Kathleen, her husband Gary and their three children moved to Eltham in 1977.  They began worshiping at St Margaret’s at the time the old Gibson Hall was being demolished to make way for the new Mud Brick Hall which opened in 1978.  Since then Kathleen has lived through many changes in the parish.

Kathleen enjoys her role as Parish Treasurer, having a keen interest in Accounts, Financial Reporting and Budgets. Kathleen is also a member of the Parish Discovering Spirituality Team, an outworking of her faith about which she is passionate.  Other interests include Reading, Genealogy and Family History.  Kathleen has been an active member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women since 1984 and is Treasurer of MOWatch Australia.

Kathleen now has seven grandchildren who are a great delight.

Born in South Africa in the previous century……I had a very happy childhood having been to 10 schools in my life as my father was transferred all over Zimbabwe and South Africa.  This taught me confidence and how to adjust!!   I have travelled to many wonderful places in this world.   15 years ago Rob and I decided to make a “big change” in our lives and came to Melbourne.   We left our adult children behind and hoped they would follow….to date…nope!   Have been involved with Rotary here in Melbourne as well as Kids Hope Aus.    I work in Sales here in Melbourne and have done that most of my life.

We joined St. Margaret’s just before Covid and have made some wonderful friends and enjoy our worship here.   I look forward to learning more and getting involved with the community here in Eltham.

Tony has been worshipping at St. Margaret’s since 1981 and a Communion assistant for many years.

He lives in Research and is married with 3 children. Growing up he regularly went with his parents to St. Peter’s eastern Hill. This Church is well known for music (he [played trumpet with the choir) and ceremony ( various roles from an early age). Tony works as a G.P. in Eltham. 

His interests include playing the piano, gardening, latest technology and travel. Tony was awarded an OAM for Service to the community through alcohol and drug use prevention programs. 

When St Faith’s Anglican church in Montmorency was closed in 2007 and amalgamated with St Margaret’s, my husband Bryan and I joined the entire congregation to walk from that church to St Margaret’s, where I am now a Sacristan and have the privilege of being part of the Home Communion team.    

My three daughters, son, and nine grandsons are the greatest blessing of my life.

For the past 18 years I have been meditating in the John Main Christian tradition and have been a member of the Victorian Christian Meditation Committee for three years. 

In 2007 I became a Benedictine Oblate attached to Camperdown Abbey.

Music is a big part of my life; I belong to two recorder ensembles.  Also enjoy reading, research and gardening.

Sandra and her family joined St. Margaret’s in 1980’s after discovering a Christian children’s program run in conjunction with Uniting Church. She has a longstanding strong Christian Faith and it wasn’t long before she was engaged in supporting and leading many church groups and committees.

One of her first ventures was to co-lead a group for early adolescents to follow on from the children’s program, an initiation by fire, however many of these adolescents went on to become lifelong friends. Sandra has almost always been involved in Parish Life serving as a Vestry member and Warden for numerous vicars.  Informal pastoral care and awareness of others is always at forefront of her mind as is a deep desire to maintain her own spiritual life.  Sandra comes from a nursing background, ‘ once a nurse always a nurse’ as the children grew, she specialized in psychiatric nursing before entering further study obtaining a Grad. Dip. at Latrobe in Counselling. When no one would employ her as a nurse/counsellor, she set up her own practice in an area where there were few resources at the time. Sandra has 3 grandchildren and many adopted ones.   Her home in Research which she shares with her husband Brian, is rarely without someone usually homeless, living with them.  

I was born in the UK and emigrated to Australia in 1972 with my husband. I lived in Sydney for 22 years prior to moving to Melbourne. My Son was born in Sydney and   now lives and works in London.

My long career as a Registered Nurse was firstly in the acute hospital sector where I became the Director of Nursing of a Surgical Hospital, I later became interested in aged care, first training as an Aged Care Standards Assessor. I then undertook post graduate studies in neuro cognitive disorders and my interest in dementia care has continued. I currently coordinate the operations of the St Margaret’s Memory Care Café, am a member of the St Margaret’s Pastoral Care Team and a member of the St Margaret’s Band.

My Interests include travel, which has taken me to both polar regions as well as most parts of the world, I value the ability to provide emotional and social support to those living at home with dementia. I love reading, particularly about the natural world and am happy to admit being a life-long fan of Beatles music.