CRISIS SUPPORT: +61 403 972 265 | ENQUIRIES: +61 8 9249 9213​

Our Team

Claddagh Volunteer Committee 2021-2022

As well as managing the strategic direction of Claddagh, the volunteer committee shares all the case-work, delivering hands-on support to clients and their families, both in WA and overseas. All this work is done on a volunteer basis, with members bringing a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences and strengths. Click on the photo of each committee member to learn more. 

Chairperson

Heather McKeegan

Vice Chairperson

Peter McKenna

Treasurer

Patricia Bratton

Secretary

Darren King

Committee Member

Tom Quinn

Committee Member

Stephanie Upton

Chairperson

Heather McKeegan

Hailing from Co. Antrim, Heather has been in Australia since 2007 and works in remuneration and benefits for a WA-owned mining company. Heather joined the Claddagh Association Committee in 2015, having previously served on the committee of the Irish Support Agency NSW (formerly known as The Irish Australian Welfare Bureau & Resource Centre NSW Inc). She was Vice Chairperson and Secretary of Claddagh before taking on the position of Chairperson in mid-2017.

Vice Chairperson

Peter McKenna

Peter is one of Claddagh’s founders, and was the inaugural Chairman of the first committee in 1997. His current role is Vice Chairperson. Peter has a deep-seated passion for helping his fellow Irish migrants and is always willing to go the extra mile. He has broad experience across the electrical contracting and metal fabrication industry, after owning businesses in the sector for many years . Peter is on the Committee of the Irish Golf Club of WA and The Irish Famine Commemoration Committee [WAIFC], as well as being a life member of Saint Finbarr’s Gaelic Football Club. He is a recent recipient of the Brendan Award for his community contributions.

Treasurer

Patricia Bratton

Patricia has a background in accounting and administration and has served as Treasurer of the Claddagh Association since 2017. She has also volunteered in The Australian Irish Heritage Association WA, Tuart Hill Swimming Club and Amelia Heights Scouts Group, and previously served as Treasurer of Swimming WA. Patricia’s in-depth knowledge of volunteering and treasurer duties allows for the smooth running of the day-to-day operations of the Claddagh Association and the Seniors’ group, in which she is heavily involved.

Secretary

Darren King

Darren is a chartered accountant who has held the position of Secretary with the Claddagh Association since 2018. He works closely with the Treasurer on Claddagh’s financial management, and sits on the Revenue Committee. You will also find him assisting at Claddagh’s various events.

Committee Member

Tom Quinn

Tom Quinn is a founding member of The Claddagh Association and has held various positions on the committee, including Chairperson. Tom has been heavily involved with the Irish community since he arrived in Perth in 1976, with extensive experience supporting people in need and organising fundraising events over the years. He has served on a range of voluntary committees over the years including as President of The Irish Club in Subiaco, which serves as a hub for Irish community activity. Tom has been a recipient of the Brendan Award and he spent many years playing football for St Finbarr’s GFC. He has recently retired from his career as a real estate agent with Professionals – The Kelly Team Real Estate after over 27 years in the industry. He is still trying to get used to retirement!

Committee Member

Stephanie Upton

A Limerick native, Stephanie has been in Perth for ten years and currently works as an Executive Assistant. Stephanie first came into contact with the Claddagh Association in 2015 when her father, Ned, passed away while visiting Perth on holidays. Shortly afterwards she began to volunteer with the Claddagh Association, before joining the Claddagh Committee in 2018.

Claddagh Coordinator

Claddagh receives funding from the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme to employ one staff person, Anne Wayne, our Coordinator. Anne manages the office and Claddagh’s projects. She is the friendly face you’ll meet when you first contact Claddagh. 
Claddagh Coordinator

Anne Wayne

Claddagh Coordinator

Anne Wayne

Anne Wayne (BA (Hons), Grad Dip Ed, MA, Grad Cert Mentoring) began work as Claddagh Coordinator in 2019; prior to that she had worked for more than a decade at the Waterford Institute of Technology lecturing in history and politics. During her time there she won awards for her teaching, completed social research projects for social care organisations and was a member of the Institute’s Athena Swan Assessment Team and Teaching and Learning Forum. Anne had previously spent many years working in the field of social care in roles spanning direct service provision, national and international advocacy and consultancy and training. Anne grew up in an Irish-Australian family in WA and her mother is from Dublin. She is married to a Wexford man and spent many years in Ireland raising a family before bringing them all back to Fremantle in 2018.

Volunteers

Claddagh’s work would not be possible without the volunteers who help us carry out our events, social support, visa advice, special projects, fundraisers and administration. There are too many people to mention individually so here we feature an outstanding volunteer each month.
Claddagh Volunteer

Joe Carroll

Claddagh Volunteer

Joe Carroll

Joe has volunteered for Claddagh for many years, including serving on the Claddagh committee. He explains how he got involved:  “Claddagh helped me years ago when my brother died over in Queensland. At the time I was out of work, I had a bad back and I couldn’t work. But I got over to Queensland before he died and they helped me with the airfare to come back to Perth. At the time it was $500 and they paid the whole fare for me to come back. I always remembered that and I thought, “When I retire, I want to repay their kindness”.

Joe is currently a vital member of the Claddagh Seniors Subcommittee, supporting monthly events for our Seniors group. He says “I love the people, they’re brilliant. Just to see them being happy and smilingI think I get more out of it than they do. But I love doing it, I genuinely look forward to it”.

If you’d like to volunteer with Claddagh visit our Volunteer section here.