Vice President
Years on Board - 15

Paul O'Halloran is a trained secondary teacher and also has post graduate qualifications in audiology and ergonomics. Paul has publications on a range of organisational health and risk management issues. He is a member of the Association of Risk and Insurance Managers of Australasia, and is a Board Member of the Deafness Foundation. Paul has had a life-long interest in the visual and performing arts and works both in 2D and 3D media.

Treasurer
Years on Board - 15

Sue has lived in Selby for almost 30 years, became a member of the Dandenong Ranges Community Cultural Centre Committee, and has held the position of Treasurer, since 1998.

Sue's former employment in local government provides her with a broad understanding of community needs and issues, an appreciation of the diverse hills' communities, and the value of providing meeting places to bring those communities together.

Currently employed in an administration role, she brings a number of administrative, statutory and financial skills to the committee, along with a passion for the arts, environment and community.

Secretary
Years on Board - 9

Sid brings to Burrinja a hugely diverse background and skill set that includes: building, banking and financial experience, audio / visual, CCTV, security, multimedia, lighting, programmed maintenance and electrical safety. Sid is a creative visionary in strange and inexplicable ways, and general all-rounder.

Committee of Management
Years on Board - 6

Rachel has worked as a freelance lighting designer with most of Australia's leading arts companies including The Australian Ballet, Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Hit Productions and Playbox.

She is the recipient of five Green Room Awards for Outstanding Lighting and was nominated for a Helpmann Award and a Sydney Theatre Award in 2005 for Malthouse Theatre's Black Medea.

Her exterior architectural lighting design for the Arts Centre Hamer Hall Victoria won the IES National and State Award of Excellence 2005.

Current major project work includes the permanent Exterior Lighting Design the Arts Centre Theatres Building as part of a whole site exterior lighting master plan commissioned for the Arts Centre Trust and specialist exterior lighting design for FJMT Architects on the Southbank Cultural Precinct Redevelopment.

Rachel works part time for Electrolight as an architectural lighting designer and is a member of the Artists Advocacy Group Board for the Victorian Arts Centre Trust. She is also a member of the Project Control Group for the Burrinja Performing Arts Re-Development.

Committee of Management
Years on Board – 6

Elizabeth is currently working alongside a team of people committed to providing a balanced awareness of the history of our area. 'Art of Place'; an Aboriginal cultural project provides an educational centre for local schools and visitors to Burrinja. This project follows the advice of the descendants of those original communities whose homelands are throughout Victoria. Art of Place explores the cultures of the first peoples of Victoria through their connections to country and art. Art of Place acknowledges that Burrinja stands on Wurundgeri land. It acknowledges and respects the descendants of the Wurundgeri people, the old people who have gone before, and those who look after their lands and their culture today and their future generations.

Elizabeth continues her role on the Burrinja Committee of Management. She has been an enthusiastic volunteer at Burrinja in past years, successfully demonstrating her resolution to reduce Burrinja's environmental footprint. Three years ago she established a fully audited sustainability program for Burrinja which has continued to this day.

She is a strong advocate of the Community Arts and celebrates its integral role within the community and beyond.

Elizabeth is currently majoring in Australian Indigenous Studies at Monash University.

Committee of Management
Years on Board - 4

Mary Fitz-Gerald is Principal of Mater Christi College in Belgrave, where she oversees a vibrant, creative school community. She brings to Burrinja many years' experience in both the education sector and the performing arts. Mary and the school are actively engaged across a wide range of arts and community events and projects. Mater Christi has been a strong supporter of the performing arts development at Burrinja since its inception and is a Platinum Foundation Member.

Committee of Management
Years on Board - 1

Matt’s tertiary qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts, a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Management. Currently Matt is studying towards a Masters of Tertiary Education Management.

Professionally Matt has worked in a variety of project, service and strategic management positions across the community cultural and tertiary education sectors. Organisations Matt has worked within include Chisholm Institute of TAFE, RMIT University, Box Hill Community Arts Centre, TheatreWorks, as well as roles within a number of Melbourne festival organisations. During his earlier career, Matt also experienced life as a professional actor, which encompassed a period running a fringe theatre company with friends and peers.

Alongside Matt’s professional interest and background supporting community and cultural development activities, as a local resident with a young and growing family, Matt is committed to supporting the continued success of Burrinja as a critical local community facility and cultural centre.

Streeton Ward

Streeton Ward covers: Mt Dandenong, Montrose South, Olinda, Sassafras, Tremont, Ferny Creek, Tecoma and Upwey.

Cr Cliff may be contacted on 5968 9853 or via the Shire of Yarra Ranges web site.

Lyster Ward

Lyster Ward covers: Belgrave, Belgrave South, Belgrave Heights, Kallista, Lysterfield, Menzies Creek, Monbulk (part), Narre Warren East, Selby, Sherbrooke, Tecoma and The Patch.

For Cr Samantha Dunn there's no other place to live but the Dandenong Ranges. Samantha has lived in the hills since she was eight years old and feels a profound connection with the area.

Samantha is passionate about the Yarra Ranges' close knit community and its natural environment. She believes we need to ease the pressures on the natural environment, such as pollution and weed invasion, and find ways to conserve and enhance our forests and waterways.

Samantha plays a key role in advocating for sustainable transport, improving liveability and reducing car dependency in the Yarra Ranges and is the councillor representative and Chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition.

One of Samantha's priorities is reducing greenhouse emissions and preparing for climate change and peak oil. Samantha would also like to see Council demonstrating sustainability through making council facilities more energy and waste efficient, using sustainable materials and exploring alternative technologies and water sensitive urban design.

When Samantha shows off the best of the Shire she takes visitors to Sherbrooke Forest or the Yarra Valley. Outside of her working life Samantha enjoys music, art, gardening and photography. She is a committed and passionate member of the Dandenong Ranges community and is focussed on improving liveability in the Shire.

In her second term on council Cr Samantha Dunn represents Council on the following groups:

Birdsland Reserve Committee, Eastern Regional Libraries Corporation, MAV Environment Committee, Burrinja and is the chairperson of the Yarra Ranges Environment Advisory Committee.

In 2009 she was elected chairperson of the Eastern Transport Coalition. In 2011 she was elected President of the Victorian Local Governance Association after serving two years as Treasurer. Samantha is also the councillor representative on the Sherbrooke Children and Family Centre Project, Monbulk Aquatic Centre Project, Monbulk Soccer Project, Flora and Fauna Strategy, Municipal Emergency Management Planning Committee, Graffiti Advisory Group and the Shire's Advocacy Group.

Cr Dunn may be contacted on 9752 6869 or via the Shire of Yarra Ranges web site.