President - Jeannie May Barker

Jeannie was born and raised in northern NSW and spent 26 years in Sydney before returning to the region in 2002.

Her experience in web design and development, graphic design, marketing, eBook publishing, editing, training and project management serve her well in her role as president.

Jeannie has published several non-fiction eBooks and is the editor of an eMagazine.

Vice President - Angelika Heurich

Born in Germany and growing up in South Australia, Angelika moved to the Gold Coast in 1982. She has two children and four grandchildren, speaks three languages and has been involved in working with people throughout her life.

Her career has included positions as Guest Service Coach for Warner Village Theme Parks, Table Games Supervisor at Jupiters Casino and Home Tutor Coordinator (Migrant English) for the Department of Immigration.

A qualified Trainer and Workshop Facilitator, Angelika enjoys working in her own business and has a passion for personal growth, interpersonal skills and inspiring others. Her two day seminar offers individuals the opportunity to find “what makes their heart sing” – what they have always dreamed of doing, being, having.

Angelika is currently writing her first book, ‘The Inside Story – A Journey of Self Discovery’, due for publication shortly.

With extensive committee experience for groups such as The Gold Coast and Hinterland Historical Society, Toyota Landcruiser Club of SA, as well as social, community and educational organisations, Angelika feels very honoured to have been President of The Gold Coast Writers’ Association from 2007-2009.

Secretary - Dr Michael Clancy

Dr Mike Clancy has been writing most of his life. As a political and economic analyst, he spent 15 years with the Australian government working in Europe and in Asia before setting up his own Asia-based risk and market research consultancy in 1989.

For more than 20 years, Mike has made an independent living out of research and writing to a government, corporate or publisher’s brief. During this period, Mike has worked as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Austrade, the Economist Intelligence Unit and, more recently, the Asian Development Bank as well as a number of private companies and specialised agencies of the United Nations.

Mike is a published author and also writes regular newsletters on developments in Asia for a UK-based NGO that monitors human rights. He is a versatile writer and is as much at home writing about climate change as he is writing a compliance manual. He has now returned to Australia and is resident on the Gold Coast. He continues to accept assignments throughout Australia, as well as Asia, the Middle East and Europe. He also conducts training in effective writing.

Treasurer - Caren Sattler

Membership Secretary - Carole Sulzer

Carole was born and raised in Yorkshire, England. Much of her early working life was spent in the corporate worlds of London and Frankfurt, Germany. Being based on the Continent provided wonderful opportunities to travel and sample the excitement and diversity of Europe in the Seventies.

In 1983, Carole immigrated to Australia with her husband and two daughters and settled in Brisbane, where they remained for almost seventeen years. During this time, she worked in a Brisbane TAFE College and the Lutheran educational system. With children now grown and flown, Carole moved with her husband to the Gold Coast in 2000. Shortly thereafter she joined the committee of the Royal Queensland Art Society and commenced a Bachelor of Arts degree at Griffith University, where she is studying Philosophy/Ethics and Creative Writing.

Publicity Officer - Ceresse Gardner

Webmaster - Jeannie May Barker

E-Writabout Editor - Bill Turkington

Catering Coordinator - Helga Glinatsis

Youth Group Coordinator - Marion Martineer

Competition Receiving Officer - Di Morris

Christmas Party Organiser - Caren Sattler

General Committee Member - Donna Mroz Turcic

Donna was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, not far from Niagara Falls and the US border. After graduating from Communication Arts (Journalism) in 1970, she worked in Toronto as a Public Relations Writer for a major telecommunications company.

With only a backpack as companion, Donna 'headed west' in 1977. Her travels took her to Canada's Northwest Territories and the Yukon; Alaska, Hawaii, and Fiji, before six fun months in New Zealand. Once in Australia, Donna lived and worked in Sydney and Hobart, and then in the remote mining town of Nhulunbuy (aka gove), Northern Territory. While in Nhulunbuy, Donna met her future husband, Victor. The two headed to Perth for a year, where Donna enjoyed work as Community Information Officer for the City of Fremantle, before they returned to employment and adventure in Nhulunbuy in 1981.

Since moving to the Gold Coast in 2000, Donna has kept busy with GCWA; the Royal Queensland Art Society, the Northern Rivers Symphony Orchestra and, as of 2010, photographer for Australian Decorative and Fine Art Societies - Gold Coast (ADFAS). Donna also freelances for the Gold Coast / Tweed Seniors newspaper and paints whenever and wherever she finds time and space. Bicycling, walking, and swimming are other favourite pastimes, along with keeping in touch with family and friends throughout the world.

General Committee Member - Grace Ermer