Funded By the Australian Government
Peter Kirkwood OAM
Peter has been a resident of Sydney’s Upper North Shore for over 30 years. He is married to his wife Gabrielle, has two adult children and four grandchildren.
He has an interest in local community affairs primarily through his involvement with the Rotary Club of Wahroonga and the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai PCYC.
Professionally, Peter was involved in the applications engineering, sales, and marketing of high technology equipment in the defence, communications, and medical industries.
He is a Justice of the Peace and has received a Government of NSW Community Service Award. In 2018 Peter was named Ku-ring-gai Citizen of the Year, and in 2019 was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
Paul Locke
Paul Locke was a Chartered Accountant with Price Waterhouse for 14 years; then Group Controller with William Adams and following takeovers and spin-outs by BHP, retired as Company Secretary of Arrium (formerly OneSteel). Paul spent 20 years as Treasurer of Georgian House aged care facility until it merged with Wesley Gardens. He currently serves as a Director and Company Secretary.
David Forsythe
David holds a commerce degree from Newcastle University, active in the University community and in professional education programs.
Career as Chartered Accountant, partner in or consultant to various Chartered Accountancy and financial services firms in Newcastle from 1973 to 1986, and in Sydney from 1986, primarily with Rost & Kitchener from 1986 to 2008. Advised individuals and small/medium sized companies in tax, business strategies and management.
Resident of St Ives since 1986 and active member of Rotary Club of Ku-ring-gai since 1987 in roles of President, Treasurer and Director, leading many of the club’s community hands on projects, and advisor to two Rotary District Governors. Past member of Apex in Newcastle, Jaycees in Mosman and Justice of the Peace.
He is currently a Director and the Company Secretary.
Vini Mehta
Vini has been a resident of Ku-ring-gai for fifty years. She worked in radio in India as a newsreader and doing children's and womens programs. She arrived in Australia in 1969 with her husband and family. She was approached by the Indian community in Sydney to take part in the first Hindi language radio programs in Australia in 1975. She worked with Radio 2EA (later SBS Radio) for 17 years broadcasting in Hindi. Vini chose to dedicate herself to helping people and the community after the loss of her husband in 2007. She joined KNC as a volunteer, teaching Mahjong and helping with the shopping bus. Vini is also a member of the Asquith VIEW club which is part of The Smith Family and sponsors six children throughout their primary and secondary schooling. Vini has been a member of the VIEW club for the last 28 years, supporting The Smith Family causes.
Michele Bell
Michele is a registered physiotherapist who worked developing functional exercise falls prevention and hydrotherapy programs in NSW1 to promote wellness and reablement. Michele Bell was actively involved in the development of these programs for public and private health services, built and directed services, managed development of public and private hospital hydrotherapy and water based and land based programs for over 28 years.
Consultant to Department of Veteran Affairs and Motor Accident Authority for many years Michele is also a certified workplace trainer Currently Advisor to Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Dementia Alliance and Current guest Lecturer for UNSW Social Work faculty on ‘Culture Identity & Diversity – Pathways to accessing services’. Michele is also Guest presenter at NSW1 PHN forums, OPAN member and Executive member of Interagency Forum Sydney North. Michele is passionate about Advocacy and clear service information through the KNC Carer Connection program.
Anna Struthers
Anna trained as a pre-school teacher in Adelaide and worked part time in several Sydney pre-schools for twenty five years. She started driving clients for KNC in 1992 and has been involved in the ESL classes since 2008. She has been Coordinator of these classes since 2014. Anna became a Director on the KNC Board in 2019. She has been deliving meals for Meals on Wheels from Turramurra Centre since 2005.
Anna was awarded the Northern Sydney Area Volunteer of the Year in 2018. She enjoys meeting and helping members of the
Ku ring gai community.
Robyn Kerr OAM
Retired public servant. Local resident of Ku-ring-gai for 57 years. Active over the years in school P & Cs primary and secondary; long time parishioner at St John’s Anglican Church Gordon. Strongly involved in local community groups offering advocacy in promoting the interests of these groups. Justice of the Peace since 1981. Volunteer at Ku-ring-gai Neighbourhood Centre for nine years. Committed to ensuring residents have access to all information about their rights and services.
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Anne Sigre
Anne spent her formative years in the UK, where she was employed by British Gas in Administrative roles. She then progressed into Real Estate before moving to Adelaide in 1988, with her husband and two young sons. Shortly after arriving, Anne joined a medical practice and was manager there for many years during which time she obtained qualifications in both HR and Management. Leaving the practice, she joined an international packaging company working as an Executive Assistant within their new glass producing facility.
In 2009 she relocated to join her husband, who had taken a position within the NSW rail industry. They purchased a home in North Turramurra and she soon established herself within KNC, working as a volunteer carrying out various administrative tasks. Before joining KNC Anne had obtained Real Estate registration and worked at a local estate agency, in a PA role. After leaving, she was employed at a local retirement village. Her commitment to KNC was such that whilst carrying out these roles, Anne continued her association as a volunteer.
Her success as a volunteer saw her progress into an employee position, her main roles being volunteer recruitment and overseeing various aspects of compliance within the area of volunteers and some general administrative functions.
Anne and her husband returned to Adelaide in 2016 to enable them to be "hands on" grandparents and spend time with their new grandsons. Anne has however, maintained links with KNC and has taken an active interest in its growth and development.