BAYSIDE DIVAS
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Bayside Divas is a community-based, not-for-profit incorporated association. It is governed by a five-person executive management committee, the members of which are elected, on an annual basis, from within the general membership.
MEET THE TEAM
CHRISTINE REED
Coordinator
Christine has always loved singing and dancing. She grew up in London and in secondary school had the opportunity to join the school choir and take piano lessons. Outside of school she enjoyed Latin American and Ballroom dancing and for a short time taught beginners in both these disciplines.
Having stopped playing piano when she left school, she has recently started lessons again and is also studying to improve her singing.
Christine has been a member of the Bayside Divas since 2013 and has enjoyed sharing her love of singing with others. Since joining, Christine has been the concert coordinator, organising all aspects of the Diva’s annual concert.
Christine works full time in a state government role, leading a policy development team. She also enjoys travel and, with her husband David, she has enjoyed several travel adventures including walking to Everest Base Camp and Machu Picchu, visiting the Galapagos Islands, going on an African Safari and staying in an ice hotel in Sweden. Future plans include visiting family and friends in the UK, along with a trip to Iceland.
Christine really enjoys the Bayside Divas being part of her life and values the friendships and connections she has made through the choir.
PETA BOURNE
Secretary
Peta joined the Divas in early 2023, after seeking out a more local choir to those she’d been in prior to having her daughter. Her Diva name, Despicable Diva, talks to the love her daughter had at the time of the Despicable Me movies, and because “Daring” Diva had already been taken!
Peta is the current Secretary of the Bayside Divas, diligently noting minutes of many a spirited meeting! While relatively new to the Divas, Peta started her love of singing in choirs during high school. While study, travel and work took centre stage in her 20s, she got back into the choir scene in her 30s, joining Hillbrook Choral under the direction of Kylie Los. She is now thoroughly enjoying her Divas time and the warm and welcoming vibe from the wonderful ladies of the choir.
Peta is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years experience, who has worked in several roles from Tax Accountant to Management Consultant both in Australia and London. She is currently pursuing a role in Project Management and Business Analysis, which at times is certainly challenging.
Peta loves to travel and explore new places, especially hitching the van and exploring this beautiful country with her Family. She has been lucky enough to have several career breaks spent with her man and her van across the UK, Europe and Australia
WENDY ROBERTSON
Treasurer
Wendy developed a love of music and voice as a child through singing with her father. Whatever he was doing, he loved to sing the popular songs of his era and earlier. And Wendy sang with him! Fast forward through piano lessons, school choir, very amateur theatre, some singing lessons, plus a working life in university financial administration, to the late 1990’s when she joined the Celtic Connection choir, and shortly after, Musica Antiqua Collegii. These two very different community choirs – one celtic, one classical – kept her musically occupied for the next 18 years, during which time she served as Treasurer for both, for four and eight years respectively.
Wendy joined the Bayside Divas in 2021 where she loves the lively spirit and kindness of the group, the musicianship, the camaraderie, the contemporary and popular repertoire. She hopes to contribute her part to the smooth, competent running of the organisation!
BROOKE BERRY
Assistant Coordinator – Social Media
Brooke joined the Bayside Divas in 2025 and loved it so much she joined the committee the following year!
Brooke has played the piano since primary school, loved to sing in her high school choir (the non-competitive one) and has played church organ for over 20 years. Moving to Sandgate she became heavily involved with the choral music program in Sandgate Brighton Parish and thought she should level up her singing. After watching many Divas concerts, she was excited to be on stage with the talented and lovely ladies, Divas by name but Darlings by nature.
HELEN GILMORE
Assistant Coordinator – Membership
Helen is a Long Standing Diva (LSD) having joined the Bayside Divas in 2010 wanting to continue
singing with a choir after the birth of her son in late 2008. She previously sung with other choirs in
Brisbane including Voiceworks when she was younger once she re-discovered her love of singing and
being with like-minded talented people.
The Bayside Divas community was so welcoming upon joining and Helen has not missed performing in
the yearly Diva concert event. This is a highlight of the year and she loves when family and friends come
to support her and the choir.
Helen has joined the choir on tours to Melbourne in 2015 and Festival of Voices in Hobart in 2018 and
2024.
Helen has worked in various State Government Departments since finishing school and a business
course and is currently a Senior Coordinator. The coordination required for her job assisted in her role as
the Divas Music Librarian, which she did for over a decade – one role she never thought anyone would
like to do, but thankfully new Divas joined who also had a passion for organising music!
Helen enjoys travel, and after travelling around Europe and the USA/Canada when younger, she now
enjoys seeing a lot more of Australia, having visited every state and territory and seeing what they have
to offer. The last major trip was to Central Australia for a hot air balloon ride over Alice Springs, bicycle
ride around Uluru, a tour of Katja Tjuta, the Field of Lights dinner and visiting the many chasms and
gorges of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Recently every year in September she heads to Melbourne in
the hopes that her AFL team, the Brisbane Lions, make the Grand Final – and they have for 3 years now.
Singing is what makes Helen smile and being with a group of like-minded women makes going to
rehearsal every week an absolute joy. If she isn’t feeling in the mood when she arrives, that mood
quickly changes once the music starts.
SUPPORT PERSONNEL
Music Librarians
Sharon Lakua
Kathy Comer
Concert & Membership Coordinator
Christine Reed
Costume Coordinators
Eleanor Way
Wendy Lavender
Grants Coordinator
Marisa St-Onge
Social Media Coordinators
Brooke Berry
Joshua Clifford
Social Coordinator
Jill Woods
Section Leaders
Eunice Rienecker
Helen Trappett
Eleanor Way
Jill Wood
Choreographer
Ruth Gabriel
Dance Captain
Eleanor Way