committee of management

Duke St Community House Committee of Management 2008 - 9

The Duke Street Committee of Management is elected from members of the Duke Street Community House Association at our Annual General Meeting that is held in September each year. Each member brings to the committee a willingness to become involved in the house governance and to voice issues about our local neighbourhood, resources, educational opportunities, community participation and social inclusion.

Many committee members commit a significant amount of voluntary time not only to Duke Street but also to other community groups and activities within the Cities of Brimbank and Maribyrnong.

Chairperson: Eric Jones
Eric JonesEric worked for many years with local government as a works foreman. Eric volunteers one day per week on the DS reception desk and provides much needed admin support. Eric also organizes fundraising events / special efforts for the house that have been very successful.

Vice Chairperson: Ormond Butler

Ormond ButlerOrmond Butler I  got involved with Duke St Community House in about July 1998 after my daughter asked me if I would like to go on the committee of management because she could not attend the meetings each month(she was a committee member for childcare). I was elected vice chairperson in Sept of that year,and was vice chairperson for 2 years until September 2000 when I was elected chairperson after Eric and Evvone left the committee.

I was chairperson for 5 years until I had to leave the committee in September 2005 because I had to look after Diane who had been diagnosed with dementia. In January 2005(Australia day) I was awarded Maribyrnong City Councils Citizen of the year award for my 34 years of community service that I had done over the years. I rejoined Duke St in August 2007 after the death of Diane and was elected vice chairperson again which is the position that I still hold. I have enjoyed my involvement with Duke St over the years,it has been like a family to me and has given me comfort and friendship after Diane passed away. This year 2009 I have been on the committee of Management for 10 years and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

My involvement with Duke St is that I call in about 3 times a week, attend committee meetings, and open and close the house at night time when required I also collect the mail during holidays and I get involved with any other activity that the house is involved with.

I am also involved with Neighbourhood Watch in Braybrook, I am the Area Co-Ordinator for this area,and I put together their Newsletter each month, and run the meetings.
I am also on the District Neighbourhood Watch committee which also keep me busy.

Secretary: Pat Charles
Pat CharlesPatricia started as an Information Technology student at Duke Street and quickly became a volunteer in our administration area. Patricia has a background in marketing management, event management and bookkeeping.

Patricia also belongs to the walking group, computer club and the gentle exercise group.

Treasurer: Joanne Ploog
Joanne PloogJoanne works for the Tipping Foundation as a Senior Coordinator for the residential program for people with a disability. Joanne is a strong advocate for resources for people with special needs and this has seen an increase in the number of people with disabilities accessing Duke Street programs.

Student Representative: Richard Popczyk
Richard PopczykRichard has contributed as a volunteer with the Sunshine Police Youth Fund and also to a local football club conducting charity auctions.

Richard works in the Real Estate industry and brings business and communication skills to the committee.

Richard is also enrolled in our Information Technology Program.

Community Representatives

Maureen JonesMaureen has been a volunteer for many years. Her volunteer experience includes, Little Athletics, Opportunity Shop and as a Committee member for VRI Bowling Club. Maureen has a background in secretarial and reception work and states her skills are as a general dogs body. Maureen also contributes to the fundraising events of the house and her knitted dolls are much sought after as prizes.

Muni Deo

Muni DeoBorn in Fiji in 1936, brought up and educated there. Joined Fiji Police Force in 1957 for a few years. Later on got married and started working in a large joinery shop as a cabinet maker and machine operator for 3 years and then joined a building construction company for 5 years. Started own building construction. In the year 1965 was elected as General Secretary of Quality Primary School - Lalikota Fiji and served for 30 years and as Trustee for 7 years. Still serving as a patron of the same school. In 1972 joined British American Insurance Company as a life underwriter for 7 years. In 1979 bought a dairy and general grocery shop in Lakitoka City (Fiji) running business till left in 1993. Came to Melbourne stayed for 4 years in Footscray. In 1997 moved to Braybrook on present address and in 1998 by request of Mr. Ormond Butler joined Braybrook Neighbourhood Watch as a committee member. Received 5 years award from Victoria Police. Later on in the year 2007 a civic award from the Mayor of Maribyrnong and in Jume 2008 awarded as Justice of the Peace of Victoria. Still willing to work hard with open heart to serve the community, the people in need.

Anthony Jobe
Anthony JobeAnthony has been as Disability Support worker with E.W Tipping foundation for the past 8 years and has volunteered at DSCH with the walking group for over 2 years as a walk leader. Anthony is a community representative on the committee of management. His hobbies include gardening, antique collecting & restoring, football, tennis, camping, travel, reading, cinema and studying. Anthony also assists with fundraising efforts for various charities. At home he has a number of pets including 2 white cockatoos, one called Mr Magoo and another called Olive Oil, 1 rainbow lorikeet, 4 chooks and some tropical goldfish.

Dennis Williams
Dennis WilliamsDennis is an enthusiastic member of the walking group and has joined the committee in 2005. Dennis has also just started a computer course at DS and says he is learning a great deal from this.

Childcare Representative: Linda Muirhead

Linda MuirheadHaving finalized my commitments as Monday’s Playgroup coordinator at the end of 2008, I am now immersed in my final year of a Diploma of Secondary Education. 2009 is already proving to be a challenge to manage as I fly through the weeks in a chaotic whirlwind of priorities, deadlines and family commitments. I am sure the pressure will ease up as the year unfolds…can only hope! I have two kids, Grace 12 and Giancarlo 5.

When time allows, I looove to garden; it’s not unusual to find me out there in the pouring rain transplanting seedlings, (taking advantage of the weather so as to reduce transplant shock). My husband and I have planted many fruit trees over the last year bringing our total quota to 18, (2 x plum, 1 x  peach, 3 x apple, 1 x lemon, 1 x avocado, 1 x mulberry, 2 x fig, 1 x loquat, 2 x almond, 1 x apricot, 1 x nectarine and 2 x olive). The vegie garden in our back yard is my husband’s ‘office’ and the front yard including the sides of the house is my ‘office’. The rule is, we’re not allowed to interfere in the decision making processes for each others ‘offices’ but we can help each other do the work!!! Some of you might like to try this model out – guaranteed to stop the arguing.

Other interests include cooking; in particular sourdough bread making. I have kept my current sourdough batter alive for the past year and a half; hope I don’t kill it with neglect any time soon. Recently I have begun learning to speak Norwegian and would love to practice conversing with anyone out there who speaks this language!

Anthony (Tony) Hendriks

Tony spent nearly all of his life working in the petro – chemical industry as a petro – chemical technician.   For 40 years during his work life Tony was responsible for the occupational health and safety aspects and administration of the use, transport and storage of highly dangerous chemicals. Tony also contributed to a number of work committees.

Tony has resided in Sunshine for over 50years and after retirement Tony was still keen to learn.  He enrolled in a Duke Street Community House computer class and now comes into Duke Street each week to use the public access computers in the lounge area. After a period of two years attending classes and getting to know a bit about the house Tony was elected to the Committee of Management. Tony’s other interests include crossword puzzles, meditation and walking to keep fit.