Church Leaders
Meet the Board of Directors and people of interest within the Southern Cross Anglican Beenleigh and Logan Church.
This is a great team, take the time to read through their stories!
Board of Directors
Reverend Peter Palmer
Director, Reverend
Peter began studying at The Bible College of Queensland (now BST) in 1989 and, with his wife Joy and their 2 babies, Sarah and Joshua, spent 6 years in Numbulwar, Arnhem Land, with the Church Missionary Society. They worked with the local people with youth work, Church revitalisation, as well as Alcohol and Substance Abuse Mentoring. They completed their mission and returned to Brisbane.
Peter and Joy worked for the Anglican Diocese of Southern QLD running a Hostel for tertiary students from the country at Nundah. This lasted 5 years while Peter finished his Advanced Diploma in Ministry. Peter was ordained as a priest in 2000.
Supported by the Bush Church Aid Society (BCA), the Family moved to Wyndham in the Kimberly where Peter rebuilt a church which had just one faithful lady. Peter and Joy both worked part-time as tent makers in the town and worked in 2 communities – Wyndham and Oombulgurri, reminding people of the Gospel.
After 6 years Peter and Joy moved to Coober Pedy in SA to work with the Catacomb Church – an Anglican church begun by BCA in the opal rush era.
Peter and Joy then returned to the Southern QLD Anglican diocese leading the wonderful people at St Georges Beenleigh for 6 years.
In August 2022, Peter moved from the Diocese to form an independent Anglican Church in Beenleigh. This church follows the teaching of the Bible as written and canonised by the Church fathers. A church was formed at the Beenleigh Mt Warren Park RSL club.
Rev Peter is down to earth, speaks plainly, loves the Lord Jesus and preaching the Bible. He is a very pastoral person who visits people in their time of need, as well as their times of joy.
Sybille Coleman
Director, Treasurer & Pastoral Care Lead
Sybille has been a Director at Southern Cross Beenleigh Logan since 2022, taking on responsibility for church finances from the very beginning. She is also part of the Mission Team and serves as a Homegroup/Bible Study Leader.
She has been married to Graham for 48 years and is the mother of 3 strong, independent adults and the grandmother of 6. A self-funded retiree, Sybille enjoys craft, caravanning, and spending quality time with her family.
Sybille grew up listening to Bible stories from her maternal grandfather and gave herself to God in 1992 at a small church in rural Victoria.
Martin Hawkins
Director, Public Officer
Martin is married to Rhiannon, and they have two gorgeous adult daughters, two awesome sons-in-law, and two adorable granddaughters. Their family is very precious to them and it's such a blessing having them all living so close by.
Originally from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (England), they moved to Queensland in March 1999 with their two young daughters in tow, seeking a better lifestyle for the whole family, which they have undoubtedly achieved.
Since arriving, they have always lived in Logan, fulfilling their dream of having their “home among the gum trees.”
Martin's Christian journey began at the age of 17, just before a visit to the ruins of Ephesus on a school cruise. While reading what Paul wrote to the people there 2,000 years ago, he realised that what Paul had written also applied to him.
Martin has been part of a CofE/Anglican church for most of the time since then, holding numerous roles in lay leadership in four quite different churches. Since being in Australia he served for around 15 years on the board of the Queensland with Northern New South Wales branch of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and was a national board member for CMS for almost 10 years. His gifting is very much in "governance and administration".
Outside of church circles Martin is an avid follower of football (soccer to the uninitiated) with Liverpool & Wycombe Wanderers being his teams. He's also a member of Marylebone Cricket Club (the original MCC) and finds it hard to shift his allegiance away from supporting England at cricket.
Martin started his career as a financial adviser in London over 40 years ago and, in 2004, established his business, FMD Financial (QLD), which operates out of offices in Bowen Hills.
His passion for his work comes from the satisfaction he gains in being able to help people from all walks of life, assisting them in managing their finances in the best possible way through the hurdles in their lives.
Robert Wichgers
Director
Robert was born and raised in Brisbane in a Catholic family, with two brothers and one sister. He has always had a strong faith.
Robert has been happily married to Julie for over 30 years, and they have two daughters. Their eldest, Mary-Ann, who is married to Nic, is also a member of our church and plays an active role in music and sound.
Over the years, Robert worked for corporate companies in senior management, moving around several locations in Queensland before starting a business in 2007. Robert and Julie currently run a solar business, which has been operating for over 17 years.
In 2023, Robert and Julie joined the Southern Cross Church in Beenleigh after searching for a church that adhered to biblical teachings and the love of Jesus. They quickly felt welcomed and became an integral part of the church family, experiencing a real sense of belonging.
In 2024, Robert accepted the role of director.
Since joining the church, Robert has grown closer to God through Sunday services and Bible study nights.
Howard Flannery
Director & Mission Lead
Howard is one of the Church Directors an has been since 2022.
Howard was born in Murwillumbah in 1950 and raised in Uki, Northern New South Wales. In 1967, he left school to enlist in the Australian Army, where he served from 1969 to 1970 during the Vietnam War, and continued his service until September 1987 in Australia.
Following his military service, he worked as a Fire Control Officer with the NSW Bushfire Service before transitioning to the Department of Motor Transport, where he served as a Truck Weigh Inspector.
Raised in the Anglican Church in Northern NSW, Howard experienced a period of spiritual distance but later reconciled with his faith. In his later years, he has focused on serving God to the best of his ability.
