Rev Carmel Sheraton

Rev Carmel Sheraton has provided faithful and dynamic leadership at Wesley Castle Hill Uniting since 2021. Previously ordained in the Methodist Church in Britain, she has broughtrich pastoral experience to a vibrant and inclusive congregation in Sydney’s Hills District.

Beyond the congregation, Rev Carmel serves as President of the NSW Ecumenical Council, fostering relationships and shared witness across Christian traditions. She also engages with the local councillors and the State MP, who regularly attend services of worship. This has been a hallmark of her ministry which supports a greater awareness of the life and witness of the congregation.

Rev Carmel is a passionate advocate against domestic and family violence and participates prominently in initiatives that raise awareness and call for change. She is also a dedicated mentor, nurturing women candidates and theological students. Compassionate and courageous, she empowers all generations to grow, serve and glorify Christ.

Catherine Garner

Catherine Garner has been nominated for her vibrant and faithful leadership at Leichhardt Uniting Church, where she serves as Chairperson of Church Council and as a lay preacher. Joining the congregation just two years ago, Catherine quickly immersed herself in ministry, generously offering her gifts in governance, strategy and pastoral care.

A self-described “committee nerd”, she brings clarity, wisdom and vision to church leadership, while also nurturing deep relationships across generations. Catherine embodies the discipleship she encourages in others, integrating devotion, justice and intentional faith formation into everyday life.

As a young queer woman, she is a courageous feminist and advocate, empowering women, queer people and young people. She creates spaces of safety and belonging, helping others feel seen, valued and included within the life of the church.

Catherine Russell

Catherine Russell is known for her compassionate and practical Christian witness as a devoted member of Church of the Trinity in Adelaide. Wherever there are new people into the congregation, Catherine is sure to be there making them feel welcomed, supported and connected.

Catherine gives tirelessly of herself in support of the Adelaide asylum seeker community. She has helped families move house, contributed financially to legal assistance, visited people in hospital and offered steadfast pastoral care. Her ministry is marked by quiet generosity and courageous love, particularly as government policies continue to impact vulnerable members of this community.

She also shows deep sensitivity within the congregation. When one member began reconnecting with Christianity after coming out, Catherine walked alongside her, introducing her to others with similar experiences and helping her find belonging. As Rev Richard Telfer reflects, her mothering presence and faithful love embody the heart of Christ.

Coral Richards

Coral Richards is a deeply respected member of Mandurah Uniting Church, whose service bridges congregational and community life. As Congregation Chair, Church Council member and worship leader, she also serves as Treasurer of Uniting Outreach Mandurah and Secretary of the Money Mentors Board. Her leadership is marked by wisdom, integrity and practical compassion.

Coral has contributed to wider governance, including the WA Synod and Mandurah City Council, using her networks to connect vulnerable people with vital support. At the church’s outreach hub, she attends carefully to both organisational oversight and personal need, and people seek her out knowing she will listen and act thoughtfully.

Her quiet support of a woman experiencing domestic violence reflects her character. A strong Safe Church advocate, Coral fosters secure, welcoming spaces. With an inclusive heart, she walks alongside prisoners, families in poverty and Aboriginal women leaders, embodying Christ’s justice and compassion.

Dianne McKenzie

Dianne McKenzie is recognised for decades of faithful, hands-on leadership at Hamilton Wesley Uniting Church. First connecting through The Bridge alternative faith community, she served as organiser and pastoral carer before becoming a cornerstone of the congregation’s life. A former Church Council Chairperson, she now serves as Treasurer, Property Coordinator and Co-Coordinator of Bill’s Place Café & Op Shop.

Five days a week, Di leads volunteers at Bill’s Place, offering a welcoming expression of faith in action. The café and op shop provide affordable goods, emergency food and companionship to people from all walks of life, including social housing residents and rough sleepers. Di knows many by name, extending dignity and care without judgement.

