LEADERSHIP
A Brief Self History
I was born and raised in Sydney, NSW. I am the youngest of five. My father [deceased 2 weeks before I was born] was a retired Colonel in the Australian Army and my mother [deceased] was a triple certificate nurse. I went to a public school in inner Sydney where I developed a love for the NRL Dragons and Holden and became a motor racing fan. I was brought up in a Christian home and attended a private school at Strathfield. I left school and studied to be a pastry cook and chef. After doing my apprenticeship, I went to Avondale University and studied theology and teaching. I graduated with a BA; Dip Teach and B.Ed [with a double major and a double minor]. I was appointed to the Central Coast of New South Wales as a church pastor. I have three sons. I also worked in Mt Isa, Townsville and Adelaide. I did further study at Avondale University and graduated with an MA [Theol] and have travel through the Holy Lands. I also acted as a volunteer CEO for an orphanage in Webuye, Kenya.
As part of my role as a church pastor in South Australia I was invited by Motor Racing Ministries and Sports Chaplaincy Australia to act as a chaplain for circuit racing in South Australia which included Mallala, the Adelaide 500 and The Bend Motorsport Park. In 2009 I was seconded by ADRA Australia [charity] to work as their welfare director in South Australia. In the 10 years as the SA State ADRA Director my team and I manage to develop more charity programs in South Australia than the rest of Australia put together. I also was invited to be on the Prison Fellowship Australia Board and the SA State Council.
I was also fortunate enough to do some mission trips to Kenya, Cambodia, Thailand and Vanuatu.
Relationship with FD1
In 2018 I took a redundancy package and, with my second wife Bec, we Co-Founded Foundation 1 Inc. I was appointed CEO, and in the last three years our team have establishment 12 projects in South Australia including op shops and community pantries. We have created partnerships for mission projects in India [x3], Fiji, Kenya, Vanuatu and one locally based project - The Voice of Light.
Experience in Church/Spiritual Ministry
Apart from 34 years of pastoral work, I enjoy Theophostic Counselling. I continue to serve as a motor racing chaplain and our team plans to support and visit our projects in Vanuatu and Fiji.
Our Dream
Our long-term plan is to open more op shops, community pantries, cafes, emergency relief and disaster relief projects throughout Australia. Our BIG dream is to open a Foundation 1 Community Hub that will have an op shop, community pantry, café, support services, etc plus offer professional suites to health experts and professionals such as chiropractors, therapist/counsellors, massage therapists, etc.
BOARD MEMBERS
A Brief Self History of Vyrona
Vyrona grew up in the Adelaide Hills and is married and has a family of 2 daughters who are both married and have 3 grandchildren which are the love of her life. She is passionate about helping people and healing them through Jesus Christ.
In 2008, she became involved in a charity and in 2010 became the manager of an op shop in Mt. Barker, working there for 10 years, promoting Christ and his healing grace. She started a small group with people who visited the shop and has kept those friendships up. In 2017 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and after treatment for 12 months, is completely healed thanks to medicine and God.
In 2020 a Foundation 1 shop was opened in Mt. Barker, South Australia, and she is finding joy again in serving the Community. Her loves apart from Christ are gardening, growing orchids, collecting shells, cooking, music and friends and of course her beautiful husband who is also involved with the shop. Her family is everything to her and she enjoys spending time with them.
Vyrona has been associated with FD1 from the very beginning, being appointed to the board, and supporting the running of the Incorporation. She is a member of the board and regularly meets with them to praise God and improve the running of Foundation 1.
In 2019, Vyrona found that the shop she was managing was not really what she wanted to do as there were many restrictions on helping people, so it was decided amongst a group of Christian workers that we could start our own charity and include the things we desired to do for the local community, When we got together, we felt God directing us to do His will and here we are.
Vyrona has been a Christian all her life, growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, restricted by rules and regulations. In the late 1990s she met Pr. Dave Hamilton who gave her a new picture of who God was and through counselling for abuse, she learned to love a God who is totally about love. She has been a treasurer and clerk for the Wistow Seventh-day Adventist Church and also the music director for the last 40 years. She has always had a passion for helping people and I feel their pain. She loves her prayer time, and small group time, and has been blessed with many miracles in her life and the lives of others.
Vyrona has a love for God, and a faith that gets her through life. She is experienced in running an op shop as a manager for 10 years and relies on God for everything. She has experience in getting shops set up and organising documents for the shop emergency relief program. She is a prayer warrior and believes that prayer changes lives.
