Funeral Directors - Victoria
James Clarke
James is our Victorian operations manager and loves being able to help families understand the integral importance of a meaningful funeral service.
He has over 12 years experience in the funeral industry and is proud of the amazing variety of skills each team member brings to assist grieving families. He is passionate about coffee, star wars lego and music.
Miriam Levey
Miriam’s faith is a key motivator in her role as funeral director and she is constantly amazed by people’s resilience and ability to organise a funeral while grieving.
She enjoys the comradery and mutual trust shared on the Bethel team. And outside of work enjoys – crochet, patchwork, travel and hoarding fabric and yarn.
John Newsham
John enjoys walking with people on the journey and helping them to arrange a meaningful funeral for their loved one. He enjoys playing sport after hours and appreciates his caring and supportive Bethel team members.
Bronwyn Lewis
Bronwyn finds it a privilege to walk with families in their time of need; to talk, share and sit in the grief space helping each family to say goodbye.
She loves attending gallery exhibitions, arthouse cinema, cryptic crosswords and jigsaw puzzles. She has recently taken up lessons in sword-fencing! She is thankful for the different styles and personalities which make up the Bethel team.
Louise Cleary
Louise’s inspiration to serve families and honour the memory of their loved one is connected to her faith in Jesus. Her desire is to embody the Bethel mission, to show ‘Christ-like care’ to families.
Louise appreciates the shared values of support, care and respect evident within the Bethel team environment, when she has time she likes hand embroidery, reading and cooking.
Andrew Kernick
Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in the funeral industry and is our mortuary manager and embalmer. He finds it very rewarding to know that he can make a positive contribution to those experiencing deep loss. He enjoys working in the Bethel team and when not at work he likes to read a good book!
Funeral Directors - Queensland
Angela Russell
Angela is the manager of our Queensland team; she loves her role because she can help families at the most difficult time of their lives. She counts it a privilege to help them create a personalised funeral service for their loved one. She describes the Bethel team as being like a family, supporting each other as they in turn support grieving families. Angela enjoys roller skating in her spare time.
Frank Harrison
Frank is deeply motivated by the care he can give families; he feels he can make a real difference through helping them navigate the process of organising a funeral. Franks is passionate about AFL & NRL footy and cycling.
Support Team
Petra Kingsley
Petra is one of the first people you meet if you phone our Mitcham office. She finds it deeply rewarding when she assists families during their time of need. Petra’s role also includes looking after funeral bonds, infant loss and cremation urn enquiries. She appreciates that at work there is time for the team to serve families but also times of fun and laughter, after hours she enjoys gardening.
Meg Hall
Meg is motivated by a desire to help families when they are grieving and to assist in lightening the load when a loved one dies. She is also one of the friendly people you may talk to if you call the Mitcham office. Meg coordinates all the ‘day to day’ staffing for funerals and also has a role in mortuary care. Spending time with her family and gardening are a some of the things she enjoys in her spare time. She appreciates the support and encouragement other team members give to one another on a daily basis.
Danielle Williams
Danielle is our Financial and Corporate Administrator and has been with the company for over 11 years, she enjoys the importance of building wonderful working relationships with our external suppliers and providing support to our grieving families. Danielle has always worked in not-for-profit organisations and values the position to support others in a time of loss. When not working she enjoys spending time watching my three children playing sport and attending as many AFL games as possible to watch the Bombers.
Kevin Bridger
Kevin is our pastoral care worker; he contacts families at different intervals after the funeral service. He offers support, compassion, a listening ear and if so desired prayer. Kevin finds it a real privilege to journey with people throughout their grief. He is also a very skilled lawn bowler and enjoys his connection with his local bowling club when he is not working.
Andrew McKenzie – CEO
Andrew is our CEO and has responsibility for our businesses and the team that deliver our funeral services. With a professional background in for profit and not-for-profit businesses, Andrew is motivated by our mission to serve families and support other charities that bring life-changing impact to people. Andrew enjoys coffee and running to clear his head and maintain some fitness.
Word Investments - Board Members
Trevor Adams – Board Chair
Trevor has been involved in the funeral industry for over 50 years, and has served on our board for 24 years.
He is our Board Chair and also chairs the Finance Committee.
Alexina Baldini
Alexina is a Psychologist and the Founding Director of Enable Workplace Consulting. She has been serving on our board for 5 years and is a member of the Marketing Committee
Ian Tyson
Ian is the CEO and Executive Director of Timberlink Australia and New Zealand. He has served on our board for 10 years and is Chair of the Risk Committee.
Mark Joy
Mark works at Interflora and is CFO and Company Secretary. He has served on our board for 9 years and is a member of the Finance Committee.
Max Sahl
Max is CEO of Wycliffe Australia and he is passionate about making the Bible available in all languages. He has served on our board for three years and is a member of the Risk Committee
Rob Peffer
Rob has a background in Law and Agriculture and works in Sales and Distribution at Peffer Pastoral Company Pty Ltd in Molong NSW. He has served on our board for 13 years.
Sue Stott
Sue is semi-retired having run her own Business Support services company for 20 years. She has served on our board for 11 years and is Chair of the Marketing Committee and is also a Finance Committee member.
Carey Schumann
Carey joined the Board in 2023 and together with his brother is the owner of Sinelec Australia Pty Ltd and is the Managing Director. Carey is also part of the Risk Committee. Carey has a long-standing connection to Word Investments Limited and is a member of New Hope Baptist Church.
Paul Holdway
Paul is a Lawyer and a Principal of Lewis Holdway Lawyers & Legal Essentials Pty Ltd. He joined the Board in 2024.