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The Peninsula
School Parents
Association
A PROPOSAL FOR CHANGE …
PSPA
Purpose
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
To promote the welfare and advancement of The Peninsula School through the activities of
parents of students attending the School.

To provide means whereby current parents of the School may be given opportunities to
socialise and form friendships with each other and to promote unity and good fellowship
among them, and to foster and develop in them affection for the welfare and devotion to the
advancement of the School.

To aid or contribute to the raising of funds for the use and benefit of the School, whether for
endowment, building, embellishment, improvement, educational, recreation or any other
purpose considered to be advantageous to the School.

To establish and to encourage, aid, assist and take part in the establishment of funds,
exhibitions, scholarships, bursaries and prizes for current students of the School.

To invest monies of the Association upon such securities or otherwise as may from time to
time be determined.
PSPA
Aspirations
While maintaining independence, develop a closer working
relationship with the school
Formalise and strengthen communications lines and support
capabilities of the PSPA for parents and students
Continue to raise funds to support social and school enhancement
activities
Work to a more inclusive approach to increase all member
participation and support of the PSPA
Review, define and implement tighter governance and control
compliance for the operation of the PSPA
Work to improve the electronic profile of the PSPA to be more
communicative, supportive and relevant to parents and students
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PSPA
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Proposed Committee Structure
PSPA Activities
• Social Events
• Special events (eg. Mothers day)
• Funds Raising
• Friend Raising
• Electronic communication
PSPA Responsibilities
• Governance
• Compliance
• Meetings
• Initiatives
• Updates
• Board Meetings/Votes
PSPA
Committee
Peninsula
School.
Executive
Class
representatives
Governance
committee
Special events
committee
Social events
committee
Communications
committee
Other
groupings as
required
Biography:
Tracey Tobias – President
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Tracey Tobias is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Nursing for Pinelodge Clinic, a
member organisation of St John of God Health Care. She is a Registered Nurse specialising in
Critical Care. Tracey completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Management and Psychology,
and a Masters of Health Services Management at Monash University. She has worked in
clinical and executive management roles for over 15 years including both public and private
sector organisations. Tracey is a fellow of the Australasian College of Health Services
Managers, and member of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.
Tracey and her partner Jo are contributing members of the community, supporting local
activities including Point Leo SLSC, sporting teams, and ballet.
Tracey has 2 children at the school, in years 2 and 9. Both children actively pursue all the
opportunities offered at the school. Ben plays in stage trombone in most of the school
bands, was in the school production, is an active cadet, and a committed academic student.
Kate has excelled with the nurturing and education offered in the ECC.
Email:
tracey.tobias@bigpond.com
Biography:
Melinda Nielsen – Secretary
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Melinda grew up on the Mornington Peninsula, went to school at Toorak College and her
brother is a TPS old boy. She has owned and operated businesses, worked in the banking
sector and taught in many primary schools on the Mornington Peninsula.
She attended Monash University Clayton, where she completed a Bachelor of Law,
specializing in employment law, and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in political studies.
Melinda later went on to complete a Dip Ed at Monash University Frankston.
Melinda is an active volunteer in many areas of the community and has volunteered in
many capacities at TPS. She has been the secretary of the Mornington Life Saving Club for
three years and has a sound understanding of Incorporated Associations. She is currently
shortlisted for the LSV “Volunteer of the Year” award”.
Together with her husband, Bruce McFarlane, they have four children at TPS; Zahli year 8,
Xiara year 7, Bohdan year 3 and Caslin year 2.
Biography:
Bryan Evans – Vice President
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Bryan has been Mornington resident since 1972. He has been an Information Technology
executive within industry sectors from finance to supply chain to consulting. Bryan has
held roles with companies such as ANZ, Royal Insurance, Deloitte Touche, Bank of
Melbourne, Australia POST and Brightstar with extensive national and global operations
experience throughout Asia Pacific, North and South America and the Middle East.
Bryan received his HSC from Mornington High and is in the process of completing his
MBA. He is a member of the Australian Computer Society (ACS), itSMF Australia and has
a number of certificates in IT related methodologies/frameworks.
Community efforts have included sporting team coaching, sporting club committee
membership and a foundation creator and supporter of the very successful Mornington
Senior Citizens registry support capability.
Bryan, the husband of Heather Evans, a teacher at TPS, has 2 children currently at TPS in
years 9 and 12 with another having completed and now working in the health industry.
Biography:
Andrew Parsons – Treasurer
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Andrew currently works in Mornington as a partner at the accounting firm of Southern
Partners. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Monash University. He is also a
member of CPA Australia.
Andrew has held a number of committee positions with Peninsula Old Boys associations
including:
• Past Treasurer of TOPSA – approx. 8 years
• Treasurer POBCC 1996-2000 & 2007-current
• President POBCC 2000-2006
For services to the Old Boys associations, Andrew is also a life member of both the cricket
and football clubs
Andrew was a past student of TPS from 1980 until 1992. He currently has 2 children
attending TPS in years 2 and Prep
Biography:
Peter Ford – School Liaison Officer
