Connections Archive

Michelle Astleford returns to Avondale as the new student finance accountant--she graduated in 2003. She worked most recently as an assistant accountant at the Seventh-day Adventist Church South Pacific Division office in Wahroonga.
Alicia Bermudez and her husband, Luiz, celebrated the birth of a baby boy on September 13. Jeremiah Reinaldo Bermudez weighed 7.5 pounds and measured 49 centimetres. Alicia, a customer service officer in the Enquiry and Enrolment Centre, will be on maternity leave until mid-November.

Douglas Cloete is the new bookshop supervisor replacing Leah Howard, who resigned on August 31 to start her own business in Brisbane. His previous experience includes managing and owning his own business, Nuts About Health, in South Africa. Douglas, who moved to Australia in 2005, worked most recently for the Adventist Retirement Village in Wahroonga.

English lecturer Dr Jane Fernandez married Stephen Goldborough on September 23.

Jenny Jones retired on July 13 after more than 28 years of service at Avondale. She began her tenure after taking up a secretarial position in 1979. For the next 16 years she worked in several other secretarial positions. After returning from a short stint of long service leave in 1995, Jenny began working as personal assistant to the vice-president (finance). She remained in this position, under the direction of several supervisors including Rob Ellison and, most recently, Francois Keet, until her retirement. "Jenny is extremely knowledgeable," says Francois. "Whenever you need to know something, you just ask Jenny. She has made my life easy." Financial controller assistant Lyn Giuffrida has replaced Jenny.

Roberta Matai is the new personal assistant to vice-president (administration and research) Dr Vivienne Watts. She replaces Karna Vano, who had served in the position for a year, whose husband has accepted a job in Sydney. Roberta began working on October 17. She is employed on a casual basis until Julie Hoey returns from maternity leave. As you know, the PA to the VP(A&R) had her maternity leave position extended from 27 October 2007 to October 2008.  The position has been filled by Karna Vano.  However, last week Karna indicated that for family reasons she will be finishing up this Friday (19 October).  We will be sorry to lose Karna and her family from the area but we are very happy that this opportunity has come up for them. We wish them well.

Last year, we advertised, interviewed, and appointed a casual secretary in the VP office to undertake transition arrangements associated with the restructure.  Roberta Matai ably filled the position from October 2007 to January 2008.  Roberta knows the office routine and is a capable PA having worked as a PA previously in Melbourne to the Director of Public Affairs in the Department of Infrastructure.
Jenny Sanderson is Avondale Library's new operations assistant.

The new library assistant is Gayle Sleight, who joins the staff at Avondale on a casual basis.

Sally Tipene joins the staff at Avondale on a casual basis as night receptionist in Watson Hall.