Our Team
Melissa McMahon
President
Melissa is the current President of the BDCDA Management Committee. She joined the BDCDA in 2016 and had previously been a user/hirer of facilities since 2014. She holds current Bachelor qualifications in Psychology, Secondary Education, and Policing, a Diploma of Public Safety and Certificates in Training and Assessing. She has been a Commissioned Officer with the Australian Army for over 20 years, serving on overseas deployments on two occasions whilst serving with the Reserves.
Melissa joined the Queensland Police Service as a sworn officer at 21 and served in various locations throughout south east Queensland over her 20 years of service, most recently as the Senior Sergeant Project Officer in the Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Unit. Melissa is currently the State Member for Macalister, representing Beenleigh and surrounds in the Queensland Parliament. She has an extensive work history in serving the community whilst in uniform.
The work Melissa does within the BDCDA allows her to continue to serve and work with community groups and like-minded people away from her employment. She is passionate about the role community based organisations can have in facilitating change within local communities.
Melissa has three young children and most of her spare time is spent living vicariously through them, watching them play sport and building Lego and Minecraft worlds. She is also a rugby league tragic when time permits.
Donna Shipton
Secretary
Donna has been involved with BCDCA since 2014. At the 2018 AGM Donna became the Secretary for the Management Committee after filling the position throughout the year.
Donna moved to Beenleigh during December 1992 with her family. Her children still of school age were enrolled at Beenleigh State School where she joined the School Auxiliary in 1993 establish friendships in the community. Since then Donna has continued volunteering within the P&C Association at Beenleigh State School as a general member and various positions on the P&C Executive.
In 2017 Donna became the Breakfast Club Coordinator as well run the Walk in my Shoes program and supporting students with Uniforms and Stationery needs within the School Community. In 1995 Donna was offered some Teacher Aide hours for the School and she been able to gain her Certificate 3 in Education Support and now supports students in the Special Education Program.
Nick McAllister
Treasurer
Nick is the treasurer of the BDCDA Management Committee. He has held this volunteer position since September of 2018. In this role he is responsible for utilising his knowledge and skill to support the organisation stay fiscally stable and ensuring long term sustainability and growth are achieved.
Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and has worked in the local area for some time, providing accounting and taxation services to businesses both big and small.
Nick enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as hiking and traveling. He is also a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Sean Leader
Vice President
Yvonne Rogers
General Member
Yvonne is a Vice President of the BDCDA Management Committee and has been involved with the organisation since 2007. Yvonne’s first introduction to BDCDA was when she joined the International Cooking Club (ICC) after seeing an article in the local newspaper. After joining the ICC Yvonne took an interest in a range of other BDCDA clubs, including a walking club, beading group and lapidary club. Through her involvement with the ICC Yvonne became heavily involved in her community, engaging in a number of projects including healthy lunches in schools and production of a multicultural cooking video.
As Yvonne’s involvement with BDCDA grew she developed an interest in learning how the organisation works, i.e. who makes the decisions, how the organisation is structured, how the organisation is funded, etc. It was through this desire to know more about BDCDA that Yvonne came to be on the Management Committee.
Yvonne has enjoyed a successful career as a teacher, as well as a Mother of two children. She holds a Bachelor of Education and Diploma in Teaching and has taught in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland.
Yvonne is an avid sewer and enjoyed doing craft with the children in her care. Nowadays her passion is making jewellery using many different mediums, including Silversmithing. Yvonne also enjoys reading, aqua-aerobics and staying physically active.
Jennifer Cavendish
General Member
Sam Bosse
General Member
Sam has spent the last 10+ years in Senior Executive, CEO and Director positions, largely in the education and professional development space both domestically and overseas. Across this time, Sam has held CEO and Director positions for NFP Success, Nurtured Heart Approach Australia, Borderless International, Catalyst Education, Competency Training and Tout Get Noticed. In these capacities Sam has overseen the growth and development of these organisations from large multi-million dollar international providers through to smaller boutique operations, finding a way to make an impact in highly competitive markets through the use of strategic leadership and knowledge of international markets.
Sam is heavily involved in a number of governance boards in each of the public, private, and NFP sectors both as a volunteer and also a consultant offering solutions around strategic planning, community engagement and professional development. Sam currently serves as the CEO of Bowen Flexi Care, a not-for-profit organisation devoted to supporting people living with disabilities.
Sam is born and raised in Brisbane and is married with five children. He spends most Saturdays coaching 2 of his sons in their local basketball team and enjoys above all else spending time with his family.
Trish Larner
General Member
Ann-marie Keleher
General Member
Cheryll Bown
Manager
Cheryll commenced her employment with BDCDA in February 2006. Her roles have been varied and have included family support, administration roles and coordinating the homelessness program for the last nine years. Cheryll has been the manager of BDCDA for the last four years.
Cheryll has had many different positions during her working life, some of these positions include community worker, teacher-aide, child care worker, family support work and most recently coordinator and manager with BDCDA. Her recent education includes a Diploma in Justice Administration, MYOB theory, and a partial Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioural Studies. Cheryll is also in the process of completing her Diploma in Community Services.
Cheryll is very much a ‘people’ person and continues to enjoy having the opportunity to work and develop relationships within the Beenleigh Community, whilst also building BDCDA’s profile. In her own words “the last 12 years have been a rewarding experience and the whilst the BDCDA team is small, we have shown that we are able to foster social inclusion. Our strength is also captured by our wonderful volunteers and team leaders”.
In her down time Cheryll enjoys reading, trivia, movies, being outdoors (not in the extreme heat!) and cruising. She also loves spending time with her family, friends and watching her two grandchildren grow.
Stewart McAllister
Housing Support Officer
Anthony Ketland
Community Development Officer
IT Coordinator
Justice of the Peace (Qualified)
Anthony was employed as BDCDA’s Community Support Officer from September 2016, and was promoted to the role of Community Development Officer in September 2018. Prior to his employment with BDCDA he worked for many years in the electronic security industry.
Anthony holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and is a qualified Justice of the Peace. His primary role within BDCDA is the development, delivery and evaluation of community projects, events and resources. Anthony is also responsible for maintaining BDCDA’s information technology infrastructure, website and social media presence.
Anthony enjoys spending time with his family, travelling overseas and photography. He also maintains a keen interest in politics, current affairs and aviation.
Rhianna Blatch
Administration Support Volunteer
Rhianna has been an Administration Support volunteer with BDCDA since 2017. In 2018 she took on an additional role as a volunteer Microfinance Worker within BDCDA’s No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) program. Rhianna holds qualifications in counselling, mentoring and business administration and is a Young Mum Mentor with RAISE foundation. Rhianna splits her time between working the Beenleigh Neighbourhood Centre reception, conducting NILS loan interviews, and assisting the organisation with special projects.
Rhianna is an empathetic and compassionate person and genuinely cares about making a difference, wanting to assist people in need and helping to show them the paths available. She enjoys practicing martial arts, designing jewellery, reading and playing with her children.
