Dear members and supporters of Ryder Cheshire Australia (RCA),
At a special meeting of the RCA Board held on June 20th, I was elected as the new Chair of this wonderful organisation dedicated to the ‘relief of suffering without discrimination.’ It is one that I have been directly associated with since 2012, and before that, through my mother and her coffee group, who for over 50 years sponsored children at Raphael.
RCA’s directors encourage you all to consider the profound impact you can make by passing on the baton as supporters to our children, grand-children and the younger generations.
Ryder Cheshire remains one of the very few charities entirely volunteer-based, with 100% of all tax-deductible donations reaching the two international Ryder-Cheshire homes, Raphael in India and Klibur Domin in Timor-Leste. This is not just a chance to contribute to a noble cause. It is a wonderful opportunity to meet other interesting and like-minded people, and to grow personally and professionally.
We thank Rory McEwen for all his work as immediate past-President and his continuing support and involvement in South Australia. The new Board will maintain the strong momentum of change and renewal that Rory initiated.
Succession is our number one focus. Over the next two years, the Board will be actively recruiting people who are willing to assist at either the Board level or Committee level or on specific projects and tasks. If you know of anyone who may be retiring soon or who has an interest in international aid or who has volunteered at one of our homes and might be interested, I would be delighted to speak to them. Skills in digital and social media, writing grant applications, legal and governance, finance and administration, marketing and fundraising would be particularly welcome.
It gives me much pleasure to welcome Siobhan Reeves to the RCA Board. Siobhan is well known to the RCA family, having previously volunteered several times at Klibur Domin and is a strong supporter of RCA’s work. Siobhan is currently based in the East Kimberly, WA working in Indigenous Affairs for the Commonwealth Government. She has previous board experience and is firmly committed to volunteering, which includes St Vincent de Paul Society and Ronald McDonald House at the Centenary Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Her professional experience is wide and includes roles in disaster relief and working with disadvantaged communities. Siobhan will assist Susie Mackerras as Chair of the International Committee and Volunteer Coordinator for the two homes we support.
Continuing as a director Mike Moignard has assumed the role of Vice President. He will assist me in undertaking representational duties and overseeing RCA’s donor relationship management processes. Mike is also President of the Victorian Foundation and Treasurer of the Ivanhoe Homes. Dianne McGrath retains her role as Chair of Media and Communications leading her enthusiastic and energetic group of helpers. She is also President of the Ballarat Ryder-Cheshire Support Group. Peter Colliver remains a director and continues to hold the roles of Treasurer, Company Secretary and Public Officer of RCA. I will retain my existing role in chairing the Legal and Finance Committee. We are also fortunate to have the continuing assistance of Stuart Stansfield, who has agreed to remain as Board Secretary and provide the strong professional and administrative support directors will need over the next year.
My director colleagues and I look forward to a positive year fulfilling our founders’ mission.
Kindest regards,
Paul Fearon,
Chairperson Ryder-Cheshire Australia.
‘… the relief of suffering without discrimination…’