Our directors are made up of unpaid representatives from the Limestone Coast who meet the Australian Tax Office’s (ATO) definition of having ‘community responsibility’. The directors are assisted by a Chief Executive Officer, Roger Babolka and a small part time management team. The Stand Like Stone Foundation has an office located in Mount Gambier.
Georgie is committed to the growth, renewal & sustainability of rural and regional communities. She is an active community member and volunteer who has served on boards both in her local community and across Australia. She is a member of Impact100 SA and was the 2016 Recipient of the Australian Community Philanthropy Award for Excellence & achievement. She is a former Non Executive Director and Treasurer of Community Foundations Australia, the peak body for Community Foundations in Australia.
Georgie was Executive Officer of the Stand Like Stone Foundation from 2012 to 2020. Over eight years, she led the foundation on a path to significant growth and increased impact across the region. Her passion and advocacy for DGR reform for Community Foundations was instrumental in bringing much needed reform in this area.
Georgie holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing Major) focused in Business Administration & Management. Her experience includes roles in marketing, administration and finance. Georgie is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has presented & facilitated at national forums and events pertaining to the NFP sector. Georgie has volunteered on many community committees, including Governing Council of Lucindale Area School, Naracoorte & Districts Little Athletics Association, Robe Surf Life Saving, Hot Shots Tennis, Auskick, Lucindale PA&H Society and Disabled Winter Sports. Georgie is mother to four boys and she and her husband James manage a grazing enterprise south of Lucindale.
A belief in the ability of communities to solve their own community problems is why Sally Klose is a passionate advocate for the Stand Like Stone Foundation.
Sally has a long association with the community philanthropy sector previously working as the Executive Officer of the Stand Like Stone Foundation, receiving an Award for Excellence from Australian Community Philanthropy for “outstanding achievements and contributions to philanthropy through the Community Foundation movement”.
Sally has extensive experience developing organisations, events and projects for local government, community organisations and business and has recently established Sally Klose Strategic Solutions. This experience is backed by a Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Management, Company Directors Course Diploma and the IAP2 Certificate in Engagement.
Sally has also served as a Board member of the South East Regional Health Service and Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast Board and was integral to the establishment and success of the local Community Economic Development Board. Sally was also an active member of the local school governing council.
Sally and her husband Chris operate a farming business in Lucindale focusing on prime lamb production.
Raised in Mount Gambier, Donna moved to Adelaide to undertake her Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice before returning to Mount Gambier to take up a position at DeGaris Lawyers in 2010. Donna is now a Partner in the Firm, managing the day-day running of the Firm and practising in the areas of Wills and Estates, Commercial, Property and Business Law.
Donna is a mother to two young girls and is actively involved in sport throughout the region, particularly at the Glencoe Football and Netball Clubs and in the Mid South East Football and Netball Leagues. Donna became involved in Stand Like Stone as an Alternate Director for Bill DeGaris, was a dancer in the 2012 Swinging with the Stars and became a Director in her own right in 2014. Donna is the current Chair of the Swinging with the Stars Sub-Committee.
Kate Facy has a Bachelor of Business majoring in accounting from Deakin University and an Advanced Diploma in Agribusiness from the University of Sydney. A Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course. Kate has lived and worked in Regional South Australia and Western Victoria for over 40 years.
During that time Kate has been on various boards and committees including Community Radio Station 5 TCB, Beachport Primary School, Tenison Woods College, Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre and PEAK. Kate is a specialised Agribusiness Banker with the Commonwealth Bank for the last 10 years. Kate is passionate about the growth and sustainability of regional communities.
Steve is a co-director of Millicent accounting firm TDH Partners and his areas of expertise include personal and small business taxation, and financial planning. Steve is a passionate Limestone Coast local and is actively involved in a range of sporting organisations across the region.
Steve has been associated with Stand Like Stone since 2018, competing and raising funds as a dancer for the annual fundraising event, Swinging with the Stars. He joined the Board in 2019.
Jeanette joined the Stand Like Stone Board in 2020 and is currently employed as part time casual academic with Flinders University, SA.
She has worked in public education in the southeast for many years, mostly as Deputy Principal at Kingston Community School, and has particular interests in leadership, site improvement, literacy, intervention and students with additional needs.
As well as volunteering in education settings in Cambodia, Jeannette is a board member of the Australian Foundation for Fostering Learning in the Philippines, (AFFLIP).
Jeanette and her husband Bob have agricultural business interests and enjoy outdoor activities. She is Secretary/Treasurer of the Mt Benson Hall Committee Inc. and a National Parks Friends Committee member.
Ann lives in Naracoorte with her family and is an experienced board member, currently siting on the Board of two private companies as well as Stand Like Stone. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and previously served on the Board of Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast. Together with her husband Chris, she manages a fresh produce business, working with growers and customers Australia-wide.
