Staff at St Mary’s 

Gavin has been living and working in Sunbury since December 2006 as minister at St Mary’s. Gavin began work at the Board of Works as an Administration Officer and completed his Bachelor of Business at RMIT. He continued to work in Melbourne’s Water Industry until he felt a call from God, after 21 years in the Water Industry, to Ordained Ministry. He began his Bachelor of Ministries at the Bible College of Victoria and completed it at Ridley College. He was Ordained in 2001. He began working as a Curate in the Parish of Diamond Creek in February 2001 and on completion of his curacy was appointed as Associate Minister there. St Mary’s is his first parish as a Vicar.Gavin is married to Vicki and they have two children, Emily and Graeme. Vicki works in the Aged Care Industry as a personal carer. Emily is training to be a Primary School teacher at Melbourne University while Graeme is working in Sunbury with a view to being involved in the Aviation Industry at some stage.Gavin enjoys being involved in the Community. He is currently the Chaplain for the Sunbury Sub-Branch of the National Servicemen’s Association and gets involved in other community events and activities.He also loves sport. He’s an AFL Member with Graeme (Essendon of course) and enjoys keeping fit by walking and playing competition tennis at Sunbury Lawn Tennis Club. He and Vicki love watching planes and they are members of “Friends of the Zoo” and “Museum Victoria”.

Above all he is passionate about his faith in the historic Jesus, who lived 2,000 years ago as God here on earth and who’s sacrificial death and resurrection has changed the course of history. Having a relationship with this risen Jesus gives his life purpose, meaning and fulfilment and his greatest desire is to help others to learn of God’s love for them through Jesus and then to help them grow in their relationship with Him.
Rev Ernest Horth - Associate MinisterThe Reverend Ernest Horth retired to Sunbury in August 2007 and is Honorary Associate Minister at St. Mary’s.Ernest entered the RAAF at the age of fifteen as an apprentice trainee and qualified as an Aircraft Engine Fitter. Whilst serving in the RAAF he sensed God’s call to train for the ordained Ministry and entered Ridley College, Melbourne, in 1962. He was ordained Deacon in February 1965 and Priest in February 1966 in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sale. In his long service he has been Vicar of the Parkdale, Balwyn and Glen Waverley parishes in Melbourne, plus Rector of St. John’s, Launceston, in Tasmania. He has served as an Army Chaplain and was twice a Regional Officer for The Bush Church Aid Society. Whilst serving as CEO of the Bible Society in Australia Inc. he presented a specially prepared Australian Edition of The Good News Bible to the Queen. He was for seven years Archdeacon of Kew and from 2003 served as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Melbourne. He is currently Chairman of The Bush Church Aid Society Regional Committee for Victoria and Tasmania, plus a member of the B.C.A. Federal Council, and an Honorary Police Chaplain based at Tullamarine Airport.Ernest has been married to Ida since December 1965. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. Before her marriage Ida served for three years in India as a nurse with the Leprosy Mission.

Ernest enjoys being creative in the garden, and he would love to get serious with painting in oils and watercolour. He likes walking, enjoys administration tasks and the challenge of solving problems, working on computer and interacting with people. Whilst taking an interest in sport he doesn’t exhibit the competitive spirit necessary to keep Gavin and his Essendon enthusiasm in check. Ernest is also a volunteer worker at The Cancer Council Headquarters.

Ernest has a deep and life-changing love of Jesus Christ who has companioned him and inspired him since he became a convinced Christian whilst serving in the RAAF.
Ros Armstrong - Lay Family MinisterRos is serving part-time as our Lay Family Minster, working mainly with families who ask for baptism for their children. She has a Bachelor of Science from Melbourne Uni and a Bachelor of Theology from Ridley College. A mother of two young children, she knows the joys and trials of raising children, and can share her experiences with other families. Ros also co-ordinates the playgroup at St Mary’s, regularly leads music and services on Sundays and provides valued leadership in the parish.
Narelle Riley- Parish AdministratorNarelle is a “born and bred” Sunbury girl who was baptised, confirmed and married in St Mary’s. She attended Sunbury Primary School, followed by Braemar College and then went on to complete an Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Myotherapy) at RMIT.Narelle worked in the retail sector for several years before joining the Aviation industry. She was employed by Kendell Airlines in administration, then following maternity leave she undertook consultative work, specialising in the technical writing of airline Manual suites.Narelle is married to Steven, and together they have two children- Tom who was born in 1997 and Meg who was born in 2000. As a family they are involved in many local groups and activities- Girl Guides, CFA, scouts and various sporting groups, and enjoy getting away and camping on a regular basis. Narelle is a First Aid trainer for Girl Guide Victoria and in her spare time she enjoys scrapbooking and watching the V8’s race!