Staff and Leaders
Associate Pastor (Families - Children & Youth, and Community Outreach): Michael Brew
Raised on a farm on the outskirts of Torquay, Michael has spent most of his life here on the Surfcoast. He has always been connected and involved in church and was introduced to God at a young age. Michael met Jesus as a teenager and committed to serving and following Him for the rest of his life. He has led Michael to serve the church and to make Him known to others.
Michael met his amazing wife Kath here at TCF. They have two joyful, adventurous, and kind children - a daughter named Adley, and a son named Harry. They are excited to be connected to this incredible church community. Michael is looking forward to bringing his passions for discipleship and hospitality to our community as he aims to serve, encourage and empower you through this Associate Pastor role.
03 5261 6831
Office hours – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday
Youth Worker and Media Worker: Charlie Barnett
03 5261 6831
Office hours – Tuesday, Thursday morning, Friday evening, Sunday morning
Administrator: Debbie Hannah
Debbie has been a member of TCF since 2011 and started as the Administrator in February 2018. Debbie has studied various courses and completed a Bachelor of Business Administration as well as worked in Business Administrative Roles for most of her working career. She is passionate about being able to use her Administrative background and Human Resources knowledge to serve Jesus at the fellowship she calls home.
03 5261 6831
Office hours – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am – 3pm
Admin Assistant: Sarah Moscrop
03 5261 6831
Office hours – Tuesday, Wednesday 9am – 3pm
Leadership Team
Matt Hannah
Chairperson and Treasurer.
Matt is currently employed as the CIO (Chief Information Officer) at a national, asx listed supply chain and logistics company. Matt has over 20 years’ experience in logistics working as the IT Director overseeing the Africa Region based in South Africa, before moving to Australia in 2010 to take on the role of IT Director for the Asia Pacific region. Matt also holds a BSc degree in Computer Science. Matt loves the Lord and has a desire to serve wherever needed. With his skills and experience in Senior Management, he brings Financial, IT and General Management skills to the TCF Leadership Team.
Matt is married to Deb and they have 3 school aged children.
Ed Robertson
Leader for Pastoral Care Focus Area.
Ed has many years’ experience in varied roles and is now retired from full time employment. His strengths are counselling, and pastoral care having volunteered at Lifeline both taking calls and supervising other staff as well as coordinating the Pastoral Care team at Torquay Christian Fellowship for more than 15 years. Ed has a heart for helping people and continues to use his skills to volunteer in roles where he can do this.
Ed has the following skills and qualifications:
Master practitioner in NLP.
Volunteer with VVC Emergencies Ministry doing personal support for victims and witnesses.
Certificate in personal support.
Held positions of vice president, president, welfare, and guest speaker procurer at Torquay Probus.
Completed Mental health First aid course.
Ed is married to Val. They have one daughter, two sons and seven grandchildren who they adore.
Lyn Burton
Leader for Prayer Focus Area.
Lyn is a a qualified psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. She has worked in the Community Support sector for over twenty-five years. Lyn currently leads and supervises a team of therapists.
Lyn has been married for forty-two years and has two grown up children.
Mel Brunt
Leader for Worship Ministry Focus Area, and Missions.
Mel has been part of Torquay Christian Fellowship since 1992. Mel currently works in the family business – All Seasons Patios. Previously Mel started work at Deakin University in 1988, after a few years of various administrative roles, and with an interest in security operations, an opportunity to join the management team became available and was appointed University Security Manager. After close to 14 years Mel left the University to start her family. Mel returned to Deakin in 2013. Her role in the Contracts and Grounds team was Service Contracts Team Leader which involved administering service contracts helping present clean and hygienic campuses.
Mel is married to Chris and they have two children, Josh and Zac.
Janine Poole
Secretary and Leader for Small Group Ministry Focus Area.
Janine is currently Acting Co-Director as well as Research Lead of the Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) at Monash University, overseeing the research and operations of the institute and providing leadership in implementing the institute’s strategic activities. She has been in the Management Team and the Research Lead at ISCRR for five years, responsible for co-designing research for government and working with the team of researchers to conduct the research, report writing and presentation of the work. She has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and PhD from The University of Melbourne and over 20 years of experience in research. Janine was in the Deakin University Metabolic Research Unit Management Team for eight years where her key role was to lead the Gene Discovery Group, identifying novel genes associated with obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, and selecting target proteins to move into a drug development pipeline. A number of genes were discovered and patented, attracting international drug company investment and forming the basis of several high impact publications. She was awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research.
Janine is married to Andrew and they have been part of TCF for 25 years. They have 3 sons – Ollie, Tom and Hamish. Janine has been in the Leadership Team, Pastoral Care Team, and helped with children and youth programs at TCF.
Geoff Caldwell
Leader for Ministry Focus Area.
Geoff has been in full time Christian Ministry for 35 years which has been in the diverse area of Christian Camping. He was a leading officer in the Bank for 14 years so has a financial background. Geoff is presently the Director of Camping (CEO) of Baptist Camping Victoria which is an independent agency of the Baptist Church.
Baptist Camping runs 4 Centres in Victoria through its Central office and has a large ministry arm running and facilitating Camps throughout Victoria. Geoff has been on National Boards with Christian Venues Australia and held positions of Deputy Chair and Treasurer in his 12 years on the Board.
He was on the state committee for 6 years as well being the chairperson for most of that time. Geoff has been in church leadership at every church he has been a member of and been a part of their ministry. In the early days running youth, outreach coffee shops, then kids’ ministry, after school ministries, home groups as well as most aspects of leading church which include preaching. He was on the committee of the Anglesea Baptist Church Opp-shop for 10 years and for most of that time he was the treasurer. Ministry is in his heart and knowing that Jesus can change hearts is what drives Geoff.
Geoff has skills and abilities in running ministries, overseeing not for profit charities financials, setting vision as well as leading and working with Boards. He has a gift in setting up ministries with vision, planning, structure, that helps them grow and develop.
Geoff is married to Kendra has three great children and one grandchild. Family is very important to him and supporting them and watching them grow and develop through their journey of live is exciting.
Alan Howlett
Leader for Children and Youth Ministry Focus Area.
Alan currently owns and operates Ace Classics Australia specialising in restorations of high-end Classic and Vintage British Motorcycles. He also established Hoppers Stoppers in 1990, a successful Automotive business (still operating and Australia’s largest aftermarket specialty brake business) and three times category Winner of Wyndham Small Business awards. Prior to this, Alan had a variety of management roles in banking.
Alan has a passion for supporting ‘at risk’ youth and he was the National Director of Hand Brake Turn in 2002. Alan has also held various roles from Board Member and Chairman to CEO at Concern Australia from 2009 to 2012.
Alan is married to Deb. They have two children who live in the United States and Tassie and six grandchildren who they love to visit.
Marianne Messer
Marianne Messer walked into the waters of Baptism at Fisherman’s Beach in 1989. Soon after TCF sent her out to help plant Anglesea Baptist where she worshipped for the next 30 years. During that time Marianne took on ministry roles including preaching, leading praise and worship, establishing Foodlink, prayer Partners - a teenage mentoring program , and various community activism roles including helping to close the Anglesea sewerage ocean outfall, and establishing the GOR National Park. Marianne was Surf Coast Citizen of the Year in 1996.
A freelance journalist for more than 40 years, Marianne has also worked as a chaplain at Torquay College, an educator at Hand Brake Turn, a lecturer at Deakin and most recently the creator/designer of Geelong Careers, a multi website and jobs app capturing all the jobs and careers data for the region.
Marianne is married to Eric. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren.