Our People

As a lawyer and mediator, Marilyn has always had a sense of fairness which has been demonstrated by her passion to see everyone given the opportunity to access education whenever they are ready in their life.

As a result, Marilyn has spent many years participating in organisations which give second chances for education. These have included 15 years’ service on the Board of Canning College and 6 years’ service on the Governing Council of South Regional TAFE.

There is no doubt in Marilyn’s mind that those left behind in education at a young age, for whatever reason, are more likely to struggle with confidence and self-esteem in later life.

As an inaugural member of Canning Youth Community Connection from 1993 until relocating to Margaret River in 2006, which connected young, disengaged people with the community through the collaboration of various services and organisation, Marilyn strongly supports collaboration between organisations.

Marilyn has many other interests and carries out many other roles, amongst which are secretary of the Rotary Club of Margaret River, treasurer of the Margaret River Rowing Club, secretary of Above the Line, member of the Margaret River Senior High School Board, volunteer coach, adjudicator and committee member for SCRAM, the Schools Conflict Resolution and Mediation program and trainer for Resolution Institute’s mediator training program.

Marilyn enjoys being a part of the Margaret River community with her husband Chris who is a member of the Margaret River Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service.

Mike has a background in education as a teacher, teacher adviser, school inspector and government education adviser in the UK. Since 1985 his experience and specific expertise have been in the potential for technologies to modify and support effective teaching and learning, and in employing new curriculum models with an increased focus on individual students, their needs and preferred learning methods.

Since moving to Margaret River in 2001, Mike has continued to support educational change, working with his wife, Bernice Barry, on national initiatives through curriculum development, materials for teachers and for students, and new structures to support continuing professional development. He has worked on local, regional and large scale projects in several countries around the world and advised on the design of initial models for the Australian National Curriculum.

After retiring, Mike chaired the Council of a CARE (Curriculum and Reingagement in Education) school through its initial development and implementation, opening campuses at Fairbridge village and Kalgoorlie, to address the needs of students for whom standard education structures are ineffective. This required the development of innovative models to meet the learning, social, communication and mental health needs of students by integrating the work of teachers, social workers, psychologists and others, including a support dog.

Mike firmly believes that the curriculum is the entire student experience while enrolled in the educational establishment and not just a list of things to be learned. The core principle of his work has always been that education should be about the development of the whole young person, whatever their needs.

Peter is a retired family doctor who trained in England. Peter came out to Australia in 1976 and practised in General Practice retiring at the age of 70. Peter has mostly worked in a rural setting with various procedural skills, and special interests over his years focusing on pediatrics, men’s health, psychological issues, sports medicine, palliative care and geriatric medicine.

Peter has always used a more collaborative, problem solving approach with his patients and with his work in the community. In 2004, Peter moved with his family to Margaret River and continued as a GP until he retired in 2019.

Peter offers Mindful Margaret River his experience in the practical and medical approach to the early presentation of mental illness and is excited and passionate about working with Mindful Margaret River towards local positive outcomes in our community.

Hailing originally from the Channel Islands, Sadie has lived the majority of her adult life in Australia, 19 years of which has been in Margaret River.

She works locally and has raised three children in the region, with one still in the school system. Sadie has actively volunteered at the schools, and various sporting associations, of which she is still currently involved.

Having been closely associated with people with varying degrees of mental health issues, and having struggled with her own health over the years, Sadie wanted to contribute some of her time to Mindful Margaret River, in order to be more actively involved in an area that does not receive enough recognition

Brian operates an accounting practice in Margaret River and is active in many local community organisations.

He has previously served as a Shire Councillor with the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and as a Commissioner with the WA Conservation Commission.

Brian is currently treasurer of Rotary Margaret River and deputy chairman of Margaret River Men’s Shed steering committee.

Brian is the Managing Director, Middleton Business Advisory.

