Variety the children’s charity is privileged to benefit from the extraordinary dedication, experience and abilities of our volunteer board of directors.
Ian Mackay
Chief Barker / Chair Person
Ian qualified as a Public Accountant in 1975 and held senior management positions in the fledgling micro and personal computer industry before establishing a mail order software business in 1986. The company evolved into an award winning distributor and software publisher and was sold to a public company in 2007. Ian retired in 2009, resigned his public company directorship, and he now has more time to share his management and marketing expertise. Ian was elected as Treasurer of Variety Queensland in 2006 and was elected as Chief Barker/Chair Person in 2010.
Craig Marriott
Vice Chair / Events Chair
Craig Marriott became involved with Variety in 2009 as an Auxiliary Workshop on the bash. Since this time he has been involved in many events in an official capacity. Craig has 4 children and joined Variety to help other children that are not as fortunate as his own and has recently started to get his own children involved in the fundraising process.
Craig is the Managing Director of Eventrans Australia Pty. Ltd which is a major logistics and transport provider in Queensland Craig started the business with his wife Kelli in 1998 with one truck and has now built the business to be running 25 trucks with a staff of 50 and a huge distribution facility at Morningside. Craig was elected to the Variety Board in 2010 and brings a wealth of knowledge in logistics as well as company administration.
Cathy Parker
Secretary
Cathy holds an executive management position as the General Legal Counsel & Company Secretary at a Queensland based bank, and has worked in the financial services industry for the past 7 years, after practising law in both large and boutique firms. Cathy is a Fellow of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chartered Secretaries Australia, holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in law, and is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration. She is also on the Board of National Seniors Australia and holds offices on other Boards. She has wide experience in commercial and corporate law, corporate governance, banking, insurance, financial services and member based organisations. .
Megan Just
Treasurer
Megan is the Managing Director of MJ Elite Business Solutions Pty Ltd and previous partner in the audit division of BDO. She has over 15 years experience in the accounting industry with exposure to a wide variety of industries including charities like Variety. Megan is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a number of other directorships. Megan was previously the external auditor for Variety and has now joined the management committee to enable her to provide a bigger contribution to the charity. Megan was elected as Treasurer in 2010.
Richard Nevins
National Bash Chairman
Richard is a long standing Variety Queensland member and supporter. He first joined Variety Queensland as a Bash entrant in 1991 and has since participated in numerous events either as an entrant, official, entertainer or organiser. Richard has served on the Variety Queensland Board of Management for many years, two (2) of which as Chairman. Richard is the Director of a marine transport and maintenance company.
Dr Paul Shumack
Appeals and Grants Chair
Paul is the Managing Director of Australasian Aero Medical Specialist Services. His qualifications include MBBS, PhD, FACOMRACP, MRAeS, Specialist Physician. He is a Group Captain in the RAAF Reserves. Paul has participated in many Variety events, donating his time as Chief Medical Officer. Paul has been a Management Committee Member since the late nineties and is currently the Appeals Chairman as well as being the Honorary Medical Officer.
Peter Ffrench
Marketing & Strategic Planning Chair
Peter is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has post graduate business qualifications from QUT. He joined the Committee of Management in May 2007 and chairs the Marketing and Strategic Planning portfolio. Peter has over 20 years experience as a senior executive in leading national corporations, primarily in marketing, sales, communication and organisational development.
Brent Woolgar
Brent is the proud father of twin boys, one of whom is confined to a wheel chair due to Cerebral Palsy. He first became involved with Variety as the recipient of an appeal to assist with the purchase of a sport wheel chair and having been impressed with how Variety handled the process he became a member shortly afterwards. Brent was elected to the Board of Management in May 2010 and in assisting the dedicated team in various areas including cycling events and specialist disability support ideas. When not assisting Variety he is a Director and National General Manager of an engineering consulting firm.
Craig Purdy
Craig is the Regional Executive – Business banking Queensland with ANZ Bank. He has 25 Years experience in Corporate, Commercial, Private and Retail Banking with Commonwealth Bank/CommSec, Bank of Queensland and ANZ. Craig is married with two children and has a keen interest in all sports. Through his long association with the corporate world in Queensland, Craig brings a much needed opening into business networking within the state and has a desire to spread the Variety story across this sector of industry.
Kim Bannan
Kim is the Business Improvement Manager and Adviser to the CEO at Moultrie Group – Mining Services Industry, focusing primarily on company growth and business improvement. Kim has had ten years experience in Government and was a Business Improvement Officer within her own organisation, Bannan Consulting. A graduate of a Bachelor of Social Science and a current student of a Post Graduate Law degree, Kim brings both knowledge and experience to Variety Queensland.
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In memory of Patrick Spranklin
13 September 1946 - 3rd August 2012
Paddy, or more formally, Patrick, became a XXXX Variety Bash Legend in 2004, having completed 10 Bashes. Paddy's involvement within Variety - the Children's Charity stretched even further than the Bash - he served on the Board for seven years, carried out most of the neccessary legal work and acted as Company Secretary. Paddy's obituary (in downloadable version below) gives a great insight in to a person who has veen very generous with his time and professional skills for the wider community, over many years. He will be greatly missed within the Variety team and by all those who knew him.
On the 2012 Bash as a tribute to Paddy, a special camp was built at the 300km mark. Below is an image of a toast made by Paddy's team to their mate.
Paddy made a suprise visit to Dalby for the start of the 2012 Bash with Car 54. Here it is is, Dalby pre-2012 Bash, soaking up the atmosphere.
In memory of Paddy Spranklin - 13th September 1946 - 3rd August 2012
