Our Staff

Tony Morley

Chief Executive Officer

After a 20-year career in the commercial sector working with organisations such as Shell, Mobil and Argyle Diamonds, Tony had a vocational calling to move into working in the disability sector. He has since gained extensive experience in organisations including Activ Foundation, Catholic Care (now Id.entity) and Kids’ Camps before being appointed as Chief Executive Officer with Resource Unit for Children with Special Needs (RUCSN, now known as Child Australia). Tony led that organisation through seven years of significant growth and diversification until October 2006 when he took on the challenge of leading Noah’s Ark.

Tony is a committee member of many of the peak bodies for children and disability in WA including Early Childhood Australia (ECA), Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA), National Investment in the Early Years (NIFTEY), Children’s Policy Committee of WACOSS and the Children and Youth Committee of National Disability Services (NDS).

He holds a Bachelor of Business from ECU and an Advanced MBA from UWA.

Tony is married with a five-year-old daughter and is particularly enthusiastic about supporting all children to reach their own potential.

Linda Oborne

Executive Officer

Linda first joined Noah’s Ark toy library in mid-2005 to assist with the development of a strategic plan by assessing the administration and processes of the toy and resource library.

The broad nature and quality of Linda’s work soon led to her appointment as Noah’s Ark’s Executive Officer.

The focus of Linda’s role is to streamline the efficiencies of Noah’s Ark’s library and resources to make them more accessible to children, families and therapists in the metropolitan, regional and rural areas of Western Australia.

Prior to joining Noah's Ark Linda provided bookkeeping services to a range of business clients for over 20 years.

At Noah’s Ark Linda appreciates the opportunity to help children and their families and to see what a difference it makes to the children. She believes that working for a not-for-profit organisation means that every cent she can save the organisation goes back into providing better services for children and their families.

Linda is married with three daughters, who along with Linda’s husband and parents, regularly volunteer their time and expertise to help at Noah’s Ark toy library to do whatever is needed.

Shirley McInnes

Occupational Therapist

Shirley’s career as an occupational therapist began in 1966. She has worked for organisations such as the Centre for Cerebral Palsy, Rocky Bay, Lady Lawley, the South Australian Centre for Cerebral Palsy and the Curtin University Sensory Integration Clinic.

Since 1992, Shirley has worked with Child Australia (formerly RUCSN), initially as an inclusion support facilitator and then as the manager of the resource centre, with particular responsibility for the provision of specialist equipment for children with disabilities in childcare.

Shirley has been a committee member of Early Childhood Intervention Australia (WA Chapter) for many years and contributes to the National Investment for the Early Years (NIFTeY) WA committee. She also participates in the activities of the WA Developmental Occupational Therapists Group.

Shirley previously worked for Noah’s Ark toy library in 1980 and was a Board member for 10 years, first as secretary and then chairperson.

Shirley’s particular interests are in the area of advocacy for adequate early intervention services for young children at risk of, or diagnosed with, a developmental delay or disability. She is also committed to increasing the opportunities for children with disabilities to participate with other children in all community activities. Shirley works hard to communicate to parents and the community the importance of the valuable role of play in supporting all children’s learning and development.

Shirley sees her involvement with Noah’s Ark toy library in WA as an opportunity to further these interests and believes she can contribute to the organisation’s commitment to similar objectives.

Renae Sutton

Toy Library Manager

Renae joined Noah’s Ark at the end of 2007 and worked as a project officer. She was appointed library manager in June 2009 and is responsible for overall management of the toy library and staff, stock control and overseeing cataloguing.

Prior to joining Noah’s Ark, Renae was general manager of a Perth advertising agency for eight years and has extensive experience in administrative efficiency.

Having had a close association with a boy with disabilities, Renae was drawn to working with Noah’s Ark as she saw that she could make a difference in people’s lives through her work.

Elly Hayes

Librarian

Elly began her career as primary school teacher 1971 and then worked as a teacher librarian for ten years. Prior to joining Noah’s Ark, she worked as a librarian with Child Australia (formerly RUCSN) for ten years.

By providing the benefit of her 15 years’ experience as a librarian, Elly’s main role is to manage the toy library and resources cataloguing system, both on the shelves and through the IT programme. Elly’s 10 years with Child Australia also enables her to assist clients with their choice of toys and equipment to suit the specific developmental needs of their child.

Elly feels that her experience with children with special needs is of added-value in her role and she says she finds working for such a worthwhile organisation personally and professionally rewarding.

Jenny Gartner

Toy Library Facilitator

Jenny has been working with Noah’s Ark toy library in WA since 1992 and over this time has developed a wealth of information about the history of the organisation and the children and families it helps.

As well as working in the toy library, Jenny delivers Noah’s Ark’s toys, special needs resources and support to families in regional Western Australia.

Her travels take her on a variety of metropolitan, regional and country routes every month. Her longest trip is from Perth to Bunbury, Capel, Busselton, Margaret River, Forrest Grove, Manjimup and Bridgetown as well as outlying areas.

Other trips for Noah's Ark take in many regional and rural towns and the outlying areas of metropolitan Perth.

Jenny was previously a primary school teacher and also taught children with special needs.

The need for this service in the communities of WA, and being able to help people in isolated areas, gives Jenny a great sense of satisfaction.

Jennifer Tok

Computer Club

Jenny works with the children in the Saturday and school holiday Computer Club helping them with basic computer skills such as how to use selected games and other programmes that assist them in developing their co-ordination, fine motor, language and social skills, among others.

Jenny trained in early childhood studies and works during the week in childcare where she provides early intervention assistance to a group of toddlers with special needs.

Even after being with the Computer Club for five years, Jenny continues to enjoy seeing the children achieve independence and growing and interacting while developing their social skills.

Jenny has a Bachelor of Arts Education, Early Childhood Studies.

Michael Tierney

Computer Club

Michael’s younger sister attends the Noah's Ark Computer Club, which is what inspired him to join as an assistant in April 2009.

Being in his second year of studies toward a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science is certainly a benefit to the children and the computer club overall.

Michael says he enjoys working with the children and says it’s a special area in which he finds a rewarding challenge.

Hannah Marynowicz

Computer Club

Hannah joined the Computer Club at the start of 2008 and was introduced to the idea by her mother, a former Noah’s Ark Board member.

Hannah helps the children develop their computer skills and is on hand to answer questions and ‘trouble shoot’ as needed.

Hannah says it is fun working with the children in a relaxed environment.

She is in her second year of nursing studies at Edith Cowan University.