Since the age of 1, I have lived in Margaret River. I have struggled with mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and disengaged from school and my social life during years 6 to 9. I opted for online schooling during that time to focus on my mental health and improve my self-worth. Subsequently, I re-entered the schooling system in year 9 and successfully completed ATAR. Despite my challenges, I aspire to demonstrate the resilience of young people with the right support. I am eager to collaborate with Mindful Margaret River and use my experiences to better support our youth.

In 2022, I attended zero2hero’s Leadership for Mental Health camp, where I acquired valuable leadership skills for addressing social issues and supporting youth with mental health. I am deeply passionate about tackling this prominent community issue and believe in fostering support among individuals.

I have a keen interest in youth development and social issues within our community. I strongly advocate for giving young people a platform to voice their concerns and make a positive impact. This commitment led me to pursue the Community Development Trainee position at Shire of Augusta Margaret River.

Judith migrated from France to Australia in 2010. After spending eight years in Perth practicing as a dispensing optician and the birth of her second child, she moved down to Margaret River.

Her own experience of perinatal (pre-and post-) stress and anxiety made her uncover the difficulties women experience due to parenthood (most of the time long before even becoming a parent) and prompted her to volunteer as a peer supporter in various programs and organisations.

Judith also realised that the personal issues women experience result from much broader narratives that foster mental health issues and impede their well-being. As a result, she has a keen interest in gender and women issues, perinatal mental health, discrimination and prejudice, and representation of diversity in society.

Judith believes that addressing and managing such matters would directly positively impact the mental well-being of community members.

Judith has put aside her career as a dispensing optician and occasional singer and is currently undergoing psychology and social science studies.

Judith is committed to taking an active part in her community to improve the well-being of its members. As a migrant, a woman, a woman of colour, a mother, a worker, a student and a community member, she feels like she is in a good position to understand the issues most of us may face at one point or another.

For as long as I can remember I have been curious about what makes human beings ‘tick’. Soon after graduating as an engineer, I moved careers to work in the field of human services and education.

My active involvement in mental health began in 1986 when I was appointed as Director Te Raroroa O Taitokerau – an ‘adventure therapy’ national research pilot program in the north of New Zealand. This was a bi-cultural experiential community-based intervention with major input from local Maori elders. Despite its success, the program was closed in 1989 and I moved to live in Perth.

Since being in Western Australia I have taught group work in the Schools of Social Work at UWA and at Curtin University, taught in the Edith Cowan Masters in Psychoanalytic Counselling and Psychotherapy, consulted to the Royal College of GP’s, ran dozens of adventure therapy and group facilitation workshops in many countries around the World, and provided ‘reflective space’ sessions for two CAMHS multi-disciplinary teams as well as for the CAMHS metro group of psychiatrists.

I have published extensively in the fields of adventure therapy, experiential learning, organizational culture, group dynamics and community dynamics. See www.groupinstitute.com for an archive of publications and previous clients.

With my involvement in Mindful Margaret River, I hope to be a catalyst for those whose passion is empowering community members to engage with each other in ways that increase community resilience, connectedness and psychological and emotional well-being.

n 2016, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. That same year, I lost two mentors to suicide. This experience prompted me to become more involved in promoting mental wellness.

One of the initiatives I started was an annual memorial match in honour of those we have lost and those who are grieving. We brought together local community members and international sports stars to share their stories with local groups and sports associations. This led to the formation of Suicide Prevention Margaret River (SPMR) with a simple mission – to shine a spotlight on mental health, reduce stigmas, and advocate for open discussions. This effort created a sense of community and introduced me to many wonderful people and valuable experiences.

I also volunteered as a mentor for “zero2hero’s” Camp Hero, guiding Youth Mental Health Leaders through a 5-day camp and helping them take on leadership roles as mental health ambassadors. I had the privilege of working alongside the organization’s founder, Ashlee Harrison, and other dedicated mentors and professionals.