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Peter is the current school Deputy Principal - Student Wellbeing at The Peninsula School
which he commenced in January 2014. Peter previously worked at the School in 20012003 as the first Head of Senior School. In addition to a number of other portfolios he has,
he is the current School Liaison Officer for The Peninsula School Parent Association (PSPA).
Peter has worked in a number of independent schools during his career in education,
including Caulfield Grammar and St. Michael’s Grammar, and has held senior leadership
roles in all of these schools, most recently as the Deputy Head at St. Michaels.
To complement his Bachelor of Education (PE/Science) he has also completed a
Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Administration and a Masters of Education through
The University of Melbourne. Over the course of his educational career Peter has
developed a strong interest in the pastoral care of students. He firmly believes that
effective pastoral care is integral to delivering the best possible educational outcomes for
all students and is best achieved when there is a strong partnership between home and
school.
Peter has two adult sons (both of whom attended TPS in 2001-2003) and with his
background in Physical Education it will come as no surprise that he enjoys sports of all
types, both as a participant and as spectator.
Biography:
Helen Robison – Committee
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Helen has lived on the Peninsula for most of her life and on completing her University
studies has returned to work and raised her family here with her husband Michael.
Helen studied Medicine at Monash University completing a Bachelor of Medicine and
Surgery, then completed her post graduate degree and is now a Specialist Emergency
Physician. As a Fellow of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine she is currently
an Emergency Physician working at Peninsula Health in the Emergency Department.
Helen has held multiple roles in both the public and private health sector, worked in
both health management, governance and project management and most recently was
the Clinical Director of Peninsula Health Emergency Services.
Helen has 2 girls who have attended The Peninsula School since infancy at Mount Eliza
House through Kinder, ECC, Junior School and are now in years 7 and 9 respectively. This
gives her an all round perspective of school life as a parent.
The school has always been a supportive community for families as well as the children.
Helen is strongly committed to continue to foster that tradition into the future.
Biography:
Jessica Whitfort – Committee
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I am a mother of six, live in Frankston South and moved to the Peninsula from the City 8
years ago.
I am currently the head coach of the Netball program within the school so I have a broad
understanding of the schools positive psychology philosophies, current events, curriculum
and relevant issues occurring right through the school from ECC to VCE. I’ve been an active
PSPA general member in the past serving as class rep many times over the years,
organising major school functions such as the Spring Luncheon and supporting the best
outcomes for the school and the students.
I have been actively involved in community executives such as the Mt Eliza Netball Club
and Mt Eliza Netball Football Club as Vice President and Head coach for several years. I am
a Championship coach in the Victorian Netball League side Peninsula Waves, and assistant
coach for the U19 Victorian Netball side.
Since 2008 we have had at least one child at The Peninsula School and currently have 5
attending at various levels from 3yr old Kinder right through to year 12. This gives me
direct contact with the ECC, Junior and Senior schools as a parent. Our eldest son
Graduated TPS in 2013, is a member of TOPSA and is in second year at Monash.
Biography:
Jane Degg – Committee
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Jane grew up and was educated in Alice Springs. She is a qualified hairdresser and was an
owner operator of the RSL Barber Shop for 6 years. Since moving to the Peninsula in 2003,
Jane has had various roles, from administration, data entry, book keeping and accounting
assistant. Jane and her husband Michael started a new business at the start of this year,
Charlton Degg, for which she is the Financial Controller. This role is part time which provides
her with the flexibility to manage their extremely busy family life.
Jane has 2 children that attend The Peninsula School. Eldest Maison is in Year 5 and is
enjoying her first year at The Peninsula School since crossing from Toorak College. Their son
Austin is in Year 3 and has been at The Peninsula School since Prep. Jane and Michael have
come to appreciate the learning qualities that the school presents and believe that they are
fundamental to the future success of their children. The Peninsula School has provided the
best learning environment for their family.
Jane’s family sporting commitments include the Mornington Life Saving Club, Flyers Swim
Club, Peninsula School of Dance, Peninsula Dragons basketball team and Mt Eliza Red Legs
football club.
Jane is looking forward to being a member of the PSPA at a school she’s proud to be
involved with.
Biography:
Floss Butterworth – Committee
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Floss has been a Mornington Peninsula resident most of her adult life. She has two
beautiful boys attending the Peninsula School, Josh in year 6 and Liam in year 10.
She has recently returned from two years living in Shanghai China. She has experience in
school committees having been a very active parent at Mt Martha Primary school as well as
the British International School in China. She was an Executive committee member of the
Australian Shanghai Association where one of the aims was to foster friendships and a
sense of community amongst our 'Aussie' compatriots. She assisted in the coordination and
running of various fundraising functions to aid the charities and orphans of some of the
poorest and remote provinces of China. Prior to departing for China she was previously on
the Peninsula School PSPA executive for 3 years. She comes to this position as a very "hands
on" person with a passion to help foster positive experiences and relationships amongst the
staff, children and parents of this amazingly privileged and beautiful school.