LECTURERS

PRINCIPAL / CEO

Dr Stephen Fyson , BA(Hons), MHPEd, DipCS (post grad), PhD, MACE, MAPS.
principal@southland.edu.au

Stephen is a psychologist by trade and a teacher at heart. As a Christian social scientist, he has combined these interests in his work with young people for over 30 years. He has worked in welfare, health and education, and has been involved in establishing Christian Psychology and Community Psychology within the Australian Psychological Society. He has qualifications in psychology, education and theology. Stephen has been working in and developing Christian schools for over 20 years. He is passionate about Christian teachers being equipped to teach Christianly.

On a personal level, Stephen has been married for 31 years to Sandie, has three adult children, a son-in-law and a granddaughter. When he plays, he enjoys music, fresh air and exercise, and being with people.

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Dr Edwin J Boyce, OAM, BA, MEd [Syd], PhD [Alberta], MACE , MACEL.

President and Founder of Southland College

As a trained and experienced primary school teacher in State schools,
Dr Boyce has always enjoyed his role as a teacher. This continued with his experience as a university lecturer at Macquarie, the University of Sydney and the University of Western Sydney as well as in Canada. Since 1985, Ted has been Principal of Pacific Hills Christian School, a role which he sees as primarily Pastor/Teacher. His role in leadership of the College commenced in 1986 and again has allowed him to be Pastor/Teacher.

Ted believes that God and His Word should form the basis of Christian educational thinking and practice. He believes Christian education should be distinctive as a representation of the grace and truth of God.

Rev Robert J Frisken, AM, CertTeach [Newcastle], BA [UNE], BD (Hons) [MCD], MACE (ICTE Founding President)

Bob Frisken is the President of New Hope International Limited- a company that sponsors a network of Christian schools in Australia and overseas. Bob is the Founding President of the Institute of Christian Tertiary Education (ICTE).

Bob has had a long involvement with Christian schooling. Bob has a passionate interest in the role of community in education and has lectured extensively in Australia and overseas in the theory and practice of Christian education. In Australia he has lectured in the in-service training conferences and conventions run by CCSL and through Southland College lectures. Bob has written numerous papers and articles on Christian schooling. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 2002 for his services to Christian schooling and was also recognised in 2003 with the award of the Centenary of Federation Medal.

Bob is married to Maryanne. He is the father of three sons and has 10 grandchildren. He is an honorary associate pastor of Regents Park Community Church.

Dr Cedric Gibbs,  MA (PCGS), MBChB (Cape Town), MPM (NSW), FACPsychMed, FRACMA

Cedric has been at various times a medical missionary, health administrator, public health academic, private medical practitioner in psychological medicine, Bible college principal and pastor. His last formal appointment was as Pastor of the International Church of Tashkent in Uzbekistan. In all of these roles he has been challenged to think and act Christianly and bring Scripture to bear on all of life.
 
Now retired, Cedric continues an active Bible teaching and counselling ministry. He has been married for 44 years, has an adult daughter and son and a teenage granddaughter. He enjoys music and reading.

Mrs Lynette Hester, Teach Cert, DipTeach (Dist), ATCL (Speech and Drama), BEd, MEd, GradDip(Christ Ed), Grad Cert (HSC Drama).

Lynette Hester has been involved in Christian Community Schooling from its inception, initially through the founding work of her husband, Peter Hester, who worked with David Magill and Bob Frisken, in establishing the movement. Lynette became personally involved as the founding Head Teacher, Primary of Toongabbie Christian Community. She was involved in curriculum development, not only as a head teacher, but through conferences established by CCS.

Later Lynette worked as Curriculum Consultant for Christian Community Schools Ltd, writing curriculum support documents from a Christian perspective and giving consultancy support to schools. She was also keynote speaker and lecturer and several Christian school conferences. During this time she also completed her Masters with special interest in mentoring.

Lynette enjoys supporting Christian teachers in curriculum initiatives through her involvement with the College. She was formerly Director of Studies at Taree Christian Community.  She is still active in teaching senior English and Drama at Taree Christian Schoos well as lecturing responsibilities at Southland.

Mr Greg Holmes, BTh, MEdStud.

Greg Holmes is currently working part-time at Illawarra Christian School, Tongarra Campus as the Biblical Studies teacher, having ‘retired’ from the Head of Campus position at the end of 2003. He has a beautiful wife, Helen, two adult married sons and hence two wonderful daughters-in-law and one very cute grandson. His main spare time interest is as a spectator/photographer of motor sport. One of the things he is really passionate about is helping people to understand the Bible. Greg and Helen attend Kiama Anglican Church.

Graham Irvine, BA, DipTch, MEd
 
Graham is currently a Family Pastor at Riverview Church in Perth, Western Australia.  He was previously been Principal of Regent College and is a keen surfer.  Graham is married to Gai and they have three children.