When she met a grieving rough sleeper struggling to support his children, Di quietly organised blankets, food and ongoing assistance. Working alongside Charmaine, she has mentored many women and nurtured a volunteer community where all feel valued and part of God’s mission.

Dorothy Cosgrove

Dorothy Cosgrove of Wembley Downs Uniting Church has long embodied compassionate, faithful service in both her professional and church life. As a Registered Nurse, she created healing environments for patients and families, with a particular gift for end-of-life care. Drawing on her own experiences of grief, Dorothy offers empathy, dignity and love in life’s most vulnerable moments. She also served as a Chaplain at Greylands Hospital, supporting people with severe mental illness, especially women facing traumatic pregnancy outcomes.

Her commitment reaches beyond Australia. In Bali, she supported an orphanage for many years and contributed to early English language training in Papua, empowering young people toward self-determination.

Within her church, Dorothy helped establish and lead a weekly Coffee and Conversation group, welcoming people of faith and none. Her calm presence, gentle humour and reliability have sustained many. Even at 84, she continues learning new skills to support others – living her faith with grace, courage and joy.

Dr Elizabeth de Réland

Dr Elizabeth de Réland is an extraordinary leader, historian and mentor whose devoted service has deeply enriched Parramatta Community Uniting Church. As Secretary of the Congregation Leaders Team, Co-Editor of the church newsletter, Coordinator of Liturgy and primary contact for community engagement, Liz helps shape a worshipping community that is welcoming, inclusive and vibrant. She offers pastoral care, supports baptisms, weddings and funerals, and coordinates vergers, musicians and elders with warmth and grace.

As honorary Historian-in-Residence for PCUC and Parramatta Mission, and historian-archivist for Leigh Memorial Church, Liz brings the past to life through her PhD and extensive writing on the church’s 200-year story of faith and social action. She highlights the vital contributions of women and diverse communities, ensuring their voices are honoured.

Despite ongoing health challenges, Liz’s resilience, generosity and hope inspire many, nurturing confident, faithful leadership for the church’s future.

Rev Ellie Elia

Rev Ellie Elia is the Minister of Glenbrook Uniting Church, whose leadership is marked by creativity, encouragement and deep pastoral commitment. She prepares thoughtfully for every service, offering sermons that inspire and uplift – even at short notice, delivering powerful preaching when called upon with just hours to prepare. With a background in Dramatic Arts, Ellie brings imagination and depth to worship, nurturing spiritual curiosity in all ages. She has been instrumental in revitalising youth ministry and launching new outreach initiatives, fostering an intergenerational, hospitable and generous church community. Her church are very thankful for her dedication.

Florence Brawn

Florence Brawn has been a devoted member of Gordon-Pymble Uniting Church for 38 years, previously worshipping at Gordon Uniting Church before the congregations merged. Trained as a nurse at War Memorial Hospital, she has carried her professional skill and deep compassion into every corner of church life, offering wisdom, care and encouragement to many.

In 2003, Flo became involved in Wrap With Love and later introduced it to her church. What began as a small knitting circle has grown under her leadership into a dedicated group of around 10 members, producing 259 blankets in 2025 alone, along with countless squares for distribution in Australia and overseas. She also invited senior students from Ravenswood School for Girls to participate, with around 50 girls now contributing.

Flo has volunteered with Uniting Northhaven aged care and, at 92, continues to serve faithfully. Small in stature yet immense in heart, her life reflects resilience, generosity and enduring love.

Helen King

Helen King is a radiant, faith-filled leader at Richmond Uniting Church in Victoria, serving as Elder, Church Council member, welcomer, worship and song leader, and pastoral carer. Her ministry shines in both visible and quiet ways: offering hospitality at the Welcome Table, serving Holy Communion, preparing the sound system so God’s Word is heard, accompanying frail members to worship, and sharing wise counsel in Council. Attentive to the whole community (humans, dogs and even plants!), Helen embodies inclusion, sanctuary and safety.

