INTRODUCING THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE 2020 NORTHERN LEADERS PROGRAM Vashti Aratangi Brad Baker Red Cliffs, Vic , Vic

Born in the Cook Islands, Vashti arrived Brad was born and raised in Mildura. in in 1994 and called After finishing his VCE, Brad completed her home where she studied Tourism his Bachelor of Accounting at La Trobe Management and worked in hospitality for University Mildura. 7 years. Brad started work as a tax accountant, In 2008, Vashti made the move to the a role that he was in for over 4 years, country and now calls Red Cliffs her home. before moving into asset accounting In 2013 she volunteered for the Red Cliffs for the Mildura Rural City Council. Salvation Army to facilitate a Hula Dance Brad’s current role is as a management Workshop for families. After this she was accountant at Southern Cross Farms. promoted to the role of Children’s Ministry Leader for over 2 years. Outside of work, Brad’s interests are basketball and spending time with Vashti currently works at the Red Cliffs family. Brad and his wife Chelsea Community Resource Centre as a welcomed their first child in 2019. Volunteer Coordinator. She is passionate about her Cook Island culture and This year, Brad is looking forward to volunteers her time promoting and the opportunity to develop community teaching the Aroa Hula Dance Troupe. relationships, enhance his leadership skills and to give back to the community. A proud mother to her 11 year old son, in her spare time Vashti enjoys craft and growing her own food.

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Scholarship Recipient Jayden Burns Rebecca Burton Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Jayden was born and raised in Horsham. Rebecca is a proud born and bred local Following his secondary education at and has two children. Rebecca comes Horsham College, he moved to to from a large family of small business attend University. owners, so it was a natural progression to buy into her first business at the age In 2008, after attaining a Bachelor of of twenty. Commerce majoring in Accounting, Jayden started as a Graduate Accountant When Rebecca’s first child Angus arrived with Mulcahy & Co in Ballarat. After she did her Agents Representatives completing his CPA studies, Jayden Course and worked part time in real progressed to Senior Accountant before estate. relocating to Mildura in April 2019 with his wife Sophie and their young son George, When Rebecca’s second child Rudy was taking up a role as a Partner of Mulcahy & just a baby she bought a Sumo Salad Co’s Mildura/ and Berri Offices. franchise which she ran in partnership with her Mum for 10 years. In his spare time Jayden enjoys playing golf and spending time with his young Rebecca has been involved in many family. community projects and upon selling her business in 2019 decided to follow her passion into community service.

Rebecca is currently studying at SuniTafe and volunteering with SCHS.

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Rebecca has made the commitment to invest in her own involvement in the 2020 NML Program as a self-funded participant. Nicole Byrnes Suzi Daley , NSW Mildura, Vic

Nicole has enjoyed a long, successful Born in , Suzi spent her career in research and extension services childhood and early teens in the following completion of her PhD having Simpson and Strzelecki Deserts, along worked in both the government and not- the Dingo Fence and red sandhills of for-profit sectors in numerous agricultural Merti Merti before her family settled at projects. Moomba Gasfields in ’s Cooper Basin. Nicole is currently employed at SPAA (Society of Precision Agriculture Australia Sent to boarding school with her two Inc.) where she provides leadership to older sisters when she was 14, Suzi the SPAA team and manages projects at graduated high school four years a regional, state-wide and national level later and has spent much of her for the organisation. Nicole is also on the adult life working in a diverse range board of Western Local Land Services and of industries across Australia, from provides guidance to SuniTAFE in their telecommunications, construction, horticultural SMART Farm redevelopment hospitality and retail. plans. Suzi moved to Mildura from in Outside working hours, Nicole, her 2003 and lives with her daughter. A husband and two young sons run a mixed ‘nomad’ at heart, she has a great love farming property near Pooncarie (NSW), for animal welfare, nature, art, poetry where she volunteers in a number of and literature and is passionate about community groups in the district. raising awareness and funds for small, local charities.

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Suzi has made the commitment to invest in her own involvement in the 2020 NML Program as a self-funded participant.

NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient Lisa Davis Melissa Follett Red Cliffs, Vic Mildura, Vic

Lisa was born and raised in the Mildura Melissa was born in Mildura, raised in area. Wentworth and has lived in for most of her life. After completing her secondary schooling, Lisa relocated to and then Following her secondary education Brisbane for 10 years where she pursued at Mildura Senior College, Melissa was awarded a scholarship to study a career in personal injury insurance. a Bachelor of Business at La Trobe University. Melissa commenced her Lisa returned to Mildura in 2012, tertiary education at the local Mildura where she completed her Diploma of campus before transferring to the Community Services at SuniTAFE Mildura. campus to complete her Since completing her studies, Lisa has degree. realised her passion for working with disadvantaged people in the community Upon graduation Melissa moved back to and is a strong advocate for social justice. Mildura where she secured employment at Mildura Rural City Council. A long- Lisa is now the senior worker in the term employee of Council for 18 years, Housing Access Program at MASP, Melissa has extensive experience across working with individuals and families the areas of organisational development, human resources, corporate and who are experiencing or at risk of strategic planning, reporting, continuous homelessness. improvement, training & development and organisational and community In her spare time, Lisa enjoys travelling research. abroad and experiencing different cultures. Melissa is a devoted mother to her two children Brock and Mia and together with her partner Greg, enjoy supporting their children in their interests in motorsport and dance.

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Melissa has made the commitment to invest in her own involvement in the 2020 NML Program as a self-funded participant. Mandy Gowty Judi Johnson Nichols Point, Vic Mildura, Vic

Whilst working for a legal firm in Judi grew up in Mildura, beginning Melbourne, Mandy and her partner her schooling at Mildura West Primary commenced a five-year journey around School, and completing Year 12 at Australia. Mandy took on many varied Mildura Technical College. roles during this time including working for an equine stud in Noosa; Fraser Island She married, and supported her Resort in Hervey Bay; cattle stations in , before their last stop in husband with his Army career, which Darwin. After getting married they then involved many moves around the chose to come to sunny Mildura on the country. During her years away, Judi was mighty and call this beautiful a stay at home mother of six. She led a their home. busy life, with favourite past-times being gardening, cooking, sewing and reading. After starting a family (four children under four), Mandy and her husband dedicated After her youngest child commenced their time to establishing their own school, Judi opened a quilt shop, which building company of which she is currently she successfully ran for 10 years. She a Director and manages Accounts and Administration. Mandy now has a house then enjoyed various occupations; full of teenagers and a business that has employment as a seamstress, cook at a gone from strength to strength. retirement village to name a few.

She has been actively involved in Judi returned to Mildura a few years Nichols Point Inc. since 2015 and the ago to care for her elderly parents. She Mildura Alcheringa Pony Club from 2016, currently works as an Assistant Manager thoroughly enjoying the challenges and of the Salvation Army Thrift Shop and is rewards of both positions and being also a regular volunteer in other areas of involved in the community. the Salvation Army. In her spare time, Mandy enjoys horse riding, water skiing, camping and reading. Her favourite past-time is riding the family’s beautiful horses with her girls and family holidays. Proudly Supported by

Mandy has made the commitment to invest in her own involvement in the 2020 NML Program as a self-funded participant.

Scholarship Recipient Russell Keating Karen Milner Mildura, Vic Irymple, Vic

Russell was born in Wynyard, Tasmania. Karen has lived in Mildura for all of her Leaving Tassie at 19, Russell went on adult life and is married with a six year to spend the majority of his adult life in old daughter. the hospitality sector. Russell began his hospitality career as a bar attendant/ After completing her schooling at waiter before commencing a cooking Mildura Senior College, Karen went apprenticeship and eventually working on to complete further studies at La his way up to become a head chef, a Trobe University, gaining her Bachelor position he held at a number of venues of Commerce, then on to receive her across Sunraysia over the years. Russell CPA. Karen then took a break from study has recently left the hospitality sector to before commencing a Masters in Project take up a traineeship with Cozwine. He Management. Karen is a Coordinator at is hoping this exciting opportunity in the Mildura Rural City Council, where she wine industry will enable him to develop has been employed for over 14 years. a range of new skills for the future. Karen’s focus is Asset Accounting and Asset Management. Russell has a wonderful partner and two children aged 9 and 13, he enjoys In her spare time Karen enjoys travelling, watching football and cricket, cooking both within Australia and overseas and and spending time with his family. is looking forward to exploring different parts of the world as her daughter gets Russell is looking forward to the older. challenges of the NML Program and developing new skills and networks.

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Karen has made the commitment to invest in her own involvement in the 2020 NML Program as a self-funded participant.

NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient Kady Moore Maddy Morrish Robinvale, Vic , Vic

Kady was born in Mildura and resided in Born in Western Australia, Maddy has the Sunraysia area for the majority of her spent a majority of her life in Ouyen. life. Kady attended school in Robinvale Following her secondary education, she and prior to commencing completed a Bachelor of Psychological her journey with Police in 2014. Science at Flinders University in Adelaide, followed by a Bachelor of Kady has been an active participant in Nursing at La Trobe in Mildura. She her community since returning as an now works in Wellbeing at Ouyen P-12 officer to Robinvale in 2015. She has College as well as being employed as a been a Director at the Robinvale District Registered Nurse at Mallee Track Health Health Services since 2017. & Community Services.

