We love these people!

Critical to the success of the NCCG is the active participation and commitment of volunteers - 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 a volunteer 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...

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

Caroline Dale

Silvia Kanavaros

I am a Senior Counsellor at A Friend’s Place where I have been working for the past five years, co-leading groups and working with individual childI am the eldest of two children (I have a younger brother), a first generation Australian, born to Greek parents from Egypt, so I have an interesting cultural background. My parents arrived in Australia in the late 1950's, and my father died just over two years ago. My mother is still young and active, and does lots of community work.

I am married to an Australian and our family so far consists of a rather mischievous kitten who is currently helping (?) us settle into our new home. We are trying to teach her the RESPECT rule we have at 'A Friend's Place', and she is learning slowly.

When I am not working at the NCCG, I work as an organisational psychologist in the Human Resources Department of a large financial services company. In my spare time I like to spend time with my family and friends, cook, go to movies and the theatre, read, travel and do cross stitch.

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.

I have been a social worker for many years and have a special interest in working with bereaved and dying people, which I guess explains my two current work places. I have been a member of the counselling team at the Bereavement C.A.R.E. Centre for a number of years now, counselling bereaved and dying adults, and more recently have also been employed part time as a social worker in a palliative care hospital. Another part of my work that I love is teaching other people how to provide care for dying and bereaved people.

As the mother of four, I have gained lots of experience caring for children and young people, and recently joined the team at the NCCG as an intern, working in the bereavement support groups, and with individual children. My other loves are my family and friends, and my spare time interests are taking my two dogs for walks, or perhaps them taking me, reading, movies, yoga, and having fun with friends.

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 (Details Coming Soon)

Christine Walker