About Us
Introducing our All-Volunteer Board
Karen Burford – Chairperson
Over the years Karen’s volunteer work has concentrated around junior and elite sport. She has been awarded life memberships of Sorrento & Districts Little Athletics Club, Hamersley Little Athletics Centre and WA Diving.
Whilst living in Victoria, Karen also held the position of President of the Bass Valley Community Group which ran an occasional day care centre and assisted the area’s elderly residents.
Although this commitment was only short term, it gave Karen the inspiration to look for another community-based group with a view to contributing to and engaging with other like-minded people – thus she became a board member for the Denmark Community Foundation (WA) Inc. and more recently chairperson.
Karen has been married to Gary for 40 years and they share 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren who all live in this beautiful community of Denmark.
Why I volunteer at DCF:
I am sad to say that like a lot of the residents in Denmark, I didn’t know of the existence of DCF until I was invited to take on the role of Treasurer. What an exciting roller coaster ride it has been. Now as the Chairperson, I am proud to say that DCF is moving into the realm of a fully tax-deductible charity. WATCH THIS SPACE!
Ted Kirkbride
Ted has lived in Denmark for over three years, enjoying the sense of community and enjoying getting involved in a number of local sporting and music related groups. These activities have included volunteering at the East Denmark Bush Fire Brigade and the Denmark Sustainability Fund.
Previously Ted has been involved in not-for-profit organisations such as Coastguard New Zealand and the Centre for Asylum Seekers Refugees and Detainees.
Why I volunteer at DCF:
I was asked to join the Board, and was happy to do so once I understood the role the Foundation plays in the local community. I hope I can add to the range of views contributing to the Foundation’s activities and help the Board continue with the sometimes extraordinary difference they are able to make, particularly on youth and metal health issues.
Jo Tighe
Jo has worked and volunteered in the not-for-profit sector around Australia for over 20 years. She is a passionate social justice advocate, working in frontline community services supporting marginalised and disadvantaged communities throughout. Jo has an undergraduate degree in Psychology, a Masters in Public Health and a Graduate Diploma in International Development.
Jo works as a Lecturer at South Regional TAFE in the areas of Community Services, Mental Health and Youth Work. She is also on the Denmark Surf Life Saving Club committee as Youth Development Officer. Whilst on the Denmark Walpole Junior Football Club committee (2022-2024), Jo developed and introduced the Player Wellbeing Program at the club.
Jo lives in Denmark with her partner, three teenage sons and kelpie. She has supported the Fremantle Dockers since the 90s – and oftentimes wonders why she persists!
Jo joined the Denmark Community Foundation Board in 2023. Since 2024 Jo has also sat on Community Foundations Australia’s Membership Engagement & Services Committee.
Why I volunteer at DCF:
I got involved with Denmark Community Foundation as a way to connect with meaningful change (and changemakers!) in our beautiful town and surrounds. This is a really exciting time to be involved in community foundations across the country. The foundation model of giving and supporting local community is the future of philanthropy and change for the better in Australia.
Jennie Partington
Jennie has lived in Denmark since 1988. During this time she has been an active participant of many volunteer groups.
These groups include Matrix WA (now Matrix Victoria), founding member of Denmark Animal Carers Group, Ratepayers Association and Bushfire Brigade.
She has been a regular attendee at Denmark Community Foundation meetings since 2018 and was first appointed to the Board of Directors in 2019 and continues in this position today. Jennie also keeps up to date with regular meetings with Community Foundation Australia.
In 2021 and 2022, with the collaboration of DCF, she successfully curated, funded and staffed the Leech Partington Botanical Art Prize.
With a passion for justice and fair play, Jennie’s effective listening skills help to identify many of the unmet needs of the Denmark community.
Why I volunteer at DCF:
Although a quiet woman this belies the determination to pursue honesty, justice, equality and good manners. DCF has already helped ameliorate many issues such as social isolation, disability access and mental health issues. I’m sure these philanthropic actions will continue. This sits very comfortably with my philosophy.
Andy Quinn
Following a successful career as a Company Director, Andy relocated from the Perth Hills to Denmark in 2008. Since then, he has been actively engaged in community development, the arts, and local event initiatives, contributing leadership, financial oversight, and organisational skills to a range of successful projects. Organisations he has volunteered for include the Scotsdale Progress Association, Great Southern Classic Car Club, Mill Art Group and the Denmark Community Resource Centre.
Andy brings extensive experience in governance, committee leadership and community engagement, with a strong commitment to supporting regional initiatives and fostering cultural and social development.
He enjoys both still and video photography and visual arts.
Why I volunteer at DCF:
I look forward to contributing my experience in governance, finance, and community development as a board member, working collaboratively to support the continued growth and wellbeing of Denmark and the Great Southern region.
Vicky Wilson
Vicky is a retired librarian and university lecturer who has been involved with ‘not-for-profit’ and voluntary organisations all her adult life in Nigeria, the Philippines and Australia.
