Critical to the success of the Bereavement Care Centre is the active participation and commitment of volunteers - here are the stories of some of our most valuable team members, in their own words.

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.

Sylvia Kanavaros I 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 Peter Coupland has a diverse background of working with people on issues regarding leadership, conflict, change and bereavement. Although his initial training was in agriculture, he began his career as an expedition guide and led trips to remote areas of Australia, Nepal and Costa Rica. This was followed by a number of facilitation roles in personal, organisational and community development and also environmental management. For the past 10 years, Peter has been running a private practice specialising in executive development providing personal and leadership support to senior executives in Australia, North Asia and South East Asia. Recently his work has extended to include bereavement counselling for individuals and families. Peter is a qualified children’s and adult’s Bereavement Counsellor and is a member of the senior team with the National Centre for Childhood Grief (NCCG) providing volunteer based support to children and adolescents on an individual and group basis. In this capacity, he is also the coordinator of the “Bereaved Boys Adventure Program”. He joined the Board of Directors of the NCCG in early 2008 and has a fundraising responsibility. Peter works as a consultant counsellor to the Bereavement C.A.R.E Centre in Eastwood providing support to bereaved adults and also sees children and adults at his private practice in Mittagong NSW. In 2007 Peter presented the Graham Coupland Lecture on Surgeons’ experience of Dying, Death and Bereavement to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. In 2008, a revised version of this paper was presented at the Association for Death Education and Counselling (ADEC) annual conference in Montreal where he also co-presented a paper on childhood grief. Peter holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Science (E.A.M), Post Graduate Diplomas in Conflict Resolution, Bereavement Counselling (Children), Bereavement Counselling (Adults) and a Masters Degree in Health Studies (Loss and Grief). He is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counselling, a Clinical Member of the NSW Counselling and Psychotherapists Association (CAPA) and a Professional Affiliate of the Australian Psychological Society.

Vera Russell 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 NCCGas 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.