Kevin Perry

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: President

Other positions/jobs you hold in the community: Member of the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) since the late 1970’s and am currently serving as Chairman of Paynesville Scout Group Committee. Over the years, I have been involved in many local community groups including the Scouting Movement (as Leader and the Group Leader), served on Baseball and Cricket committees, spent time as Sarsfield Primary School Council President, was Riviera Football League Tribunal member and President of the Racing Pigeon Club.

Experience/area of expertise that I can bring to my position here: I retired in 2007 after 31 years with the Victoria State Emergency Service. During that career I was in charge of numerous large-scale events, along with many, many smaller operations. Some of the larger ones within East Gippsland include fire support, Floods, Hailstorm and searches. Other areas of the State I sorted floods, search support and bus crash at Wangaratta.

Why Sarsfield and surrounds is important to me: I came to the area in January 1970 as Buttermaker at the Bairnsdale Factory. I commenced playing cricket for Sarsfield almost immediately – and found what a great area it was and I met some very nice people. We built our home here in 1975/76 and our son attended the local Primary School in the 1980’s. It is just a great area to live.

Why I joined the CRC: It was a little ironic that after all the disasters I had seen, our house and contents were destroyed 2019 fires and after sorting some of our life out I volunteered for some 5 months with Blaze Aid, assisting the Camp Co-ordinator organize many fencing jobs – using my local knowledge. I was happy to be assisting neighbours and friends back then and now happy to join the Sarsfield Community Association to help out.

Contact: 0429384502 president@sarsfield.com.au

Simon Hof

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: Vice President

Other positions/jobs you hold in the community: President of Sarsfield CFA. Engineer with DEECA.

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 8 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 CRC: 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 guess I’m the guy who’s talking at these community events – that's how people would know me.”

Contact: 0472 838 149 | vicepresident@sarsfield.com.au


Helen Wilson

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: Secretary

Other positions/jobs you hold in the community:

When not walking our dog up and down Great Alpine Road, I work full time for Aero Controls & DLE Consultants, providing support to power stations, both in Australia and overseas. After working away for several years and more recently working at BRHS, I feel so lucky to now work from home in Sarsfield.

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 CRC: 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.

Contact: 0417 720 408 secretary@sarsfield.com.au


Jo Andrews

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: Secretary

Other positions/jobs you hold in the community: I’m the secretary of the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve Committee of Management.

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 CRC: 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.

“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.”

Contact: 0408 386 184 | secretary@sarsfield.com.au


Cathy McLellan

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: Member

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 the Primary school, 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 CRC: Like most of the Sarsfield community 2020 I spent clearing and organising the rebuilding of sheds and fences, removing and replanting our property, now I feel it’s time to help the wider community rebuild.

"Gardening always has priority over cleaning!”

Contact: 0488 051 936 | committee3@sarsfield.com.au


John Kinniburgh

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: 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 year. 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 CRC: 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.

“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.”

Contact: 0409 551 517 | committee5@sarsfield.com.au


Phil Schneider

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: 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 3 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.

“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.”

Contact: 0439 411 914 | committee4@sarsfield.com.au



Scott Lamshed

Position in the Sarsfield Community Association: 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.

“In my spare time you can find me working around our property, gardening or trying to restore my pinball machines.”

Contact: 0432 046 625 |admin@sarsfield.com.au