Mary Ellen O’Donoghue rsj Dip Teach, B Th, M Ed (Lead) (Chief Executive officer)
Mary Ellen is a Sister of St Joseph who has a rich background in education, including twelve years as Principal of a large secondary school and a two year period in the Pilbarra region of Western Australia working in faith formation and education in an isolated mining community. Passionate about justice and supporting children and young people’s growth into the fullness of life, Mary Ellen’s association with the Seasons for Growth program began at the program’s inception attending training and supporting the implementation of the pilot program in a secondary school during 1995-6. From that time she has been a great believer in and proponent of the program’s ability to support children and young people’s growth into strong and resilient adults and the creation of networks of support and connectedness within communities.
Her interests include people, the environment, reading and music,especially jazz.
Contact – 02 8912 2700 Email – maryellen.odonoghue@goodgrief.org.au
Caroline Dale Grad. Dip. (Psychology), BA (Communications), Cert IV Training & Assessment
Caroline has been with Good Grief since May 2007, and loves the mix of research, training and program development that her job involves. She especially enjoys getting to meet the inspiring people who work with our programs, and hearing about the ways in which lives have been touched or changed. Caroline completed a Graduate Diploma in Psychology at Macquarie University in 2009 and is currently immersed in Honours research. In 2008 she undertook a research internship at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) which involved investigating the way that different writing tasks might mediate a person’s grief experience. Prior to joining Good Grief, Caroline was involved in the development and facilitation of youth mentoring, educational and personal development programs with a number of Australian not-for-profits. She volunteers as a support worker at the National Centre for Childhood Grief and as a camp buddy at Camp Quality, and is on the board of the National Association for Loss and Grief. For fun she loves yoga, cycling, camping with her nieces and nephew, reading and seeing live music.
Contact – 02 8912 2703 Email – caroline.dale@goodgrief.org.au
Faye Marsden Certificate of Finance
Faye commenced employment with Good Grief in May 2007. She managed the return of distribution of resources to the National Office and set up systems and procedures to ensure the smooth transition and running of this important aspect of the business. Faye’s responsibilities as Finance Manager embraces all financial aspects including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivables, financial reporting, budgeting and debt collection. During her time as President of the Music Parents Association at her sons’ school, she worked with teenage boys involved in concert/jazz bands and touring with them. This made her truly appreciative of the need for and impact of the Seasons for Growth program and proud to be part of its support team. Her interests include gardening, ballroom dancing and attending opera and music/band concerts.
Contact – 02 8912 2705 Email – faye.marsden@goodgrief.org.au
Victoria Duprés BA (Social Science/Law)
Victoria started working with Good Grief in 2005. Having spent 18 months working on Community Development projects in Australia and in South East Asia, she had a brief stint in the corporate world in London and again in Oz. It didn’t take her long to realise that the real way to make a difference is in people’s lives is through education. She loves finding creative ways to express our programs and can’t help but get a little teary when people send wonderful feedback about how Seasons for Growth has helped them in their journey. When not at work, Victoria loves gardening, spending time on the river, camping and making shoes!
Contact – 02 8912 2702 Email – victoria.dupres@goodgrief.org.au
Helen Jardine BA (English/Dramatic Art UNSW)
Helen has been with Good Grief since April 2008. With over 15 years marketing experience in the corporate sector ranging from global telecommunications to boutique incentive marketing operations, she was ready to embrace a role where she could make a difference and give something back to the community. Having school aged children herself, she appreciates the value of the Seasons for Growth program and its ability to build resilience and strength in those troubled by grief and loss. She enjoys time with her family and friends, camping, cycling and anything to do with water!
Contact – 02 8912 2706 Email – helen.jardine@goodgrief.org.au
Jeanette Foxe rsj B Ed. Dip Teach. MA (Theol Studies). A Mus A
Jeanette is a Sister of St Joseph with a background in education spanning primary, secondary and adult learning. She has also worked as a Pastoral Associate and has extensive experience as a spirituality and education facilitator. She had the privilege of ministering in the Kimberley, W.A. with the Mirrima Aboriginal people of the Kununurra region. Her life’s journey has taken her through many changes and experiences of loss and these have helped develop in her a broad view of life and a compassionate heart for those who also know of grief. The vision and mission of Good Grief “to relieve suffering and bring hope” is what underpins all that she does in her role.
She has a passionate interest in music, plays piano, flute, guitar and sings and loves the dramatic and performing arts. She is an avid reader and loves to share good food with good company – and a good glass of red...or white!!
Contact – 02 8741 2345 Email – nswcoord@goodgrief.org.au
Patricia Williams rsj, Cert. Prim. ED., B.Ed., Dip. Counselling, B. Theol., Master of Ministry.
Patricia Williams is a Sister of St. Joseph and a native Victorian who has been a Seasons for Growth Companion since 1996 and the State Coordinator for Good Grief programs since 2002. Previously, Patricia was a primary school teacher and principal in various Catholic schools in Victoria and then worked as a Pastoral Associate in some Melbourne Catholic Parishes. Currently, Patricia works with local trainers and coordinates training for Seasons for Growth in Victoria and South Australia and supports Companions through the Seasons for Growth network as they help young people and adults find out that they are “not the only one” experiencing loss and change.
Patricia’s other interests include a love of travel, AFL (Go, Roos…!) cryptic crosswords, reading, walking and cycling.
Contact – 03 9926 9316 Email – viccoord@goodgrief.org.au
Dora Maguire rsj BA, Teachers Cert, CPE, Cert IV.
Dora Maguire rsj, has been the State Coordinator of Good Grief in WA since 2002 and has been active in Seasons for Growth since accreditation in 1997 and the Training of Companions since registration in 1999. Dora has travelled extensively throughout West Australia from the Kimberly in the North to Esperance in the South, offering Training Workshops and Reconnectors for Companions of both the Young People’s and Adult Programs
Dora was a primary and secondary school teacher for many years and a music teacher for several more. She ministered as a Spiritual Director in South Australia and West Australia and as a Pastoral Associate in the rural areas of the South West and in the central wheat belt of WA. In her present role, Dora is continually inspired by the Companions, who, in schools and organisations, tirelessly and enthusiastically continue to conduct Seasons for Growth. Dora enjoys bird watching, bush walking, music, gardening, sewing, reading and exploring.
Contact – 08 9477 4192 Email – wacoord@goodgrief.org.au
Benita Tait Dip Teach, B Ed.
Benita has been working with Good Grief since July 2007. She coordinates the Seasons for Growth program in the Hunter region, NSW. Benita has been involved with the Seasons for Growth program since 1998 when she began running groups in a high school in Newcastle. After leaving teaching to look after her four children she volunteered at her sons Primary School and continued to Companion Young People and Adults. Benita is passionate about the Seasons for Growth program and the work Good Grief is doing to support people affected by change, loss and grief. Benita likes to watch her sons play rugby league, have BBQ’s with family and friends, watch a movie with her husband and family and spend holidays with her extended family. She also likes to spend time alone reading a good book and enjoying the peace and quiet.
Contact – 02 4961 0579 Email – benita.tait@mn.catholic.org.au