In 2003, Howard relocated to Brisbane with his two adult children and reconnected with the Anglican Church in Beenleigh. Howard is now deeply involved with the Southern Cross Anglican Church in Beenleigh, where he continues to learn about God's work in people's lives.
Howard is happily married to Colleen.
Yvonne Bobermein
Director & Secretary
Yvonne has been married to Mervyn for 53 years. They live at Stockleigh, which is located southwest of Beenleigh. She has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Her working life was centered in administration, but she retired several years ago. She now helps take care of their 4 hectares of land, most of which they have devoted to Land for Wildlife.
Yvonne has been a Director at Southern Cross Beenleigh Logan since the organization commenced in August 2022. She enjoys publishing the Church Newsletter weekly and handling some of the administrative aspects of church business. She aims to serve the Lord for as long as she is able.
As a Director, Yvonne has been assigned the role of Secretary and assists the Treasurer in any way she can. They have regular meetings to discuss the needs of their congregation and strive to make positive decisions for the benefit of the people.
Rachel van Duuren
Director, Assistant Treasurer & Digital Media
Rachel is our newest appointed director, joining our board in early 2026. She is currently not working and is continuing her recovery from illness, but is enjoying being able to put her skills from her former career as a tax accountant to assist the board and treasurer to good use in the hopes to serve the Lord and grow our congregation.
Rachel grew up in the Dutch Reform Church, her grandparents are both Dutch, giving her a solid understanding of faith and religion. She went to an Anglican Christian school, earned a bachelor in E-Commerce and went on to lead a career in finance from service as a government employee to a tax accountant in the Logan area.
After falling ill, Rachel renewed her faith in Jesus, joined our church community in March 2025, was baptised and now serves as assistant treasurer.
Officers of the Church
Gloria Thomson
Clerical Officer
Robyn Tomlinson
Pastoral Care Team Lead
Mary-Ann Wichgers
Communications Officer & Band Leader
Nic Wichgers
Sound Guy
Birth to 20 years would find me in Bundaberg, apart from a few years in a country pub my parents owned outside Monto. Church there was once a month in the hall at the back of the pub. We had lots of pets including a pet magpie who came to Church one day and stole a wafer. My teen years saw me working at the Commonwealth Bank, doing community work and organizing fund raising events for various charities. My Church then was the beautiful Christ Church where I was married in 1966.
We started married life in a tiny town called Taroom where we opened a branch of the agency, Australian Estates. I also helped start a Sunday School to bring Jesus into the lives of the town children.
In 1969 we were transferred further west to Roma where I did admin work and spent lunch hours teaching children to type at the local convent. My two children, Ben and Trina were born in Roma. Sundays was Church day and Sunday school for the kids. Shocking road and lots of flat tires. Worked as a teacher aide and then admin for the Education Department.
I became single again in 1998. Since then, I have lived in the Brisbane area and enjoyed lots of overseas travel. St George’s became my Church where I had the opportunity join the YWAM ship on their mission trip to PNG - a very spiritual experience. I joined Southern Cross Anglican at its inception where I am involved with our ladies group Faith Sisters, Pastoral Care and am Minute taker for our Directors meetings.
I thank God for the blessed life I have had.
I have lived in Queensland 13 years and have enjoyed church life at Southern Cross Anglican Church since our church began.
I have two married children and 3 grandsons all whom I’m very proud of.
Prior to moving, I was Manager for The Land Newspaper Rural Press Office in Lismore and Casino for 7 years after working at the North Richmond Office (Sydney) for 15 years.
I've been told I’m a good talker, but I still listen. I enjoy helping when I can and I’m involved in the Pastoral Care Team.
I church surfed when I first moved and finally found a home at Southern Cross.
Mary-Ann is one of our youngest members of the church.
She is married to Nic, our sound guy, and has been since 2020. They have 4 cats which can be quite chaotic at times!
Mary-Ann is our Keyboardist and Lead Vocalist of the Music Team at church. She also plays the flute occasionally too. In her spare time, she is 1st Flute and Piccolo in a Symphonic Band in the Redlands called South of the River Community Band and performs many times a year with this band.
Mary-Ann took on the Communications Officer role in the church in January 2025. She aims to build up our online presence and update our website and socials to keep everyone updated with the happenings at the church. She hopes this will encourage more new congregation members to start attending the church.
Nic is the youngest member of our church (apart from Rev Peter’s grandchildren).
He is married to Mary-Ann, our Communications Officer & Musician extraordinaire, and has been since 2020. He loves the chaos of their 4 cat household and wants even more animals, but Mary-Ann says no more for now!
Nic works as a Yard Hand at a mining company. He enjoys doing physical labour and keeping the company yard tidy.
He praises God for the opportunities He keeps putting out there for him.
Nic is our Sound Guy at church. He shows up early every Sunday and is the reason we have any kind of sound and microphones each week. He helps make us all sound great!
He also fuels Rev Peter with coffee every Sunday morning.
Get in Touch
We are a Bible-believing community dedicated to sharing the saving love of Jesus with our neighborhood.
Whether you have questions or simply want to connect, we are here for you.
Sunday Service Times:
Sunday 9.00am | Coffee & Cake 10.30am
Email:
admin@southerncrossanglicanbeenleigh.org
Phone:
0402 062 842 (Rev Peter Palmer)