Who We Are
“Gardening always has priority over cleaning!”
Cathy McLellan
President
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
Assistant co-ordinator for Fostering Futures for Kids in Farkwa- a charity which sponsors and supports kids in secondary and tertiary education in Tanzania.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
Retired hospital scientist and Laboratory Manager.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
I helped build our mudbrick home here in the late 1980s and was very involved in Sarsfield Primary school which 2 of our 3 boys attended. I helped organize The Back to Sarsfield held in 1988 and in collaborating on writing the History of Sarsfield.
Why I joined the SCA
Like most of the Sarsfield community I spent most of 2020 clearing and organising the rebuilding of sheds and fences, removing and replanting our property after the fires went through. Fortunately our home itself survived and now I feel it’s time to help the wider community rebuild.
Since I joined the SCA I have been very involved with a strong focus on organizing events that bring our community together., then in December 2023 I accepted the position of President of the SCA.
“I have accepted the role of Vice-President to keep the momentum and energy moving forward in this community. I am not sure how this will work in my absence(travelling) but technology will overcome.”
Patch (Peter) Calvert
Vice-President
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
Past Secretary Bairnsdale Aero Club that I helped organised and ran 2 airshows in conjunction with Rotary Club of Bairnsdale of which I am a past member.
Past President & Secretary- Bairnsdale 4WD Social Club and a driving trainer in off road vehicles
Past Member Vic. SES, team leader of the rescue squad.
Past Secretary Sarsfield Hall Committee, for the original site that was sold and transferred to current hall.
Past President Sarsfield Primary School Committee when I had to navigate the school closure ordeal. Not a happy time in our little community.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
I own and operate 2 farms, one in Australia one in Thailand, I am managing director and secretary of 2 company boards, I was working as rig administrator offshore for 37 years, I am retiring from farm life and need to feel engaged more with my community now time permits.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
Calvert's were one of the 3 initial settlers in 1852 at Mossiface, we now have 7 generations on the same ground so we call this area home. I moved over the hill to Sarsfield in 1980 and my 2 kids were schooled here so the connection is close to my heart.
This community has suffered the onslaught of wildfire not seen since 1965 when my parents battled the flames. I was 10 years old and saw how that affected them then. I relate now how this community has rallied together to put us on the map and move forward with vigour. Looking at all the projects and ideas set into motion so far, that vision is what I want to be a part of.
Why I joined the SCA
My community values and visions align with this group which I lived in for 25 years. Your community is your identity so I want to keep it healthy and vibrant. I want to see the youth remain connected to their homes, their values and their dreams. If we provide a rich and diverse environment to foster and grow a better person along the way, we have won the peace.
Contact: Patch 0427 56 88 66 patch.calvert@sarsfield.com.au
“I guess I’m the guy who’s talking at these community events – that’s how people would know me.”
Simon Hof
Committee Member
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
President of Sarsfield CFA. Engineer with DEECA.
Simon was President of the SCA in 2021 and 2022, then Vice President and later acting President in 2023.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
CFA experience. Being “in it” having had direct bushfire impacts at my own home. I hope I can help represent the community. I’ve been in Sarsfield for 11 years now and love it.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
It’s a great location. The rural, natural aspect is a pretty special thing about Sarsfield. I think the people in our community are one of the reasons I like living here.
Why I joined the SCA
Through my work with community, it was suggested to me that I could do the role. It’s a once in a generation chance to make a change in Sarsfield so I want to help wherever I can.
“I’m likely to be in the background havind a beer with Nathan, but ready to help with ideas, muscle or cooking skills when needed.”
Wayne Gamble
Committee Member
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
My family and I shifted to Sarsfield for over 20 years ago, after 10 years in Wiseleigh. I have operated TyrePower in Bairnsdale and escape as being a weekend farmer and play with a little brewing.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
I do have business experience but I’m also very interested in cooking, so a spit roast for a crowd is a nice challenge and a change from the daily grind.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
We live here so it’s important to buildconnections with other locals.
Why I joined the SCA
We can’t have a connected community unless we work at it! The committee looked like they could do with a hand.
Helen Wilson
Secretary
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
Mum to three, Wife to one, daughter, niece, sister, auntie and a mad keen vegie gardener, I feel so lucky to live and work from home in Sarsfield. If I’m not at work I can be found relaxing with a book or swimming in the ocean.
Teaching yoga is the best, I have had some brilliant yoga teachers in my life and it’s a good feeling to share what I have learned.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
Being curious and quite nosy, I’m constantly amazed by the incredible people that live in our area. Sarsfield is full of hidden gems. My background is OHS and business support but I’m always keen to step away from the computer and can often be found taking photos of people at Sarsfield Community events.
