Committee

The SRA Committee members all share a long association with Somers and a passion to ensure that Somers maintains its charm and character, especially during these times of high population growth and the expansion of Melbourne and surrounding districts.

The committee and its office bearers are a team of volunteers elected on an annual basis. We encourage community members to join the committee and contribute to the important work being done to protect and enhance Somers.

To apply to join the committee, please contact us.

President – Ross Millen

Ross is a commercial lawyer and has been a board member of various business, not-for-profit and community organisations. Having initially enjoyed a holiday house in the village, Ross and his family moved to Somers permanently more than 10 years ago. Since then he has been president of the Somers Primary School Council; a member of the Somers Kindergarten committee and the Somers Foreshore committee and has also been involved in a number of local junior sporting clubs.

Vice President – Libby Moore

Libby’s family association with Somers began long before she was born. Her uncle rode horses at Coolart as a young boy and her father trained at Somers during WW2.Libby’s grandfather purchased a house for the family in Parklands Ave when she was born. She and her children grew up loving the freedom and beauty provided by Somers.In 2019 Libby retired after a long and varied career in teaching majoring in student well-being, psychology, IT and geography. Libby and her husband built a new home on their block on Parklands and as of 2020 live permanently at Somers. Libby is also a member of Somers Yacht Club.

Secretary – Eleanor Bridger

Eleanor’s family have been Merricks residents since 1987. In 2013, Eleanor and her husband built a house on Coolart Road, where they spent their weekends eradicating weeds and they planted over 3,000 indigenous trees. The family made the move to Somers in 2022. Eleanor has held senior leadership roles in marketing and communications at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and State Library Victoria. Now working for herself, she’s embracing the opportunity to fit a beach walk into the working day.

Treasurer – Debbie Lever

Debbie and her husband, John, purchased their first property in Somers in 2006 originally as a holiday home. In 2013, they made the permanent move from Melbourne to make Somers their home. Debbie is a qualified Bookkeeper, has worked in the music and television industries, IT consulting and now as a trainer and assessor (Financial services) for the vocational educational and training (VET) system. She is also a member of the Somers Yacht Club.

Committee Member – Elizabeth Charpentier

Liz moved from Melbourne to Somers with her family in early 2016. She has since been a member of the Somers Pre-School parent working group, and now supports Somers Primary School as well as local sporting clubs with her family. Liz is a commercial lawyer working as a management consultant for her family firm. She previously served in various legal positions, in legal education, research, and on sporting committees.

Committee Member – Malcolm Twist

Malcolm and the rest of the Twist family have lived in Somers since 2016. Malcolm is passionate about mountain biking, art and the environment which has led him to being in various community groups such as the Red Hill Riders, Somers Arts Fair, SRA and the Somers Community Park project. Malcolm is a Creative Director at Haddad & Partners, a New York based advertising company but tries to restrict commuting to once a year.

Committee Member – Karina Smith

Karina [she/her] has lived in Somers for 22 years. Her partner works locally, and their four children went to Somers Primary School and are now at secondary school and university. Karina is a professional writer and editor who works freelance for various industry publishers: indigenous; legal; queer; gas and pipelines; food industry; real estate and picture books. In a past life she nursed at the Royal Children’s Hospital, worked for a pharmaceutical company and had a short stint in the local wine industry. At home, Karina plays the cello (badly); cooks gluten free; herds her four (Damara) pet sheep and one crazy Labrador; grows succulents, learns Latin and listens to opera on Spotify. Karina’s ever expanding to-do-list includes: finish her picture book manuscript/s; learn Bach’s Cello Suite No.1, Prelude; walk the Overland Track (again); sail around the Outer Hebrides; complete a Master of Writing; and plant more indigenous eucalypts on their block in Somers.

Committee Member & Somers Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator – Christine Malbon (Whiteoak)

Christine Malbon (Whiteoak) moved to Somers from Tokyo in 2015; with son Nicholas completing primary school education at Somers Primary School. Christine is a practicing Sports Physiotherapist with extensive experience at Prahran Sports Medicine Centre, Oxford (UK) and Japan. Since arriving in Somers she has joined the Point Leo SLSC as a lifesaver and is the Somers Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator. She is a keen runner, cyclist and swimmer.