Additionally, I was part of the Adventure Works team, where I helped deliver “Into Adulthood” Rites of Passage camps for high school teens. Working with Year 11 young men and witnessing their personal growth in a short period of time was truly rewarding.

I strongly believe in tailored, holistic approaches to mental well-being and the healing power of connecting with nature.

Lastly, I am honoured to have been invited to join the MMR Board and I am looking forward to serving this community in this role.

Kellie grew up in Ballarat, later working as a journalist there in newspapers and television before her career moved on to Melbourne, Dublin and Perth.

Moving to Broome with her husband and young family in 2007, she transitioned into a communications role for the Kimberley oil and gas industry – but quickly realised her values and interests were more aligned with the local communities she liaised with. This led to media advisory roles with several Aboriginal corporations and a steep learning trajectory around the two complex worlds indigenous Australians walk in.

In 2012 the family fulfilled a long-held dream to settle in Margaret River – a second home for her husband Ben since childhood. After a challenging four years working out of Margs for a remote Kimberley community, Kellie started her own small local tourism business. Combining her passion for people, travel, history, food and wine in a gourmet walking tour, Walk Talk Taste Margaret River has enabled her to share the stories of our region with thousands of visitors and locals alike.
Meeting and interviewing victims of crime and circumstance throughout her career – along with her own mental health experiences – has fuelled Kellie’s strong desire to help communities and individuals talk more openly and shamelessly about the critical support that we all need at some point.

Now 53, Kellie, is happily settled on a few productive acres south of town with Ben and their three children – aged 11, 17 and 19.

As a new Mindful Margaret River board member, she hopes to help raise awareness of the incredible grassroots work the organisation has been doing quietly since 2020, and how it can sustainably support the people of Margaret River – for as long as it’s needed.

Erin is a highly experienced professional in the human services field, with over 25 years of experience.

Throughout her career, she has held senior positions in government at the local, state, and federal levels, and has extensive experience in community development across education, health, and public services in both Australia and Canada.

Erin migrated to Australia in 2004 and has since worked for several organizations, including the Australian Health Ministers Council, the Department of Health WA, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, and the Department of Communities.

During her tenure, she has worked on a wide range of issues such as family and domestic violence, health policy, women’s health, First Nations health, human resources, community development, disability services, mental health, research, and program development, implementation, and evaluation.

Erin has been living and working on Wadandi Noongar Boodjar since 2010. For the past 14 years, she has been working with individuals and organizations in the Margaret River community to build capacity and connection to the community.

Erin is a migrant and a mother who has firsthand experience with the challenges of accessing support systems in rural areas. She has developed a deep understanding of these difficulties through both her personal and professional experiences.

Her work in the mental health sector is motivated by her belief in the importance of mental health literacy, early intervention, and open discussion about the need for support.

Danielle is the Marketing and Events Officer at Mindful Margaret River, bringing over 15 years of experience as a social worker predominantly in mental health services. Originally from the UK, Danielle has called Western Australia home for the past 12 years, with the last three years spent in the region of Margaret River, where she lives with her four-year-old daughter.

Danielle’s extensive work history includes roles such as Student Services Manager at the University of Western Australia and Trainer and Assessor for the Autism Association. She has also made significant contributions within mental health hospitals, community treatment teams, and care coordination, demonstrating her dedication to supporting individuals through various stages of their mental health journey.

In addition to her primary career, Danielle has a diverse background working with events and companies as a professional photographer. She has collaborated with local and global brands on communications, copywriting, photography, visuals, brand awareness, and various social media management initiatives.

Danielle is also trained in meditation and somatic work with adults, enhancing her ability to support community members through holistic approaches to mental health. In her spare time, you will find her exploring the forest, reconnecting with nature, and finding inspiration for her photography.

Her unique blend of professional experience and personal interests makes Danielle an invaluable asset to Mindful Margaret River, where she is dedicated to fostering community engagement and promoting mental well-being.