A Brief Self History Steven
Steven lives in the Adelaide Hills and is married to Vyrona. They have 2 daughters who are married, and the grandchildren are the love of their lives. Steven is passionate about serving God by helping people. He has a knack of being able to manufacture anything out of nothing, so is an asset to Foundation 1. He has worked as a radio tower installer, a boiler maker and manufacturer of agricultural machines. He worked for Chris Grow Engineering for 25 years and enjoyed every minute of his work there. When the business closed, he lost his job and worked for a charity from then on.
He has been an integral part of Foundation 1 setup in Mt. Barker and is always improving the shop with creations he has made.
He loves God and loves people so is happy to serve God in this way.
He has been associated with FD1 since its beginning and is a board member, supporting the organisation by being the handyman. He regularly meets with the board to discuss operations and improvements.
In 2019, Steven was finding it hard to work for the charity he had done so for 10 years and decided he was going to leave. He and Vyrona began being involved with FD1 setup and became part of the board at that time.
Steven has served in the Seventh-day Adventist Church for most of his life and is a committed member of the church at Wistow. He has been a deacon and elder in the church for many years and is a well-balanced Christian. He believes in actions speak louder than words and his life is one of service to others. His ability to help in any situation puts him in good standing for the FD1 Incorporation.
A Brief Self History of Brendon
Brendon was born in the Adelaide Hills in 1983 and grew up in Birdwood. He went to the Springton Lutheran Primary School, and Prescott College for his secondary education. After leaving school he chose to work for an small engineering company and was offered an apprenticeship. He completed the apprenticeship and was offered a job with Steriline Racing and has worked there ever since.
Brendon is married to Anita and they have 3 children - Isaac, Esther and Malachi. They live in Mt. Barker and are deeply involved in the Birdwood SDA Church. Brendon is able to support Foundation 1 by spiritually guiding us and keeping a balance on our decisions.
Brendon has been a Seventh day Adventist all his life and is an elder in the church as well as a deacon. He is wise in his spiritual growth and is mature in his guidance of spiritual things in Foundation 1.
In 2019, when Foundation 1 began, Brendon was asked to be part of the Board of Foundation 1. He willingly said yes and has been involved with the incorporation since.
Brendon has a deep love for God and is willing to be led by the Holy Spirit as a volunteer in Foundation 1.
A Brief Self History of Anita
Anita was born in 1985 in Mt. Barker and grew up in Nairne, going to the Nairne Primary School and completing her education at the Strathalbyn High School. Her first job was working at a Dog Kennel caring for dogs. In 2006 she married Brendon Zilm. She applied to work at Kmart which had just opened up in Mt. Barker and stayed for 5 years. After having her first child, Isaac, she became the assistant manager of a charity which she worked in for 10 years. During that time, she was blessed with a daughter Esther, and another son, Malachi. This completes her family.
Anita has been a Christian all her life and is involved in the Birdwood Seventh day Adventist Church for quite a few years. Her belief in God has given her security and peace and she has a practical relationship with God.
She is currently studying through TAFE to become a child care worker with a diploma and is working at the Hills Christian Community School where she works at the Early Learning Centre.
Anita has many giftings which she uses them to bring others to a knowledge of God. She finds it easy to talk of God to her workmates and the children she cares for. She has had times where God has protected her from the Devil, and her relationship is strong with her God.
She became involved in Foundation 1 in 2019 and has had positive input since then. She volunteers at the Mt. Barker Foundation 1 Op Shop and Community Pantry once a week, working in the pantry and the shop helping customers. Her organisational skills are greatly appreciated, and we are blessed to have her involved in this area. She has retail experience and is able to give Foundation 1 guidance to running the retail side of the operations.
A Brief Self History
I was born and raised in Orange, NSW and I'm the eldest of five girls. I moved to Narellan NSW when I was 14. After getting married I lived in various suburbs of Sydney before moving to South Australia in the early 70's.
I have two daughters, two sons, thirteen grandchildren and one great granddaughter. All but one son who is in Queensland, live close by.
I worked in a variety of industries before I found my calling in Aged Care. I worked in a Dementia and Holiday Program and was the assistant co-ordinator of both programs before moving into agency work and then onto Residential Care. At this time I trained as a Diversional Therapist and spent the next few years encouraging the residents to enjoy their lives.
