Meet the Team
Our volunteer Management Committee is supported by our dedicated staff, creating a powerful team overseeing the Real Stories and Real People of the Redlands Coast.
President – Susan Hoy
Susan has a very strong commitment to ethos and vision of the museum, having held the position as previous Museum secretary.
Throughout her working career she held many and varied positions with the field of education and is a trained secondary teacher. She taught at Cleveland State High School from 1976 until 1980 and then again from 1982-1985, before moving into secondary education and eventually into medical education.
Susan is an avid volunteer, including holding volunteer positions: ATASDA (President & Vice President), Brisbane Visual Arts Community (President) and of course the Redlands Coast Museum (Secretary).
Vice President – John Kunde
John was born at St Anne’s hospital in Cleveland and has lived all of his life in the local area having grown up on a farm in Birkdale.
He has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from QUT and a Graduate Diploma in Business Management with 42 years business experience.
John has volunteered at the museum for nearly three years working in Collections, Guiding and Displays. He is motivated to assist the President and the Management Committee to promote the museum to the community.
Secretary – Jill Tilson
Jill holds many qualifications, including; Bachelor of Social Welfare, Diploma Applied Science (Community & Human Services) & her Workplace Training Certificates.
She arrived in Australia as a Migrant from the UK in 1973 and became an Australian citizen in 1983. Community Work has been a strong focus within her life, both as a volunteer and in paid positions since 1974.
Jill has been a member and volunteer of the Museum for 7 years, including in the library, a guide team leader, the volunteer support coordinator and a previous Management Committee member.
Additionally, she has volunteered as an adult Literacy Tutor, Secretary of the local District Committee on the Ageing, Creator and Facilitator of the Women’s Interaction Group 40+ which has run for over 30 years, Community Member of the Bayside Health District Research Ethics Committee & assisting in the setting up of Redlands Centre for Women and later becoming its Voluntary Volunteer Coordinator for a year
Treasurer – Michael Watson
Michael is a trained and qualified builder and carpenter, however after experiencing an unexpected injury in 2018, he was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder, which left him with a permanent disability.
This life-changing event led him to explore new avenues, and he discovered a deep interest in finance.
He is currently completing his Cert IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping and has recently joined the Museum Management Committee in 2025.
Committee Member – Betty Walker
Betty joined the Museum as a member in 2016 and has been volunteering in the library since 2017. Betty regularly presents research and the associated stories at Volunteer Training Days and other events here at the Museum, at the Small Museums Conference and to other organisations. She was also on the organising committee for the Small Museums Conference held here in 2022.
Betty holds a B.Sc. from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Librarianship from the Canberra College of Advanced Education.
Betty is also a volunteer member of the National Trust’s Redlands Community Group and also a member of Birdlife Australia and the local Koala Action Group.
Committee Member – Bruce Smith
Bruce has been a member of the Management Committee of Redlands Coast Museum since 2017, having served as President, Vice President and Immediate Past President. He also serves on the Governance Sub-Committee, and the Revitalisation Master Planning Sub-Committee.
Bruce has lived in Redland City for the past 30 years, and prior to that lived at Manly West for 18 years. He have served as President, Vice President and Secretary in P&C Associations of various schools. and holds a Bachelor of Business degree from QIT/QUT.
Committee Member – Fiona Eastwood
Fiona has been a museum member and active volunteer since 2016.
Before retiring in 2023, she was a primary school Teacher-Librarian, mostly in low
socioeconomic areas in both large and small schools.
Fiona has designed two libraries from scratch and was the coordinator of the active T-L network for over 20 years as well as running their Readers Cup for the Brisbane South region. In her teaching career, she has been a class teacher, a sports coach and qualified referee, a Teacher-Librarian, a team leader, a teacher/educator and a conference presenter.
Within the Museum, Fiona leads the Education committee, is an integral member of the First Nations subcommittee and is also an active volunteering blacksmith each weekend.
Committee Member – Jeffrey Zayer
Jeff was educated at Fort Street High School in Sydney and graduated from QUT Academy of Arts. BA(Drama)QUT. Theatre Director, Research, Design.
He has worked in various roles in theatre and production, before moving into Management positions within retail and customer service.
Jeff leads our Guiding team at the Museum, after leading the team at the Commissariat Store Museum in Brisbane.
Operations Manager – Belinda Hayes
Belinda joined the Museum team in 2023 and has been integral in the recent rebranding of the Museum, as well as other various ongoing projects.
Belinda has lived on the Redlands Coast since birth, in 1981 and holds a Master’s in Business (Entrepreneurial Management).
She specialises in Not For Profit strategic growth and has previously worked with the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce as well as the Redland City Council.
Events Coordinator – Tara Young
Originally from England, Tara settled in the Redlands 20 years ago.
With a background in finance and years spent working with several local Redlands Coast businesses as a successful wedding coordinator, she joined the Museum team in 2017 in the newly created role of Events Coordinator.
With a passion for community, a creative flair, and a love for collaboration with local businesses and working with volunteers, Tara creates a vibrant annual event calendar every year for the Museum.
Visitor Experience Coordinator – Jo Phillips
Jo has called the Redlands home for the past 20 years and has been part of the Museum team for the last 3.5. She’s the friendly face behind the bustling reception desk, managing everything from membership applications, group bookings, room hires, volunteer rosters and more—all while making sure every visitor feels warmly welcomed.
Armed with an Honours degree in Cultural & Women’s Studies from the UK, Jo spent 21 years with Telstra sharpening her skills in planning, analysis, business improvement and project management.
Administration Officer – Helen Walker
Helen joined the Museum team in 2024, adding her expertise to our Visitor Experience on the front counter and the voice behind the phone.
Raised in the Redlands, she graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts and enjoys creative writing in her spare time.
Hospitality Coordinator – Kobi Morsman
Kobi is our newest team member joining the Museum in January this year. Kobi comes with a strong background of 20 years working in a variety of roles within the Hospitality Industry, 8 years of which she has lived and worked locally on the Redlands Coast.
Kobi is passionate about the Redlands community and local organisations in the area.