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The Committee

President:    Val Ashworth. 
Val is not Manx born although her  grandfather was a Mylchreest from Peel. She has been Secretary since 2000. Val attended Manx meetings as a child and followed the footsteps of her mother and aunts by joining the Qld Manx Society as an adult. Val is a trained singer and often sings at meetings. One of her ambitions has been to have the Celtic Connection Choir, based in Brisbane and of which she is a member, perform at the Celtic Festival at Glen Innes, New South Wales. She is pleased that they will perform there in 2010, the year of the Manx.        

Treasurer:   Jan Blackburn  
Jan is married to international author, Richard Blackburn. Richard's family are only newcomers to the Isle of Man, being residents since the 15th century. Jan spent years in PNG and has travelled extensively internationally - and loves going back to the Isle of Man at every opportunity. Jan has a background in banking and business and is proud three generations of her family are regular attendees at the QMS meetings.

Secretary:    Trevor Shimmin         
Trevor has been a member for over eighteen years and is a Past Vice President.  His grandfather William Shimmin came to Australia about 1908 and married the boarding house lady's daughter, Ada Rich.  Although both Trevor and his Dad were born in Australia, Trevor has visited the Isle of Man several times, enjoying the island life and catching up with relatives in Peel. 

Librarians:    Lillian Smith and Norma Conwell. 
Lillian and Norma have been joint librarians for several years. Lillian's father was a joint founder of the Queensland Manx Society and Norma's grandfather arrived in this country from the Isle of Man in 1886. Lillian recently received a Celtic honour, D.Ua (Duine Uasal), for services to a Celtic community.

Newsletter Editor:    Jenny Blackburn
Jenny is the daughter of international author, Richard Blackburn, and the muse of The Gatekeeper Trilogy. Her ancestors moved to the Isle of Man around the 15th century (still considered newcomers) and her father was the black sheep that left the fairy shore to start a new life in PNG and Australia. She is a senior business analyst and has a background in bookkeeping, taxation and computers. Jenny is very proud her daughter, Ebony-Rose, is equally enthusiastic about her heritage and attends regularly.

Committee:    George Cowin
George's great-grandfather was one of the founders of the Queensland Manx Society back in 1914 and the family transport company that he founded was a part of Brisbane history for nearly one hundred years.

Committee:     John Corlett

Webmaster:    Tony Ashworth