Ann brings a range of professional experience through varied roles in small business, government, and the international NGO sectors. Grounded by qualifications in water and environmental science from Adelaide University and Oxford University, she has furthered her skills in strategy development, financial management, grant program oversight and board governance. Ann has strong connections across the entire Limestone Coast within government, industry, the arts and the Naracoorte community.
Life is mostly froth and bubble,Adam Lindsay Gordon
Two things stand like stone,
Kindness in another's trouble,
Courage in our own.
I am thrilled to have been given the honour of leading Stand Like Stone and to continue building on the foundation's success.Roger Babolka , CEO
Sally Bailey is employed on a permanent/part-time basis in the Accounts and Grants areas of Stand Like Stone Foundation. Sally contributes to the effective administration of the Stand Like Stone Foundation and provides invaluable assistance in the areas of accounting based activities, donor and grant seeker management, data entry, records management, program management, and other clerical support.
Carissa is employed on a permanent/part-time basis in the Administration area of the Stand Like Stone Foundation. Carissa assists with the general administration tasks for the Foundation.
Sue Charlton AM was the inaugural Chair of the Stand Like Stone Foundation and held this position for 10 years, retiring in December 2014. Under her leadership, the foundation celebrated its 10th Anniversary achieving several significant milestones including, surpassing $1 million held in trust for the Limestone Coast community and distributing over $600,000 to the Limestone Coast community. Sue is a member of the Swinging with the Stars committee and has seen this event grow into significant and sustainable community-based fundraising events for the foundation. Sue is a founding member, former Director and Chairman of Australian Community Philanthropy, a group established to represent, support and grow Community Foundations across Australia. Sue has pursued a career in paediatric physiotherapist, working with children and families in the Limestone Coast community for the past 45 years.
Sue is an Adjunct lecturer with the University of South Australia and Flinders University supporting clinical practice training to physiotherapy students. She was formerly a member of the Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health Clinicians Advisory Group and was the Limestone Coast Representative on the Rural Medical Family Network State committee in South Australia. At a national level Sue served as the National Paediatric Group representative on the National Advisory Council of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Sue has been actively involved in school and local community groups including the Red Cross Service Group, Women’s and Children’s Hospital Group and the Moorak Hall committee and is a Friend of the Adelaide Festival of Arts, the Sir Robert Helpmann theatre and the Riddoch Art Gallery.
Sue undertook post-graduate studies, graduating in 2019 with a PhD were her major research study addressed the early identification of neonatal instability of the hip in infants born in regional South Australia.
Sue’s family has established the LM Woodruff Memorial Scholarship sub-fund to support students undertaking nursing studies. In 2014 Sue was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community of South Australia through a range of philanthropic and charitable organisations, and to physiotherapy. Sue’s commitment, contribution and achievements as the inaugural Chairman of the Stand Like Stone Foundation were formally recognised in February 2015, by appointing her as Patron of the foundation alongside Ray Scott.
Doug Balnaves was greatly honoured to be named as a Patron of the Stand Like Stone Foundation in 2020.
Doug and his late wife Annette have always had a very keen interest and commitment to the local and extended community.
Annette was a member of the inaugural Board of Directors of the Stand Like Stone Foundation and maintained her very keen interest and commitment until her passing in 2018. Annette & Doug’s family have also been very enthusiastic supporters of the Foundation and this strong support continues. The family see Stand Like Stone as a vital part of the community of the Limestone Coast, and are keenly aware of the needs of so many people who have a difficult or challenging life to work through.
The Balnaves family will continue welcome any opportunity to become involved at any time.
Doug is also a Patron of the Coonawarra Wine Industry Association, a Life Member of the Penola Caledonian Pipe Band and Deputy Chairman of the Penola Town Square Committee. His interest in environmental matters has led to him being a member of the Nature Foundation of South Australia and the Nature Glenelg Trust which is responsible for the restoration of the Mt Burr Swamp at Glencoe.
Brian Page was a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors since its inception in 2004 until 2017. Brian was the inaugural Chair on the interim steering committee for the Community Foundation project.
Brian was also the Foundation’s Founding Donor and has established scholarships for students at Mount Gambier High School, Grant High School, Kingston Community School, Millicent High School and Keith Area School. Through Wepar Nominees Brian and his wife Sue sponsor the Foundation’s operations.
Brian was a member of the Limestone Coast Area Consultative Committee since its inception in 1995 and has a Bachelor of Engineering (chemical) from Adelaide University and is a member of the Australian Institute of Wood Science and won a national award for Technical Literature in 1987. Brian has extensive experience in business and industry, and has a strong community involvement, especially in social, cultural and environmental issues.