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WHO WE ARE

In 1998 a local newspaper ad invited grandparents solely raising their grandchildren to meet for a morning coffee.

Ten people came to that meeting. The energy in the room was palpable as they sat alongside grandparents who truly understood their situation. It was in that room, over cups of coffee, that GRGWA was born.

Grandparents sitting around a table drinking tea

WHY DO WE EXIST?

Our objective is to support grandparent carers and their grandchildren to live full lives.

GRGWA is a safe space for grandparent carers to meet, access support, socialise with people who understand and gain information. We advocate for grandparent carers on a state and federal level to improve their lives – and the lives of those in their care.

OUR PURPOSE

To support grandparent carers to provide an environment that nurtures their grandchildren.

OUR VISION

For all grandparent carers to have equal access to the support to provide a loving home for their grandchildren.

OUR LEADERSHIP

GRGWA Board

Alan Hoffman President
Dianne Franklyn Vice President
Jan McGillivray Treasurer
Philip Etherington Secretary
Sandy Nemaric Board Member
Cheryl McMillan Board Member

Warwick Branch

Liz Law Branch President
Carolyn Sackville Branch Vice President
Marion Campbell-Smith Branch Treasurer
Maree Smith Branch Secretary
Alison Marshall Branch Committee Member
Carolyn Grayburn Branch Committee Member
Loryn Cummings Branch Committee Member
Sally Cole Branch Committee Member

OUR HONOUR BOARDS

Life Members

Bruce Horgan 2008
Barbara Arthur 2011
Noeline Barron 2012
Hadyn Opie 2014
Kathleen Opie 2014
Sharyne De Young 2015
Kaye Bendle 2016
Clive Rowden 2019
Penny Rowden 2019
Philip Etherington 2020
Jan Standen 2021

GRGWA Executive

Year President Vice President Treasurer Secretary
2001 Roberta Blowes Noeline Barron Patricia Black
2002 Bruce Horgan Noeline Barron Roberta Blowes
2003 Bruce Horgan Noeline Barron Roberta Blowes
2004 Bruce Horgan Hadyn Opie Barbara Arthur Noeline Barron
2005 Bruce Horgan Hadyn Opie Barbara Arthur Noeline Barron
2006 Bruce Horgan Barbara Arthur Noeline Barron
2007 Bruce Horgan Beverlie Corfe Kath Opie Gwen Duffy
2008 Cheryl Jean Beverlie Corfe Kath Opie Susette Evans
2009 Cheryl Jean Kath Opie Susette Evans
2010 Kaye Bendle Kath Opie Sharyne De Young
2011 Kaye Bendle Kath Opie Sharyne De Young
2012 Kaye Bendle Marina Laroux Dianne Brown Sharyne De Young
2013 Kaye Bendle Liz Lee Dianne Brown Sharyne De Young
2014 Kaye Bendle Liz Lee Dianne Brown Sharyne De Young
2015 Kaye Bendle Liz Lee Malcolm Burton Penny Rowden
2016 Clive Rowden Kaye Bendle Malcolm Burton Penny Rowden
2017 Clive Rowden Jan Standen Malcolm Burton Penny Rowden
2018 Clive Rowden Jan Standen Philip Etherington Penny Rowden
2019 Clive Rowden Jan Standen Philip Etherington Penny Rowden
2020 Jan Standen Raewyn Watene Philip Etherington Penny Rowden
2021 Jan Standen Raewyn Watene Jan McGillivray Carol Hale
2022 Jan Standen Dianne Franklyn Jan McGillivray Liz Law
2023 Alan Hoffman Dianne Franklyn Jan McGillivray Philip Etherington


PAST PRESIDENT OF GRGWA JAN STANDEN

2022 Senior West Australian of the Year

Declared the rockstar of the 2022 WA Australian of the Year Awards Jan Standen accepted her award, to rambunctious rounds of applause, saying it was for all grandparent carers. She will now leverage this political and PR platform to lobby for financial equality for grandparent carers as part of the Fairer Futures campaign.

Jan Standen being presented the Senior West Australian of the Year award

GRGWA

Sponsors

Sponsor Logo: Food Bank
Sponsor Logo: C3 Church Hepburn Heights
Sponsor Logo: Carers WA
Sponsor Logo: Helping Minds
Sponsor Logo: Catholic Women's League Australia
Sponsor Logo: Karrinyup Rotary Club
Sponsor Logo: Marmion Angling and Aquatic Club WA
Sponsor Logo Momentum Engineering
Sponsor Logo: Northern Warriors Veteran Football Club
Sponsor Logo: Minprovise
Sponsor Logo: Osbourne Park Rotary Club
Sponsor Logo: St Catherines House of Hospitality
Sponsor Logo_Wanslea
Sponsor Logo: iDareDream
Sponsor Logo: Media on Mars
Sponsor Logo_Soroptimist International Joondalup

Monday Patchwork Group

WHAT GUIDES US

GRGWA is a registered charity designed to support grandparent carers.

To find out more about what guides us download our constitution.

Grandmother smiling at her grandson while holding him.