Drawing on her background in early childhood education, she shares a deep yet accessible faith marked by integrity, hope and gentle humour. She listens deeply and creates space for others to encounter God’s justice and joy.

Music is central to her discipleship. Through her threshold choir, she sings with those nearing life’s end, including arranging song and prayer at Dawn’s aged care home and memorial. Across generations, Helen’s faithful love nurtures a compassionate, vibrant community.

Rev Jan Reeve

Rev Jan Reeve serves with Uniting Mission & Education and as an Adjunct Lecturer at United Theological College, offering exceptional leadership in Professional Supervision across the Church. She is a respected supervisor, trainer and mentor, accompanying ministry agents into reflective and healthy practice.

Jan oversees professional supervision for ministers across NSW/ACT, facilitates professional development days, and coordinates eight regional lay leader support groups, personally leading five. These groups offer vital encouragement, particularly where congregations have no ordained minister, strengthening rural ministry.

Passionate about equipping others, Jan partnered with UTC and Charles Sturt University to redevelop the Graduate Diploma in Professional Supervision, now delivered through blended learning. Her teaching weaves strong theological foundations with practical skills in listening, discernment and reflective practice.

Jan has also supported culturally diverse leaders to train as supervisors within their own contexts, nurturing resilient, inclusive and life-giving ministries across the Church.

Rev Janet Staines

Rev Janet Staines is a faithful and compassionate member of the Uniting Church, whose 30 years of ministry have been marked by grace, integrity and deep commitment to Christ’s call. From her early years in The Salvation Army , where she served for 16 years, to her leadership across congregations in Queensland and now the Northern Territory, Janet has consistently nurtured discipleship and encouraged communities to grow in faith and courage.

Rev Janet currently serves as General Secretary of the Northern Synod and as a member of the Assembly’s Commission for Governance, Resourcing and Administration. Passionate about community development and social justice, she works to strengthen the Church’s understanding of Indigenous culture and to build meaningful relationships with First Peoples.

She is grounded in prayer and shaped by hope. Her ministry embodies love of God and neighbour, equipping others to serve with humility and joy.

Rev Jenny Potter

Rev Jenny Potter of Longreach Uniting Church is honoured for her faithful, resilient and deeply pastoral ministry across Queensland’s diverse and demanding contexts. Ordained in Warwick in 2015, she began at Whitsunday Uniting Church, guiding the congregation with calm compassion after Cyclone Debbie destroyed their building, while also caring for her husband, Chris, through advancing dementia.

Following Chris’ death, Jenny served as a hospital chaplain in Toowoomba, leading pastoral care teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grounded in contemplative spirituality, she nurtured patients and staff with creativity and deep listening, and developed “Care Essentials” training to equip chaplains with wisdom, clear boundaries and Christ-like compassion.

Now ministering across the vast Central West alongside Rev Donna Muston, Jenny travels long distances to sustain small congregations, often staying overnight in church buildings. From flood and drought to moments of joy, she embodies an incarnational ministry of steadfast presence and hope.

Dr Julia Poole

Dr Julia Poole of Forest Kirk Uniting Church is an inspiring leader in the prevention of domestic violence and abuse. With courage and clarity, she founded the church’s DV&A Action Taskforce, determined to address not only the impact but the root causes of violence. Passionate about education and empowerment, Julia undertook MATE (Motivating Action Through Empowerment) training at her own expense and, through her vision and a philanthropic grant, equipped 19 community members in 2024 to become active bystanders.

Her workshops now reach churches, schools, community groups and service organisations, fostering practical, hope-filled change. Despite funding challenges and early resistance, Julia has built strong partnerships with local networks and Council, advocating consistently for prevention. She sustains this work through ongoing training and mentoring, while also serving in music ministry and children’s programs.

Recognised with a Rotary Community Service Award, Julia’s inclusive leadership inspires trust and empowers communities to create safer futures.