A resident of Denmark for 24 years, she is passionate about developing the local community’s self-reliance, resilience and quality of life.
When Vicky first arrived in Denmark, she volunteered as a cook with Denmark ‘Soupie’ and from 2005 to 2022 was a volunteer ambulance officer with St John Ambulance Association, Denmark Subcentre. Vicky is a Member of the Order of St John, and Chairperson of Denmark Baroque, which brings people together through fine live musicmaking in the Great Southern.
Vicky is a proud mother of three, a grandmother to seven who, when not absorbed by community and family matters, devotes her time to pursue her passions in classical music and gardening.
Why I volunteer at DCF:
I volunteer at DCFWA to support those in our community making a difference. Being part of a collaborative team that makes objective decisions allows me to contribute meaningfully and feel useful in the process.
Our Patron
Prof. Fiona Stanley AC, FAA, FASSA, FAHMS MSc, MBBS MD, FFPHM, FAFPHM, FRACP, FRANZCOG, Hon DSc, Hon DUniv, Hon FRACGP, Hon MD, Hon FRCPCH, Hon LLB (honoris causa)
Named Australian of the Year in 2003, Professor Fiona Stanley is a vocal advocate for the needs of children and their families.
Trained in maternal and child health, epidemiology and public health, Professor Stanley has spent her career researching the causes of major childhood illnesses such as birth defects. Her research includes the gathering and analysis of population data for epidemiological and public health research; the causes and prevention of birth defects and major neurological disorders, particularly the cerebral palsies; patterns of maternal and child health in Aboriginal and Caucasian populations; various ways of determining the developmental origins of health and disease; collaborations to link research, policy and practice; and strategies to enhance health and well-being in populations. She pioneered the development, linkage and analysis of population level data and record linkage in Western Australia as a research and evaluation capacity.
Her major contribution has been to establish the Telethon Kids Institute, established in 1990, now the Kids Research Institute Australia, a unique multidisciplinary independent research institute focussing on the causes and prevention of major problems affecting children and youth and to establish the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, a national organisation of researchers, policy makers and practitioners. She has over 300 publications, books and book chapters. She is a board member of the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation, a Governor of The Ian Potter Foundation and a former member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, and a former board member of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She has also served on major international, national and local committees. For her research on behalf of Australia’s children and Aboriginal social justice, she was named Australian of the Year in 2003 and in 2006 she was made a UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.
Founding Director and Patron of the Kids Research Institute Australia
Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Western Australia
Hon Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Former Director, ANDI (Australian National Development Index) University of Melbourne where she was Director, 2013 Festival of Ideas.
Why I believe in DCF:
Denmark is a wonderful community, full of creativity and art, committed to sustainable living and working, all set in a spectacular environment. The breadth of interests and capacities amongst Denmark dwellers is unusual; I always feel that you could get anything done there if you wanted it. We feel extremely privileged to have become part of the community. I am honoured to be the DCF founding patron.
Prof. Fiona Stanley AC, FAA, FASSA, FAHMS MSc, MBBS MD, FFPHM, FAFPHM, FRACP, FRANZCOG, Hon DSc, Hon DUniv, Hon FRACGP, Hon MD, Hon FRCPCH, Hon LLB (honoris causa)
Named Australian of the Year in 2003, Professor Fiona Stanley is a vocal advocate for the needs of children and their families.
Trained in maternal and child health, epidemiology and public health, Professor Stanley has spent her career researching the causes of major childhood illnesses such as birth defects. Her research includes the gathering and analysis of population data for epidemiological and public health research; the causes and prevention of birth defects and major neurological disorders, particularly the cerebral palsies; patterns of maternal and child health in Aboriginal and Caucasian populations; various ways of determining the developmental origins of health and disease; collaborations to link research, policy and practice; and strategies to enhance health and well-being in populations. She pioneered the development, linkage and analysis of population level data and record linkage in Western Australia as a research and evaluation capacity.
Her major contribution has been to establish the Telethon Kids Institute, established in 1990, now the Kids Research Institute Australia, a unique multidisciplinary independent research institute focussing on the causes and prevention of major problems affecting children and youth and to establish the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth, a national organisation of researchers, policy makers and practitioners. She has over 300 publications, books and book chapters. She is a board member of the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation, a Governor of The Ian Potter Foundation and a former member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, and a former board member of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She has also served on major international, national and local committees. For her research on behalf of Australia’s children and Aboriginal social justice, she was named Australian of the Year in 2003 and in 2006 she was made a UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.
Founding Director and Patron of the Kids Research Institute Australia
Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Western Australia
Hon Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne
Former Director, ANDI (Australian National Development Index) University of Melbourne where she was Director, 2013 Festival of Ideas.
Why I believe in DCF:
Denmark is a wonderful community, full of creativity and art, committed to sustainable living and working, all set in a spectacular environment. The breadth of interests and capacities amongst Denmark dwellers is unusual; I always feel that you could get anything done there if you wanted it. We feel extremely privileged to have become part of the community. I am honoured to be the DCF founding patron.
