administrative officer and MYOB Bookkeeper

Anne West is one our Scholarship Officers.  She came to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1967.  Anne commenced duties as our Scholarship Officer and Secretary in February 2005.

Susie Stavens is our Scholarship/Marketing Officer who joined the Trust on 10 August, 2011.  Susie has a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a dual major in English Literature and Communications.  She has taught primary school children in both UK and Australia and has impressive experience working for small not-for-profit organisations. Susie has 2 children and is excited about joining the AVCAT Team.

Contact Persons	Phone Details
Nick Helyer Debbie Fahey	02 9213 7986 02 9213 7996

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