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Council | Executive | Sub-Committees | Regional Officers
Council are BCA’s Board of Directors. They set the vision and direction for BCA as they meet in May each year at the Annual General Meeting.
BCA has had a special place in Brian Roberts’ life since the early 1970s. He was involved in BCA radio production work and the annual rallies in the Chapter House when Barry Hugget was around. He entered Moore College and was adopted by the Federal Secretary as the BCA contact there. In his first year as the curate at Camden he told someone that BCA’s work was all “too hot”. He had spoken too soon. Next thing he knew he was on his way with his wife Denyse and four children to Zeehan on the west coast of Tasmania. A short stint in a Sydney parish was followed by an invitation in 1992 to take the CEO position. Brian and Denyse live at Warrawee. Their children have now left the nest but they have eight grandchildren and many interests to keep them busy.
Peter Brain first heard of BCA’s work during youth group in 1965. “I was impressed with those who served our Saviour through BCA in remote communities,” he says, adding, “I still am.” His parish in those days, St Barnabas Roseville East, was a keen supporter of BCA. Peter’s formal connection with the Society began during the 1980s when he became the honorary branch secretary in Perth. Peter has also served on Council since the 1980s.
A clergyman in the Sydney Diocese, John was elected to the BCA Council and Executive in 1978. He served as Chairman of NSW/ACT Regional Committee from 1987-1997 and was elected Vice President in 2009.
Fred Chilton has been the Chairman of BCA since May 2007. Prior to that he served for many years as a NSW elected member of Council, a member of the Finance and Property Committee and a member of the NSW Regional Committee. Fred long ago developed a passion for rural, regional and remote Australia, particularly through his work as a mining industry lawyer, his service with the Army Reserve and his links with relatives on the land. He is married to Jillian and they have five adult children, two daughters-in-law and one granddaughter. They worship at St Stephen’s, Willoughby.
Richard Host has been the BCA Honorary Treasurer and Chair of the Finance and Property Committee since 2005. The Chief Financial Officer of NSW Fire Brigades, he is a Fellow of CPA Australia and holds a number of business and finance qualifications. He is an active member of St Matthew’s West Pymble and is married with three children.
Chris Clerke studied at Moore College from 1965-69, married Marilyn in 1970 and has three children: Justin, Naomi and Simeon. He has been a BCA Missioner at: Menindee (1972 to 1977); Leigh Creek (1977-1984), and Gnowangerup (1985-1986). He then ministered at Botany/Mascot/Eastlakes (1987-1993); Marrickville (1993-2006) and retired to Wollongong Surf Leisure Resort in 2006. Chris has been a BCA Councillor since 1987.
The Revd Robert Healy served as Karratha Field Staff from 2000-2001. He then moved to the parish of Dongara Mingenew where he served from 2002-2006. He currently works in the parish of Balcatta Hamersley in the Diocese of Perth and represents Western Australia on the BCA Executive. He was appointed to this position in May 2007.
Mellita Bate is a Church Army Officer who served with BCA in Mt Magnet from 1999-2004. While working in Tea Gardens she continues to study theology and psychology in order to understand the best way for individuals to know the gospel. She is married to Allan and has two children.
Rob Castelow has been the vicar of St Mark’s Templestowe for six years. Born in Melbourne, he grew up in central Gippsland and worked for the State Electricity Commission for 20 years. With his wife Darelle, Rob returned to church following the baptism of their first child. The clash between the usual standards of bottom line economic management and the moral standards demanded by the gospel had to be confronted on many occasions in his career. But the gospel won when God took hold of him in 1985. Rob joined BCA National Council in 2009.
Lilian Morgan first became interested in BCA as a 15-year-old, after hearing Matron Flo Dowling speak in Melbourne. She went on to join the Flying Medical Service at Wudinna, Ceduna and Coober Pedy. On returning to Melbourne she was asked to join BCA’s Victorian Committee. In May 1979 she was appointed to BCA Council.
Royce Thompson was a BCA Missioner in Kununurra and served at Forest River between 1977 and 1981. In 1978 Royce learned to fly with the Missionary Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and became a Flying Missioner to the Kimberly. In the late 1990s he was elected to the NSW/ACT regional Committee and has served as Chair of the Committee since 1999. Royce was elected to Council and Executive in 2003. He now works with BCA as Strategic Mission Consultant in the Canberra Goulburn Diocese.
David Griffin has loved the Lord and believed the Bible now for more than 50 years. His connection with the work of BCA was encouraged by Aub Kirkby at Holy Trinity Church. By his persistence David decided to join the committee which he has been part of for about 30 years. Last year he was elected Chairman; a position he deems a great privilege.
Don Allen is a retired Public Servant who moved to Brisbane from Sydney in 1986. Married to Valma; they have 2 adult children. Don attends Waterloo Bay Anglican Church and is a member of the church’s music and pastoral-care teams. He was elected as Chairman in 2000 and serves on both Council and Executive.