June Thorne

June Thorne is honoured for more than 60 years of humble, faithful service to her church, Gilgandra Uniting, and wider community. Beginning as a Sunday school teacher in the 1960s, June nurtured generations of children through Christian education and Christian Endeavour programs, combining biblical teaching with practical guidance and encouragement.

For decades she has provided steady administrative support, helping church programs flourish through quiet competence and care. Beyond any title, June is known for her kindness, wise counsel and unwavering presence. A devoted mother, grandmother and recently widowed wife, she models resilient faith and servant-hearted leadership in every season of life.

Her influence reaches across rural and remote communities, strengthening both spiritual and community life. Through everyday acts of love, mentoring and practical support, June embodies the gospel she proclaims, ensuring the warmth of Christ’s love is felt “all year round, not just in winter”.

Lynne Lang

At Church of the Trinity in Adelaide, Lynne Lang is a radiant presence of generosity, courage and care. Whether serving in the Op Shop, baking birthday cakes or lifting her voice in song on Sundays, she gives herself wholeheartedly to the life of the community.

Lynne is also a wise and courageous voice in public conversations on social justice, offering faithful witness shaped by love and inclusion. For many young queer people finding their way into the church, she has become a nurturing presence, always ready with a listening ear, a warm hug and wise encouragement.

Her compassion is practical as well as pastoral. When a long-time community member needed safe accommodation, Lynne opened her home without hesitation. She empowers younger women and non-binary volunteers at the Op Shop, creating space for them to grow in confidence and leadership.

Mardie Townsend

Mardie Townsend is celebrated for her exceptional leadership and faithful service at Ormond Uniting Church. As Church Council Chairperson and convenor of the Project Control Group, she has guided hundreds of significant decisions in partnership with the Synod and Simbuiltover the past five years, overseeing major projects with wisdom, clarity and unwavering dedication. Her steady leadership has strengthened the congregation’s vision and ensured its ministries remain vibrant and sustainable.

Beyond governance, Mardie’s heart for people shines brightly. She offers thoughtful pastoral care to vulnerable members and those on the margins, reaching out through phone calls, visits and quiet encouragement. She is a strong advocate for young people and women, nurturing confidence and participation in church life.

Through hands-on volunteering, consistent generosity and steadfast faith, Mardie embodies compassionate, visionary leadership that blesses her church community in countless ways.

Margaret Gregory

Margaret Gregory embodies faithful service and unwavering dedication at Umina Uniting Church. Involved across church council, finances, community initiatives, and particularly Friday Night Church, she truly does “everything” that keeps the life of the church thriving. Her leadership is marked by grace, patience, and a profound love for all she serves.

As a mentor and guide, Margaret has welcomed newcomers and nurtured multigenerational connections, ensuring that every person, young and old, feels valued and included. She faithfully attends services, offering gentle encouragement and modeling the love and generosity central to Christian life. Her guidance is indispensable to the running of Friday Night Church, where her warmth, wisdom, and joyful presence make a tangible difference in the lives of families and the broader community.

Margaret’s steadfast commitment, compassionate leadership, and faithful witness make her a treasured member of the congregation and a truly deserving nominee.

Maxine Lester

Maxine Lester is the heart of Laidley Uniting Church. She leads, preaches, and organises with unwavering dedication, ensuring the church thrives both practically and spiritually. When the congregation had no Minister, Maxine kept everything running smoothly, providing guidance, care, and inspiration to all. Her steadfast commitment, wisdom, and faithful service make her a true “Pearl of Great Price”, cherished by the entire church community.

Merrawyn Bagshaw

Merrawyn Bagshaw has been sharing her musical gifts in worship since her teenage years, bringing joy and inspiration to Meningie Uniting Church and many others. Now 87 and living with the lasting effects of cancer, she continues to serve whenever she is able, stepping in to support worship and lift spirits. Her lifelong dedication, resilience, and faithful witness through music make her an extraordinary and treasured member of the church community.