In her spare time Kady enjoys fitness, Maddy loves being involved in her the outdoors and riding her horses. Kady community and is an active member of is passionate about climate change, the Ouyen United Football & Netball sustainability and the environment, Club Committee. She is looking which is something she hopes to focus forward to learning ways to better use on as a project after the 2020 NML and develop her skills for the future Program. development of her community.

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Scholarship Recipient Scholarship Recipient Nicole Rawlinson- Stanbrough Anita Richards Mildura, Vic Mildura, Vic

Nicole was born in Melbourne in 1998 Anita was born in Tasmania and has later moving to Mildura with her family. worked in various roles in the Private Health Insurance Industry for 26 years. During the final years of her secondary In 2006, she relocated to South education at Mildura Senior College, Australia to work as a Systems Specialist Nicole completed her Certificate III in Trainer sharing her knowledge to Health Aviation which continues to be a passion Funds throughout Australia on their of hers. Nicole is currently an active Health Systems. member of Scouts Australia and has also been involved with Electric Light Theatre In November 2018 another relocation for the last eight years. Her past three of saw Anita move to Mildura to work for these years with Electric Light Theatre Mildura Health Fund as their Technology has also seen Nicole be a part of the and Training Manager. production team/choreographer. Her interests include car racing, golf, Nicole Commenced working for Optus music and spending time with friends. Mildura in 2017 as a sales associate Loving Mildura, Anita has a strong desire before moving into the store manager to immerse herself into the community, role in 2019. developing relationships and giving back to the region that is now home. In her spare time Nicole enjoys playing cricket, hanging out with friends and has travelled throughout the Pacific Islands. She is looking forward to exploring other parts of the world in the future.

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Nicole has made the commitment to invest in her own involvement in the 2020 NML Program as a self-funded participant. Belinda Ryan Katrina Umback Nichols Point, Vic Mildura, Vic

Raised in Mildura, Belinda completed Originally from Broken Hill, Katrina her schooling at Mildura Senior College moved to Mildura in 2011 with her and initially began her working career husband and two young boys. in the export of local fresh fruit followed by export of wine at Australian Vintage. Katrina’s background is varied. From She completed a Diploma of Business Journalism, Office Administration, (International Trade) and continued Recruitment, Court Services, a Sergeant further studies and employment in Rural for the NSW Sheriff’s Office to a Fitness Business & Financial Services. Belinda Instructor. now works in Revenue at Lower Murray Water and enjoys working and helping In Mildura, Katrina has devoted her time rural customers including those in to raising her two boys while working as hardship. a Fitness Instructor and volunteering at her son’s school. Belinda and her husband Andrew have three children and are all actively With the death of her husband in 2019 involved in many local sporting clubs in to a heart attack, Katrina is focusing both a playing and coaching capacity. on raising money and awareness for the Heart Foundation along with Belinda is passionate about personal/ establishing a Catheterisation Lab and professional growth and development Angiogram service in our region. and is excited about the new opportunities ahead due to her involvement in the 2020 NML Program.

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NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient Melissa Van Reymersdael Daniel Whitford Red Cliffs, Vic Mildura, Vic

Mel has lived in the Mallee for 10 years Daniel was born in but was after moving from the Dandenong raised in Robinvale where he completed ranges. She has a gorgeous family with his VCE. Seeking a worldly perspective, five children. Mel runs a family business, he backpacked for a year before Smith Stump services, with her partner attending Deakin University in Burwood and is currently starting her own practice - to complete a Bachelor Degree in I.T. Mallee Arts. Security.

Mel has worked in the welfare sector for After several years working in hospitality 16 + years in youth services with children then telecommunications Daniel who have experienced trauma and abuse. decided on a tree change to be closer to his family. He relocated to Mildura where She is currently work at Mildura Rural City he now works as a Technical Service Council in the Youth Engagement team Manager. part time. Mel completed a Degree with a Bachelor of Arts in Welfare at Victoria Daniel is a skilled professional who University in 2004 And most recently is mindful of the issues affecting the studied with the college of clinical Art community and hopes that through the Therapy fulfilling her dream to become an NML Program he will discover ways to Art Therapist. connect issues to solutions.

He is a committee member of the Northwest Rail Alliance and has a keen interest in politics. In his spare time he enjoys archery and going to the gym.

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NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient NML Alumni Scholarship Recipient