Group Committee Members

Julie Bray (President)

As mother of three young boys, and wife of an aspiring Joey leader, it was almost a given that I would become involved in Scouts in some way, once the opportunity was presented. Scouting fits with my ‘doing things’ approach to life – and my love of the outdoors.

In my somewhat varied career I’ve been a puppet-maker, dessert cook for a retirement village, typesetter/graphic designer, draftsperson, builder, tafe teacher and property manager. I’m a has-been pilot, a wanna-be dancer, and I’m currently learning to sail. Camping, bush wandering and gardening have always been part of my life, and so has a desire to help those in need. A commitment to sustainable living is also high on my priority list (which means there are many things in my life which still need to change).

Before I left school I’d lived in 17 houses and attended 11 schools, and lived in 7 more houses before coming to Gundaroo, so 13 years in Gundaroo is proof of a great attachment to the place. (Of course, we haven’t stayed in the same house the whole time – that would be out of character. We built three houses down on Cork street, and are now waiting to buy land to build another.)

The next few years could take us in any of several directions, but Gundaroo is home, and the Brays will always be here in some capacity.

John Donoley (Treasurer)

Bio yet to be submitted

Julie Ruttle (Secretary)

Bio yet to be submitted

Nicola Kovacs (Membership Secretary)

Nicola is currently a casual teacher working in the Gundaroo and northern Canberra Districts. As a young girl she was in Girl Guides for a short period of time. With her then future husband, Greg, she was one of the founding members of Loxley Rover Crew in the ACT. Since then Nicola has finished her Bachelor of Science, Honours and Master degrees along with a Graduate Diploma in Education. She has worked as both a mine and underground mine Geologist (gold mining). Nicola is also a qualified secondary Mathematics teacher. She now prefers to teach primary school children. Her move into the primary levels is reflected in her love of writing. She completed qualifications in professional children’s writing, and now has several works published. You can read some of her serialised children’s stories in the Gundaroo Gazette (first edition August 2009).

Nicola moved out onto a farm on Dicks Creek Road with her husband Greg and her 3 children, Heather, Elizabeth and Tomas during Spring 2008. She is a member of the Back Creek Fire Brigade.

 

Tony Webber (Quartermaster)

Bio yet to be submitted

Maxine Hewitt (Grants and Fundraising)

Bio yet to be submitted

Vicki Saunders (Personnel Sub-Committee)

Bio yet to be submitted

Phil Langworthy (Public Relations Coordinator)

Phil is a Colonel in the Army who is currently posted as the Director of Army Safety. After 23 years in the military and 14 moves, his family are entrenched in Gundaroo and love the village lifestyle and the great community. Phil was a cub, scout and venturer with the 1st Oatley Bay Sea Scouts where he got a solid start in sailing, caving, abseiling and outdoor activities. He has continued these pursuits in the Army having climbed mountains in Kenya, Tanzania, North America and Nepal, undertaken alpine survival training in California and trekked and nordic skied in Australia and New Zealand.

Phil is involved in Gundaroo soccer (player, referee and administrator), the Gundaroo Bush Festival (ex-Vice President), the Gundaroo Community Association (ex-President) as well as restorative work with the Village Monuments and Old Catholic Cemetery. Phil and his wife Marion (village physiotherapist) live in the Caledonia Store in the main street with their 'big scouts' James and Emma, and their 'little Joey' Thomas. An assortment of pets, motorbikes, horses, old cars, too many gardens and sheds full of priceless junk keep the weekends busy.

Rodney Morrison (Group Committee Member)

• Lived in the village since 1998 and been in the  district since 1975.
• Served in the Army between 1982 – 2004 : served as a Infantry Rifleman and Paratrooper at 5/7 RAR Mechanized , 2/4 RAR Air Mobile & 3RAR Para. Also served at RMC Military training wing , training support.
• Operational service – East Timor and S.E Asia ( Malaysia )
• Service qualification skills include – Surveillance, signals, field craft, navigation, Airborne Rappelling Operator, Patrol and Tracking.

Interest – Trekking : completed Kokoda Track twice and hiked the Snowy Mountains and many state forests over the years.