Nancy Burgoyne

At 94, Nancy Burgoyne continues to inspire through her unwavering dedication as Chief Musician at Meningie Uniting Church and regular performances at the local aged care home. Living independently, she can always be relied upon to bring music to worship, regardless of weather or circumstance. Her quiet perseverance, steadfast commitment, and unstoppable spirit make her a remarkable example of faithful service and a cherished treasure in both the church and wider community.

Paige Owen

Paige Owen serves with extraordinary faithfulness and creativity as Emerging Generations Pastor at Leichhardt Uniting Church. From her early days as a resident at Epworth House to leading young adults and now guiding flourishing children and family ministries, she brings energy, wisdom and deep care to every role.

Drawing on her background as a paediatric nurse, Paige nurtures LUCy Ducks children in a safe and happy environment, helping families feel supported and seen. She fosters a healthy, joyful culture at Epworth House and creatively shares the life of the church through social media.

Beloved by children, trusted by young adults and respected as a mentor and teacher, Paige inspires the whole congregation with her compassion, innovation and steadfast faith.

Robin Davies

Robin Davies of Mustard Seed Uniting is a remarkable example of faithful leadership, vision and perseverance. In the late 1990s, hearing God’s call to start a church, she gathered a small non-denominational community behind St Bede’s Catholic Church in Pyrmont. While running her own business, she studied theology at United Theological College and nurtured the fledgling group with tireless dedication. She secured a home in Ultimo, raised funds to restore a condemned building without pay, and guided the congregation into the Uniting Church in 2009 before her ordination soon after.

Robin leads from behind, mentoring women and emerging leaders, establishing children’s ministry and now championing creative projects for teens and university students. Her annual live nativity and Anzac Day services draw hundreds, sharing Jesus’ story with the wider community. At 85 and despite failing eyesight, she remains a gracious, tenacious and inspiring presence.

Seini Taufa

Seini Taufa from Auburn Uniting is a wonderful servant-leader whose humility, courage and faithfulness inspire all who know her. She serves her local congregation, the Tongan UCA and the United Theological College communities with quiet strength, supporting worship, pastoral visits and church gatherings with unwavering commitment.

Seini’s scholarship reflects the same depth of faith. Her Master’s dissertation explores the experiences of Tongan-Australian women in the Uniting Church diaspora, weaving theology through fatu lālanga, lalanga and talanoa. By honouring women’s stories, she offers practical pathways for the church to engage more deeply with their lived realities. When shared at Pasifika and Tongan gatherings, her work moved many to feel truly seen and heard.

With integrity and grace, Seini raises overlooked perspectives and advocates for justice without division. Her life encapsulates authentic humility and strong resolve, empowering women and enriching the church’s witness for generations to come.

Sharon Hoogland

Sharon Hoogland’s nomination celebrates a lifetime of faithful service, visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the Bowral-Mittagong Uniting Church Parish and the wider Southern Highlands community. Ordained as a Deaconess, Sharon has devoted herself to strengthening Christ’s mission. She has preached regularly, serves as Secretary of Church Council, and has long chaired the Parish’s highly successful quarterly fairs, raising vital funds for ministry and outreach.

Active at Parish and Presbytery levels, Sharon contributes thoughtfully to governance and ministry alike. Awarded the Order of Australia Medal for outstanding community service, she leads with both competence and compassion. In a season without a minister, she ensured worship, pastoral care and organisation continued seamlessly. From mentoring women leaders to hosting Bible studies and serving her community hands-on, Sharon truly embodies servant leadership in action.

Pastor Sital Sanjivi

Pastor Sital Sanjivi’s nomination honours nearly two decades of faithful, Christ-centred leadership at Abbotsbury Uniting Church and Liverpool Uniting Church, alongside her service with the Bill Crews Foundation. For 18 years, she has shepherded her congregations with prayer, Scripture and solid trust in God, consistently pointing people to Jesus through preaching, teaching, and compassionate pastoral care.

