1 Annual Report 2013 - 2014

Ellie Kelly
provide practical and appropriate support on a
regular basis. The further development for 2015 of
team leaders and a strong volunteer base in
Townsville and Mt Isa will be on my agenda and with
the help of our developing network links, we see this
as extremely beneficial to increasing service delivery
to our members.
Robin Christmas
April 2014 saw my re-appointment to Family Support
Coordinator with the QHVSG. During this time, and
prior to my engagement, our Northern region
families participated in regular peer support
meetings, an Awareness Day and shared their
beautiful memories and stories at Memorial Services
in both Townsville and Cairns. At each of these
events, our member’s ideas and participation has
brought with it new and better ways to develop and
strengthen our future annual events.
Over the past three months I have taken care to meet
and speak and spend time with members in the
Northern and Far Northern Regions, familiarising
myself with current cases going through the courts
also with the regional offices and government
agencies such as the Police Service, Victim Assist
Queensland, Department of Public Prosecutions and
Queensland Health.
The geographical area of this region, coupled with the
large majority of indigenous families residing within,
required not only a fresh look at how to best meet
culturally appropriate support needs but to also meet
the practical needs of remote and outreach families.
Reaching out to Indigenous agencies for training and
with two visits to Mt Isa with our previous worker has
supported families in regional Queensland.
The development of a strong volunteer base is
underway by utilising our Newslink medium, and our
Support and the Regional Development Review
Committee (which I am a member) under the peer
support model of QHVSG. We hope to also
strengthen network links to further develop the
Northern region to reach these remote areas and
It has been a privilege to serve as the Finance
Officer again this year. I am now in my tenth
year with the organization. I am an accountant
by profession and also the father of a victim of
homicide (Nicola) killed in 1994. My wife Cay
was one of the original foundation members
when the Group started in 1995. I have the
rare opportunity to be able to make a
contribution to the management of
Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group
in giving back to the group as well as providing
the financial expertise needed to manage the
finances of this organisation.
I have over 50 years of accounting experience
in a variety of workplaces. These include
banking for 10 years, a chartered accountants
office, an oil company, a motor vehicle
company, a wine and spirit company, hotel
management, fruit and vegetable grocery
chain accounting, and bookkeeping for other
charitable organisations, kindergartens and
school sports associations.
The role of financial reporting has changed so
much in recent years with government
17 Annual Report 2013 - 2014