MEET OUR TEAM
We’re a growing team of Volunteers and thought leaders
We’re the wearer of many hats dedicated to helping communities.
Deb Brook
Founder and President
As a young child Deb was involved with charity work helping her Mum with Meals On Wheels and other causes. Her charity work continued on aiding numerous charities over the decades when needed.
Deb is self employed with a management background, largely in marketing. Well over a decade ago she founded/co-founded the large, information and support groups: Special Needs Adoption Australia, Adoption Australia and Singles Adoption Australia, among others.
Knowing that many well-meaning people tend to donate items that are not needed or cannot be used in an emergency situation, and also that many people want to help but don't know where or how, Deb devised a model that mobilises and educates the community while helping those in need, as organised and fast as possible and Bayside Community Emergency Relief was born.
Stephanie Hunt
Vice President
Stephanie is an Australian lawyer with experience in litigation and international dispute settlement in the public and private sector.
She has been a committed volunteer from her earlier years on community radio, for over a decade delivering pro bono legal services to those in need, and as a dedicated participant of Hilma’s Network.
Stephanie is also a polyglot and is fluent in Spanish, French, Mandarin and English.
Stephanie’s passion for serving our Bayside community has led her to come on board with us as Vice President.
Anne Nelson
Treasurer
Anne was interested in joining the BCER family, as she had recently downsized her business and was looking for another volunteer role. BCER, being local and such a great cause, seemed perfect.
Anne’s professional background has been in accounting and payroll management roles in several medium to large companies, spanning various industries.
For the past 15 years, Anne has been self-employed in her bookkeeping practice, looking after her clients’ BAS, payroll and bookkeeping needs.
For the past few years, Anne has been treasurer of Victoria Chorale Inc, a not-for-profit choir, which performs at venues such as St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Melbourne Recital Centre. She really enjoys participating in the creation of beautiful music, the friendships with her fellow choristers, and working with the Committee as their treasurer.
Tracy Vi
Secretary
Born in Vietnam Tracy arrived in Australia as a young child with her family as refugees in the 1980’s, Tracy experienced the life changing blessings that organisations such as BCER provided to people in need
and is a strong believer in the work that BCER does and the initiatives that are timely deployed which directly helps improve the lives of others in our community. Tracy was first drawn to BCER as a contributor in response to the bushfire emergency in 2020. Since then, she has been a supporter of BCER over the years.
With a finance and property industry background and more than 20 years of experience in the private sector, Tracy hopes that she can use her experience to make a greater contribution to the community and provide help to others like the support that was once accorded to her family.
Comiung soon!
TBC
TBC
Cartolyn Marriott
Grants
Carolyn is a Bayside local and has a corporate background in the shopping centre and retail property sector.
For several years, as part of her New Year planning, Carolyn nominates a Melbourne-based charity to add to the group of charities she supports that align with her interests and values. Starting her own consulting business in 2018, affording her a bit more flexibility compared to corporate life, Carolyn has been able to expand her volunteering commitments.
When Bayside Community Emergency Relief came on Carolyn’s radar in 2023 it was a perfect fit. The timing coupled with a concurrent diversification of her services into Grant Consulting and Grant Writing presented a perfect opportunity to support BCER as a Committee Member dedicated to securing grants that are so important to help to fund inspiring work that has made such a difference to people’s lives since 2020.
Coming Soon!
TBC
TBC
Charli Meney
Social Media Support
Charli moved to the Bayside area 2 years ago, having grown up in regional Victoria. She works in Community Health as a Health Promotion Officer, and has previous experience managing social media pages for a health organisation.
Charli has previous volunteer experience in junior basketball and netball sports coaching, and maths tutoring for secondary school students. She travelled to Cambodia in 2022 with Monash University, spending 3 weeks learning about the healthcare system and volunteering with a remote health clinic that provides free health services to children and adults located in very remote and disadvantaged regions of the Tonle Sap Lake Area. Charli has also recently commenced volunteer work with ‘Food Filled’, a food rescue charity that collects left over food and resources from supermarkets, and then deliveries them to local charities.
Charli is passionate about helping others and is excited to be apart of such an amazing organisation that makes a real difference in the local community!’