Why I joined the SCA
Many members of the Sarsfield Community Association have been occupied with rebuilding, re-fencing, replanting and yet still manage to give their time to support the wider Sarsfield community. If I can help even in a small way, it might help to take some of the load off people who are already carrying so much.
“I’m a beekeeper hobbyist. I harvest honey from it. I like insects, and this is a new opportunity and I get to work with family on something - I do it with my mum.”
Jo Andrews
Committee member
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
I was the secretary of the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve Committee of Management, and the SCA before the SRRCoM was incorporated into the SCA. The SCA now manages the Hall as well as it’s role in community recovery and building. I stepped back from Secretary in late 2022.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
I can assist with secretarial support, and I have professional experience in natural resource management. I’m also a long-term Sarsfield resident. I have a strong background in waterway management. I live on the Nicholson River backwater. I love that connection to the water here.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
It’s my home. I live here. I’m raising my family here. I grew up here. It’s close to my heart. I really appreciate and value the community. People are really well-intentioned and supportive, and they look after one and other.
Why I joined the SCA
Primarily because I was involved in fire recovery from day one and I wanted to be able to support my community in their recovery. And I have that long-term vision to build a community, particularly for my young children, I hope they stay here in the future. I want to help build that sense of community spirit.
“Since the fires, there’s a lot of work to do. I do like spending time with my wife and being able to relax on the property, look out at the view and listen to music or read a book. We haven’t had a chance to do much lately. I’m interested in sport also. I might follow local sport as a spectator, I’m a bit old for participation now.”
John Kinniburgh
Member
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
I work in education and counselling, which includes working with men’s groups and families. I also coach sporting teams and am a volunteer broadcaster on local radio.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
I’m a total fire loss victim. We lost our homes, our sheds, our weekender. We were totally wiped out. We’re actually personally involved in the whole rebuild and re-establishing of our property. We’re still a while off, we’re planning to rebuild in the second half of the 2021. Update, another way to relate, rebuilding actually took until May 2022 but now we’re in our new home looking over the Nicholson valley.
I can lend this experience to be a bit of a voluntary support for other members in the community.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
I’ve been connected with Sarsfield for a long time. Over the last 25-30 years, that sense of community has changed. Unfortunately, I think it took the devastation of the fires to bring a lot of the community back together. It means a lot to me to have that back here. I've reconnected with people I haven't had a lot to do with over the last 15 years, we’ve become quite close, regularly communicating. I think it’s important for the people who are trying to recover because a lot of us need that connection. To be together and strong to support each other, if nothing else.
Why I joined the SCA
I was also a recipient of some of the support connected with the committee, like the Friday night dinners and the tool drive. During the annual meeting, I was on Zoom and thought about all the things that have helped me in my recovery and in that moment, I put my hand up to be a part of it. I hope to be able to give that lens and potentially give something back to continue to reignite the sense of community here.
John is the main creator of our very informative Sarsfield Snippets.
“You can find me walking around the streets with a white, fluffy dog, Aurora is very recognisable. I do a lot of fishing and skiing, and we have a little 8-acre farm, so that keeps me busy”
Phil Schneider
Member
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
I’m a retired Melbourne fire fighter.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
I have a first aid qualification, I’m pretty qualified there. It’s important to help the community out.
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
Full time resident for 7 years, been in the area a bit longer. I think it’s important to get people back on their feet after a devastating thing that we could do nothing about. You can’t do it by yourself, unfortunately. People need a hand. We have the ability to help so we get out there and do what we can. I like to get stuck in and do things, especially physical things.
Why I joined the CRC
There was a zoom meeting, my wife was on the hall committee, I thought I can put my hand up and do that. I’ve been on the Mt Hotham committee before; I was the maintenance man at the ski lodge. Every committee you go on is totally different. I think from my point of view, it’s about helping people who don’t know how to access things, it’s all out there, you’ve just got to know where and how to get it. The association allows us to be a bit of a conduit of information.
“In my spare time you can find me working around our property, gardening or trying to restore my pinball machines”
Scott Lamshed
IT Administrator
Other positions/jobs you hold in the community
I have moved from Sarsfield to Queensland, but I am happy to support the committee with IT issues.
Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here
Project management, ICT management, qualified sparkie & lift mechanic, permaculture designer. Oh and part time fencer, I’m now really good at fencing
Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me
I grew up in the area and we have lived in Sarsfield for over 10 years now, building up our small hobby farm and gathering a menagerie. I love the natural aspects of the area and the growing sense of community.
Why I joined the CRC
We were really heavily impacted by the fires and I knew from my experience in other local community groups that the best way to make a difference is to get involved.