Meet the Team

Our dedicated volunteer Executive Members come from all walks of life bringing with them strengths from their personal lives and an unparalleled enthusiasm to the Friends of the Community.

Contact the Executive team

Join the Tribe

Our Story: Since 2006

We are a registered charity – License No: 21197

Friends of the Community Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation with a vision of investing in our future by building a healthy, sustainable, vibrant and enterprising community.

Founded in 2006 by Serena Anderson and Norm Dale, Friends of the Community is not affiliated with any religion and is supportive of everyone in our community, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or condition. Our organisation is staffed entirely by volunteers and seeks to assist those in need who are not supported by government services.

Our team members participate in food service preparation, training of volunteers, allocation officers, marquee supervisors, BBQ supervisors and trainers, cook, maintenance and driving. Our Executive members are always willing to involve our new volunteers and share their knowledge and enthusiasm with them.

We have several partnerships in place. Some are with other community groups, schools sports clubs and some are with big corporate such as Coogee Surf Life Saving, CWA, RepAIR Café, P&C groups, Rate Payers Associations to name a few.

Our Mission & Vision

What Do We Do?
Since our inception, we have provided ongoing funding for Year 11 and 12 students to assist them in achieving their tertiary education goals; supported local children from disadvantaged backgrounds by covering their membership and uniform costs to local sports clubs and provided wheelchairs and adjustable hydra-lift beds to disabled individuals, among many other achievements.

All of these instances of support are due to the lack of funding available to aged, disabled, disadvantaged and special needs people in our community that can only be bridged by groups like Friends of the Community Inc.

Our Mission
Our mission is to shape the future by embracing diversity and connecting people and resources to create a wholesome sense of community, by raising funds for worthwhile and needy projects.

READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT

Executive Team 2023

Meet our wonderful executive team for 2023.

Our Executive members have skills they share with each other and the other volunteers to do the many varied activities that are involved with the organisation.

Norm Dale

PRESIDENT

Co-founder of FOC 2006

Norm’s early days of volunteering started in a small country town where he was a farm worker and shearer – volunteering in various sporting organisations within the community.

On returning to the city in the mid 70’s Norm started and ran his own business and continued with his volunteering using his business skills in the many positions he held. Apart from sporting organisations Norm has also volunteered with aged care day centres and has worked as an activities officer for young people with disabilities – a major highlight for him.

Norm loves nothing better than sharing time with his family and fixing and making almost anything that comes his way. He has a caravan and four wheel drive and has been exploring Australia with his wife and now spends much of the winter months re-charging his batteries in the northwest.

Serena Anderson

TREASURER | SECRETARY

Co-founder of FOC 2006

Serena has been volunteering since she was a teenager and has owned her own business. She holds a degree in Management and Human Services and is heavily involved in home and community care and disabled services. Serena has also worked with youth in crisis for many years. Her very compassionate nature makes her a perfect fit for listening to and nurturing volunteers.

Serena is multilingual and in her spare time enjoys mosaics, crafts, writing and gardening.