Trisha Greenham is a semi-retired Store manager and has been involved with BCA for many years. She has been on the Qld Council since the late 1990s, worked on the Drought Aid programme, and was accepted onto Council in 2008. Along with her husband Eric, Trish has visited with missioners in a number of locations. The couple live on a hobby farm on the Southside of Brisbane with numerous birds and animals.
Stephen Gwilt became a Christian when living in Broome in 1988. Later, when travelling around the Kimberley/Pilbara region for work, he found the BCA supported parishes a fantastic encouragement. In 1999 he was approached by the Rt Revd Bernard Buckland to join the WA Regional committee and in 2004 was elected to Council. Stephen hopes people living or travelling through remote parts of Australia will have Christian ministry available to them as he did.
Aila Alderson has had a long association with BCA having worshipped at Sanderson, NT when it was a BCA parish, and having served in the SA office for six years and the NSW/ACT office for more than three years. She is a member of the Personnel Committee, BCA Executive and the South Australian/Northern Territory Regional Committee. Aila and her husband Barry now live in Adelaide. She was appointed to Council in May 2004.
Ernest Horth served as VIC/TAS Regional Officer from 1979 to 1981. In 1985 he was appointed Chairman of the TAS Regional Committee and around the same time he became a member of Council. From 1989 to 1993 he served as first full time Regional Officer for Qld/N.NSW and in 2007 he was appointed to VIC/TAS committee and elected as Chairman of Council.
Matthew Bradfield is a Chartered Accountant and joined the Property and Finance Committee in 2006. Although he grew up in the city, Matthew has always had an association with rural life having spent many summers helping out during wheat harvest. His wife Sandra grew up in a small town in country NSW. The Bradfields, together with their two children, attend All Saints Anglican Church, Oatley West. Matthew was appointed to Council in 2007.
Executive is made up of a number of Council members and meets four times a year. They have all the powers of Council between Annual General Meetings.
Manages all matters relating to finance and property.
Sets policy regarding Field Staff and Society personnel.
Develops the ministry portfolio of the Society.
Organises and promotes tours pertaining to BCA locations.
Regional Officers provide a vital connection between the field and home base. They are involved in mission education and gathering support for BCA. They also provide a unique pastoral care role to Field Staff and others connected with the Society.
New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory Regional Officer
chris@bushchurchaid.com.au
Married to Jenny, Chris Baxter has one adult daughter, Anita, (who is married to Anthony) and a grandson, Jonathan. Chris has been an Anglican minister since the 1970s and has served in the Newcastle and Sydney Dioceses. He now serves as BCA’s NSW Regional Officer. He has had a life long interest in mission and has been a supporter and committee member of various mission organisations. He has taught the ‘Perspectives On World Mission’ course and believes we are saved to serve God and share the gospel.
Queensland / Northern New South Wales Regional Officer
ian@bushchurchaid.com.au
Ian McGrath’s passion is to be useful serving God. As a result, much of his ministry has been in the bush in both rural and remote locations. Serving with BCA at Roxby and the Upper Clarence from 1996–2001, Ian particularly found the prayers offered by supporters a privilege. Since 2007 he has worked as the Queensland Regional Officer where he gets to meet lots of interesting and talented people, as well as spread the word about the good things BCA is doing. He is married to Glenda and they have three children.
West Australian Regional Officer
michael@bushchurchaid.com.au
Michael is the West Australian Regional Officer for BCA. He is married with two sons. He speaks about BCA around WA and is a support person for Field Staff working in Northwest Australia. Michael’s personal and professional background has inspired his passion for supporting rural ministry.
South Australian / Northern Territory Regional Officer
peter@bushchurchaid.com.au
Peter Linn’s ministry began in a city parish in 1985. He served at Weipa in far north Queensland from 1989 and in the early 1990s moved to the Auburn/Riverton parish north of Adelaide. He has also worked as a school chaplain. Peter began working as Regional Officer for SA/NT in 2005. He has also been a Reserve Chaplain for both the Army and the RAAF for 12 years. Always with a heart for mission, Peter has enjoyed seeking new ways to bring the gospel to those who do not know Christ.
Victorian Regional Officer
greg@bushchurchaid.com.au
Greg Jones was born in Tasmania in the first half of the 20th century. He became a Christian at 23 and has been an Anglican minister for more than 30 years. The last five years he has been working as BCA’s Regional Officer for Victoria. This involves administration, deputation work, and pastoral care of Field Staff. He is married to Rhi and has three adult daughters and three grandchildren.
Tasmanian Honorary Regional Officer
tas@bushchurchaid.com.au
Having grown up in a small country town, Dennis Quinn spent most of his working life in the city. But he and his wife (she also grew up in a small town) have a heart for the closeness of smaller communities. Their time in Winton QLD allowed them to recognise God's call on their lives and the need to minister through BCA to these wonderful people.