I retired early due to injuries and once healed I approached an op shop to volunteer my time to help others. I stayed for nine years ending up as the manager. I love spending time with my family and friends, attending home church, reading, quilting, crafts and travelling.
Relationship with FD1
I have been associated with Foundation 1 since its inception. As well as managing the shop at Parafield I am the minutes secretary on the Board and support other members in the management of the charity. The Board meets regularly to worship God and to develop strategies so Foundation 1 can fulfil their commitment to God and the community.
Involvement with FD1
After I left the last op shop in 2018, I wanted to continue to volunteer in a useful capacity where assisting the community is more important than just making money. When a group of Christian friends came up with the idea of a new charity, my prayers were answered. I know God is beside me with this new venture.
When the Parafield Op Shop and Community Pantry opened in October 2019 I opted to become the manager.
Experience in Church/Spiritual Ministry
I have always had faith in God and He has always been with me through some very difficult times in my life. Although I had attended various churches during my life, I was always left empty and searching. I met Pastor Dave Hamilton about 10 years ago but it wasn't until about 4 years later I realised that God had found me. That was a real turning point in my life. I have learnt so much more about God, the Bible and myself than I ever could have imagined.
During a mission trip to Vanuatu in 2016, Pastor Hamilton baptised me on a beautiful beach on Tanna Island. I now attend a local home church.
Other area of experiences & why I'm a member of Foundation 1
I have had retail experience including the last op shop and enjoy taking on new ventures so Foundation 1 was a perfect fit for me. I have had experience including policy writing, customer service and co-ordinating and working with volunteers, both as a paid worker and a volunteer myself. I have been involved in community centres and many other community projects over the last 30 years. Because of my life experiences and always being involved in community I feel I am able to connect with both volunteers and customers on all levels, something I find most enjoyable.
A Brief Self History
Michael has been blessed to have grown up in a loving Christian family environment both at home and church, giving him a healthy and happy relationship with God. With strong spiritual leaders in his life like his parents, Pastor and church family, he has been mentored to grow in his love for God and has inbuilt values and beliefs as a result.
Relationship with FD1
Michael enjoys working in a supportive role in FD1, he is on the FD1 Board and helps with decision making, on the local managing committee for the FD1 Mt Barker Op Shop and Community Pantry and helps with website maintenance. As a qualified Prepress & Digital Print Operator, Michael is also able to help FD1, with design and printing needs.
At FD1 he love's working alongside a team of his best friends.... well, more like family, to achieve in providing hope and wellness to local communities. This all started when he was called to make a difference in his community as a youth in his church. We go to church week after week and sit in our pews doing nothing for our community. Jesus has other ideas, He calls us all to go out loving one another, helping each other and spreading His love. At the time his mate and church pastor, Pr Dave Hamilton encouraged him to work towards God's calling. Pr Dave's attitude has always been to try and encourage people while empowering them to walk in the ministry God calls them to do.
Involvement with FD1
Michael started looking for a van/bus with Pr Dave and a church friend to be able to provide a community meals/emergency response service. This later developed into an idea for an op shop instead after a meeting with one of the churches welfare agencies. While following God's call, Michael soon discovered that this was just a small part of God's big picture because it was also during this time that God called one of his best friends Vyrona, to start and manage an op shop! Pr Dave was also appointed director of the church's welfare agency for SA and God's plan grow into action!
Experience in Church/Spiritual Ministry
Throughout the years Michael has really enjoyed being involved in mission trips, which he say's has impacted him more than the people he has helped! He plans to continue these trips in the future. A part from mission trips and traveling, some of his other personal interests include; catching up with his mates for a movie, dining out and scoffing down all the food! hiking/walking, going to the beach for a walk or swim, more recently trying to surf with his older brother (hopefully without spitting his lip open like last time ha ha), Volleyball, Tennis, Cycling, Kayaking and playing around on a computer.
In his church life, he likes learning new things while studying the Bible, helping with the worship service either singing or trying his best to play the guitar, catching up and fellowshipping with his church family and enjoying taste testing the lunches!! He was also honoured to have been asked to become a leader too. Michael loves going on spiritual retreats where the focus is trying to get closer to God while growing in relationship with Him. One of the most common statements said in the FD1 family is "It's all about Relationships" which is very true. Michael is excited to be part of FD1 and to see the impact of what this ministry can do in peoples lives!