Reflections

Never ones to be tied down Avondale's alumni are a busy group. Catch up with just some of their goings on below:

PR BOB AND ANGELA SAUNDERS

Pr. Bob and Angela Saunders (Secretarial, 1970), graduated from leadership and management (Health Services) in 2001. They then moved to Boston Massachusetts where Bob worked as youth director before returning in 2006. Angela now works for Sanitarium Nutrition Service and Bob is the pastor of Fox Valley Community Church.

LYNETTE ROWLAND

Lynette Rowland (Secretarial/Music, 1965) was voted onto the Young Women s Christian Association (YWCA) Board in 2005. She also helped organise the Help for the Homeless Fathers project in Canberra. In 2006 she led the organisation of, and hosted, the friendship dinner for the Australian Inner Wheel Conference.

MATTHEW SWEENY

Matthew Sweeny (Theology, 1996), will be sadly missed by friends and family after he took his own life mid 2007. Matthew was a classmate in the last two years of my course and I have fond memories of him, says Mark McNeil, Dean of Men.

MAY (MABEL) HALE

May (Mabel) Hale (Theological Normal, 1953), was recently awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to her church and community over the past 40 years. Much to everybody s amazement she continues to run the Diamond Creek pre-school at 73. Mrs Hale is also active in the Greenborough SDA church, having been both the pathfinder leader and church elder for the last 20 years.

JOHN T. J. BANKS

John T.J. Banks, (1986-1989, PR Director), was recently award with the 2007 World Church Communications Bridge Award. Prior to that Mr Banks was the Associate Director for Communications at the Churches world head quarters in Silver Springs, Maryland. Mr. Banks now becomes the fifth Australian to win the prestigious award established in 2001. (BA theology, 64)

BORIS AND GRACE AMBRUS

Boris (DipAv, 2005) and Grace Ambrus (BA geography, 2006), have dedicated themselves to the mission fields of Papua New Guniea (PNG). The pair arrived in PNG late February spending several weeks getting paper work organised and learning Pidgin English. Boris is now flying with the Adventist Aviation Services team in Goroka, while Grace completes her MA in International Development Studies.