We love these people!

Critical to the success of the NCCG is the active participation and commitment of our team - here are the stories of some our most valuable workers, in their own words. We have, and continue to need, volunteers to help with children's support groups, administration and fundraising activities. If you are interested in becoming part of the team please contact us at the Centre.

Ann Mulheron

I was originally a nurse, later trained as a psychologist and have specialised in bereavement counselling since 1986 when I completed Post Graduate training with Di and Mal McKissock. I also completed an intensive 2 year course in clinical Supervision at the Bereavement C.A.R.E. Centre, and have continued to divide my working week between the BCC and my private practice.

Another professional interest is working at The Institute of counselling as a counselling skills teacher, trainer and group facilitator. I have been involved with the NCCG from its beginning in early 1994. My role has primarily been with bereaved families and I facilitate the support groups for bereaved partners (parents of children in support groups) currently held on Wednesday evenings. In all of my roles I have found my nursing training and experience invaluable. That background helps me to understand many aspects of the process of terminal illness that create pain and distress for grieving families, and to interpret medical and coronial reports when necessary.

My husband and soul mate Richard and I have experienced the richness of family life with our two children, an adopted son called David and a foster daughter named Suz-ann. David was born with Progeria and died when he was nine years old. Suz-ann was born with an intellectual disability and is now a delightful 21 year old, living in a protected, semi independent environment close to our home. Richard and I both love out door holidays involving camping or house boats, and often return from these adventures with stories of getting lost on waterways, or tents being flooded with torrential rain. We love spending time with our large extended family, with friends, and enjoy reading, playing cards and competing at Scrabble.

Lillian Markovic (Lil)

I became interested in bereavement counselling some years ago when I was completing my Diploma course in counselling, and heard Mal McKissock speak about loss and grief. I subsequently trained with Di and Mal and was moved by the way they helped children learn to live with the pain of grief. I later became a volunteer member of the team facilitating support groups, and continue to enjoy relating to the children who come to 'A Friend's Place'. I respect their courage.

I recently deferred studies in my Master's Degree in counselling because of the hours involved and the difficulty of earning a living at the same time. I currently work in the hospitality industry. In my spare time I love to spend time with family and friends, and really enjoy gardening and cooking. It give me great pleasure to give to others the results of my efforts, gifts of flowers and food, which I am assured are enjoyed and appreciated. I guess I really enjoy giving TLC to others.

Nick Backo

My involvement with ‘A Friend’s Place’ began when my Dad died just before my 16^th birthday. I found out about the centre at Eastwood through a family member who worked as a school counsellor and subsequently attended with my Mum and brother. I saw a counsellor one on one whilst my brother also attended the group sessions along with my Mum in the parents group for a number of years. After this I maintained contact with ‘A Friend’s Place’ attending a number of one off adolescent days and helping out whenever I could. I eventually was lucky enough to attend the first boy’s adventure weekend which was run through the centre which I can safely say was one of the best decisions I have made.

It was a great weekend and following that I attended the training program to become a support worker with the children’s group. I have now currently done that for 3 terms and attended another boy’s weekend as a leader and am looking forward to the future at ‘A Friend’s Place’.

In my personal life I am studying a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology at the University of Western Sydney and am hoping to continue to do further studies in this area. I also referee football (soccer) and futsal on a regular basis. Sport and in particular football is a passion of mine along with listening to music and spending as much time as I can with my family and friends. I have also recently discovered the wonders of travel after spending 3 months in Europe so I am looking forward to seeing more of both Australia and the World.

I hope to continue my involvement with ‘A Friend’s Place’ and to help them expand and be able to help even more people in their grief. I am constantly reminded in my work at the centre of how lucky I am to be able to meet and get to know so many amazing people.

Caroline Dale

Having had some of  bereaved children through her work with Good Grief, Caroline was really keen to enhance her knowledge and skills. At somewhat short notice, she was able to completed the Kids Course in Nov 2007 and the following year began as a support worker. And, but for her time off for studying and travelling in the Netherlands, she has remained committed to all at A Friend’s Place.

Caroline is vibrant, energetic and enthusiastic. Her relatively youthful demeanour and her fitness make her very appealing to the kids, very helpful to the adults and somewhat embarrassing for some of the less vibrant older team members.

She is easily moved by the lives of the children and her capacity to show her reactions in an appropriate way make her endearing.

She has a big heart and an intellect to match, both of which will ensure she will not only continue to learn about the needs of bereaved children, she will be able to further develop her skills and be able to implement them creatively.

Peter Coupland

Hi there. My first involvement with the NCCG was during a training course in 2001. Since then, my passion and interest in supporting bereaved kids and families has grown enormously and I started volunteer work with the NCCG in July 2003. Having completed the Post Grad Dip. ‘working with Bereaved Children’ I am doing an internship Grad Dip. Bereavement Counselling with the centre and have also completed a Masters Degree in Loss and Grief.

I have a great love and respect for children with my two children being a constant source of inspiration along with the kids I work with at the NCCG. I am encouraged by the strength and wisdom of the kids at the centre and find humility in their capacity to respect each other and learn from the very difficult situations they find themselves in. I also run a small executive development consultancy.

Mary Ashton

Born in New York City, I lived in the US until I was 25 yrs old. I swapped my favourite landmark from the Statue of Liberty to the Sydney Opera House in 1982 when I met and married my Australian husband Rick. My original educational background included a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Teaching and A Certificate in Learning Difficulties.

These culminated in some interesting employment: working at the Watergate, a job with a Hollywood Cinematographer with a handicapped daughter and living and teaching in a historic mansion which housed a private residential school for children with learning difficulties. In 1995, my brother Raymond died from cancer and my focus took on a new direction. I became involved with palliative care and bereavement and began volunteering at Calvary Hospital in Kogarah. I became a facilitator for both the Rainbows and Season’s for Growth Programs for Children and received a special award in 2001 from the Prime Minister recognising my volunteer work in this area.

In the last two years I have completed the Working with Bereaved Children and Bereavement Counselling courses at the Centre. I am filled with love and admiration for ‘A Friend’s Place’ and all those who pass through the front door each week. As a former teacher, it is a joy to now be a student and be learning so much from my experiences with the children and their parents and my colleagues here in Eastwood.

In my spare time I love gardening, reading and spending time with Rick and my three children Christopher, Catherine and Stephen.

Helen Fifeild-Smith

Helen began the ‘Working with Bereaved Children’ course in Nov 2008 with enthusiasm and commitment and it hasn’t waned. Since commencing with the kids groups in 2009 she has travelled from the lower Blue Mountains each group night, without any hesitation, in order to continue her learning and offer her support to the kids and the team.

Her mix of maturity, mothering experience and professional skills enabled her to quickly become a significant member of the team.

She is capable, self directed and self confident and, at the same time, always open to direction and willing to learn.

Her understanding of children and her love for people ensures that the kids and parents at ‘A Friend’s Place’ can be confident about the care they receive.

She also doesn’t take her self too seriously and is always able to put a humorous spin on her own misgivings and adverse situations without it being a put down.

She has the ability, intelligence and potential to further develop her skills and make an even greater contribution the the lives of bereaved children.