A true shepherd at heart, Pastor Sital walks closely with those who are sick, grieving or in crisis, visiting homes and hospitals, preparing families for surgery, and surrounding every need with prayer and hope. Her leadership is marked by humility and quiet strength; she serves not by title but by example, always placing others first.

Passionate about nurturing the next generation, she has led combined youth ministry and established a young adults group, mentoring and empowering emerging leaders. Through perseverance, integrity, and unwavering faith, Pastor Sital continues to strengthen the church’s unity and witness.

Sophie Williams

Sophie Williams is a vibrant and inspiring leader at Adamstown Uniting Church, serving as Online Coordinator with creativity, dedication and heart. Remarkably, Sophie first connected with the church through its online services; now she leads and shapes that very ministry, ensuring worship and community remain accessible to all.

Passionate about inclusion, Sophie brings energy and innovation to the church’s digital presence, doing an outstanding job managing social media and expanding outreach across generations. Alongside her partner, she courageously shared her personal story in a powerful video testimony about finding a church where she feels truly welcomed. Her vulnerability and authenticity have been a moving witness to faith and belonging.

As a young woman in leadership, Sophie inspires every generation. With her gentle, calm and bubbly approach, she patiently guides others, especially older members, through the sometimes-daunting world of online engagement, helping the whole church grow in confidence and connection.

Dr Sureka Goringe

Dr Sureka Goringe is a passionate, energetic and deeply faithful leader whose witness shines both locally and globally. A member of Roseville Uniting Church and National Director of UnitingWorld, Sureka brings a restless confidence that Jesus makes a real difference in the world. On the international stage she leads with courage and vision; at home she serves with warmth, humility and joy.

Sureka was the driving force behind the first Uniting Women’s Conference, gathering more than 500 women from across Australia and the Pacific to share stories of faith and life; a wonderful expression of connection and hope. As a friend and mentor, she draws out the best in others and is always ready to help turn bold ideas into reality.

At Roseville, she helps lead Soul Food, a welcoming shared meal where neighbours and friends encounter Christ-centred hospitality, strengthening women and younger generations in faith and life.

Susan Duncan

Susan Duncan’s nomination celebrates a life of faithful, courageous, and creative leadership within Tweed Valley Uniting Church and across the wider Presbytery. A former Hospital Chaplain in Brisbane, Sue brings pastoral wisdom and compassion to every ministry she undertakes.

Since moving to northern NSW in 2012, she has served the Far North Coast Regional Partnership with dedication, supporting Presbytery leadership, managing administration, guiding church closures and celebrations, and initiating Lay Leader training to equip emerging leaders.

Locally, Sue serves as Lay Leader, Church Councillor, Lay Preacher and President, leading worship and presiding at Communion across two congregations. As a Disaster Chaplain during the devastating 2022 floods, she helped lead Burringbar congregation in community outreach, from food-sharing initiatives to practical support for families and local businesses.

Through mentoring women, strengthening ministers and nurturing resilient faith communities, Sue’s wise and steadfast leadership continues to bless both church and community.

Susan Russell

Susan Russell’s nomination honours her dedication through leadership, compassion and faithful service through Mustard Seed Uniting Church and Uniting NSW.ACT. As Chaplaincy Lead for the Sydney Southeast Region, she oversees pastoral and spiritual care across an extensive network, including major hospitals, mental health services, aged care facilities and community services. Her leadership ensures that patients, residents, families, and staff receive professional, thoughtful, and deeply compassionate care in times of vulnerability and transition.

Susan guides chaplaincy teams with wisdom, integrity, and strong theological grounding, strengthening the Church’s presence in public health and community settings. Her lifelong vocation has centred on serving those most in need – from education and correctional centres to senior leadership in aged care and pastoral services.

Combining strategic oversight with genuine, person-centred compassion, Susan leads large and diverse teams without ever losing sight of the individual stories at the heart of ministry.