Dr Tina Lamont EdD, MEd, BSpEd, B Counsel, GDES (Rem Ed) GDES (Special Ed), DipT., MACE, MACEL.

Tina began her education in England and has continued in Australia. Her High School and University studies have been in NSW, Queensland and South Australia. Her first teaching position was in General Primary where she developed an interest in learning difficulties. Tina then went on to become a teacher of English to New Arrivals and later retrained as a Special Needs teacher and later became a coordinator of Special Needs.   She is currently the Director of Teaching and Learning at Pacific Hills Christian School in Dural, NSW.

It was in the position of Special Needs Co-ordinator that Tina felt called to Christian Education. She continued her 'life-long education' and in 1996 completed her Masters in Special Education. In 2003 she finally completed a Doctorate in Education and in 2005 she completed her Bachelor in Counselling.   Tina is still studying having just enrolled in a Master of Counselling at UNE. Tina would appear to be a professional student; however, she prefers to say that she is a 'life-long learner'! In 2003 Tina had the privilege of being invited to Austria to share the vision of Christian Education at the second annual Austrian Christian Teachers Conference with other international speakers.   And in 2005 she visited Hong Kong and had the privilege of lecturing to Masters students who are completing their studies in Christian Education.

Mr Craig Murison, Adv Dip C  Min & Bib  Stud, Dip Teach,  Bed (Dist), MLearnMgmt, OM (AOG), MACEL, MQIEA, AFAIM, MACE, MAICD

Craig Murison was the Founding Principal of Mackay Christian College in 1984 when the school started with 17 students in Years 1 to 7.  After 23 years as Principal of the College, it now has an enrolment of 1100 students in Preschool to Year 12. The school boasts an excellent record in student achievement with almost 100% of students applying for a university place succeeding, and many others successfully completing school based apprenticeships, TAFE courses, or securing good work positions.

During his time at the College, Craig has maintained a focus on creating a true learning organization, moving towards the achievement of a clearly articulated vision with a strong organisational culture founded on common values.  He has completed a Masters of Learning Management, has spoken at numerous conferences on a variety of leadership issues, co-authored four-values based coaching manuals as well as other peer-reviewed published articles.  Craig is a member of a number of Independent school committees, including the Education Committee of the Association of Independent Schools of Queensland for which he also chairs a number of sub-committees, the Christian Schools Australia Queensland State Council, and the Queensland Studies Authority P-12 Curriculum Council.

Craig sees himself as first and foremost a teacher with a passion for learning.  He is married to Candace, has two teenage children, and enjoys playing the saxophone.

Mr Ian O’Harae, BA, DipEd, MEdStud, (PhDCandidate, UNE), MACE, AMACEL. 

Ian O’Harae spent 10 years teaching English and History in government schools in inner city Sydney before studying at the London Theological Seminary. Since then he has been involved in Christian schooling for the past 17 years. He was formerly the Principal of St George Christian School, Hurstville in southern Sydney, which has more than 730 students from Kindergarten to Year 12 and employs over 75 staff. He recently resigned in order to pursue the completion of his PhD full time. His dissertation topic is: Theological beliefs guiding principals of Christian schools : implications for leadership. Ian is full-time Pastor at Stanmore Baptist Church in inner city Sydney.

Dr Don Roy,  DipTeach, BEd [Deakin], PhD [Deakin].

Don has been actively involved in Christian education since 1969 when he, with his wife and true soul-mate, Barbara, with their two sons, and later, a daughter served as missionaries in PNG.  Since then, he has ministered in primary, secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate education as a teacher, teacher-educator, lecturer and administrator in Australia, Fiji, Philippines, West Africa and the USA. Though now officially “retired”, Don continues his passion for authentic Christian education as a sessional lecturer and consultant in a number of settings, some of which are in a distance learning mode. “Spare time” is spent either in music-making as a vocalist, arranger and conductor, in digital photography, or reveling in the delights of keeping up with 5 grandchildren.

Brian Harris, BSocsc., BTh., BTh.(Hons), MTh., PhD

Brian grew up in South Africa, is a New Zealand citizen and resides in Australia. Initially Brian trained as a social worker, before studying for the Christian ministry. He has pastored churches in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, and has also been involved in theological education in each of these countries.

He is currently the principal of Vose Seminary, in Perth Australia, and simultaneously serves as the Senior Pastor of Carey Community Baptist Church, the founding church of Carey Baptist College, a K-12 school of almost 1200 pupils. Brian has served on the board of several Christian schools, including Winthrop, Somerville and Mandurah Baptist Colleges.

Brian is in demand as a speaker and teacher. He has published articles in both scholarly and popular journals, and has contributed chapters to several books.