Rev Tara Curlewis

Rev Tara Curlewis is a distinguished minister of the Uniting Church, currently serving in Rome as Reformed Ecumenical Officer for the World Communion of Reformed Churches and as minister of St Andrew’s Church of Scotland. In these significant roles, she represents the Uniting Church in global dialogue with the Vatican and other ecumenical partners, strengthening the Reformed voice at the heart of world Christianity.

Tara embodies the Church’s commitment to inclusivity, equality, and collaboration, offering a gracious yet confident witness in settings often shaped by hierarchy and tradition. Known for articulating the Uniting Church story with clarity and warmth, she brings generosity and integrity to complex relationships.

She has championed safeguarding and nurtured emerging ministers, particularly within the NSW-ACT Synod. In Rome, she stands as a visible sign of women’s leadership in the global church, fostering dialogue, mutual respect, and renewed hope for unity.

Val Canty

Val Canty is Elder, Church Council member and Worship Leader at Church of the Trinity in Adelaide, who has played a pivotal role in making the church a genuinely LGBTIQA+ inclusive and celebratory community. She has courageously held the gate open for queer people, standing firm against homophobic voices and tirelessly defending their rightful place within the church.

Val is known not only for her advocacy but for her deep pastoral care. She has lovingly supported members of the Adelaide queer community, including ministers, lay members, and those tentatively reconnecting with faith. A memorable example is her warm embrace of a young trans person exploring a return to church – a simple yet powerful act of welcome. She also supported Trinity Sisters, fostering connection among queer Christian women.

Vanessa Williams-Henke

Vanessa Williams-Henke (Rev Ness) of Uniting Heart and Soul Church is celebrated for her innovative leadership, pastoral depth and authentic faith. Sharing ministry with John Humphries, she has nurtured strong congregational partnerships while extending the church’s reach well beyond its walls.

A pioneer in digital ministry, Rev Ness created the Filthy Hope podcast, engaging honestly with the complex realities of life and faith and co-developed On the Way, resourcing discipleship across generations. Through their mission HQ, she established a free domestic violence counselling service, supporting vulnerable clients and mentoring trainee psychologists. She is also leading redevelopment of church property to strengthen facilities and generate sustainable income for mission.

Known for radical honesty and extraordinary compassion, she has walked with people in their most vulnerable moments, inspiring trust across belief boundaries. Passionate about empowering young women and emerging leaders, Rev Ness nurtures gifts in music, preaching and leadership, helping many rediscover faith and belonging.

Velvy Holden

Velvy Holden of Noarlunga Uniting Church, now in her 80s, is celebrated for a lifetime of faithful Christian leadership, advocacy and community service. A worship leader, preacher, fundraiser and passionate advocate, she is Founder of the Australian Refugee Council for Women and continues to serve through the SA Synod Ecumenical Relationships Committee and as Chair of the Winifried Keik Scholarship committee, empowering women in leadership.

A committed feminist and ecumenical leader, Velvy has opened her home to refugees and international students seeking safety and belonging. She pioneered outreach ministries at Noarlunga, including a free community lunch, Food Pantry, and Christmas lunch for those without family or housing – ministries that continue to flourish today.

More recently, she initiated monthly congregational lunches for seniors, fostering connection and care. Deeply prayerful and attentive, Velvy listens with compassion and responds with practical support, characterising Christ’s love in action.

Yvonne Freeman

Yvonne Freeman of Adelaide’s Church of the Trinity serves as Manager of the Op Shop, where her ministry is a daily expression of generous, practical love. She gives tirelessly of herself in service to both church and community, displaying her faith through action.

Under her thoughtful leadership, the busy Op Shop runs with care, integrity and compassion. Determined that nothing goes to landfill, Yvonne has developed partnerships with local organisations to redirect excess donations to those in need.

She is renowned for showing grace under pressure, whether navigating difficult situations, coordinating volunteers or supporting colleagues in stressful moments. Yvonne fosters a welcoming environment where every person feels respected and valued. Young volunteers often stay because of her encouragement and kindness. One young trans woman shared that, through Yvonne’s compassion and respect, she felt safe within a church community.