FINAL  MEETING For 2025….Date: TUESDAY 11th November 2025 – 

It is our Christmas Break-up BBQ ….. Time:  6.45pm                  Cost:  $10 per head  

PLEASE NOTEThis will be a joint venture with the Ladies Fellowship. Therefore, Ladies and Families are invited to this event.

Where: 8-10 Electra St, Williamstown

Time:   6.45 pm  (BBQ FIRST – Then the Music & Short Reflection – will follow)

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR BOOKING FOR THIS EVENT ASAPFOR CATERING PURPOSES.

Special Guest Speaker: Mark Bateman (National Director, Rapid Response Ministries)

THEME: “Mastering Your Circumstances”

Mark Bateman is the National Director of Rapid Response Ministries. Mark is Hubby to Barby, Dad to John, Tasman and Denae, and Granddad to seven grandchildren.

Mark Bateman is the son of a Minister; he grew up with his family in South Australia, where his father ministered to our Indigenous Australians.

He has over 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry, critical incident/disaster response, suicide negotiation and he founded and pastored several Churches in South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.

Mark is a Chaplain to Motorsports at Phillip Island, Sandown International Raceway, Winton, Avalon and Rolling Thunder Speedway. He is also a “Rev-Head”… and knows and loves his cars!!

Mark always brings an exciting theme to us.

We are looking forward to Mark’s “reflection” on Christmas and hope. A night of great encouragement.

Date:  TUESDAY, 28th October 2025

Where: 8-10 Electra St, Williamstown
Time: 7.30 pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Nick Holod 

Theme: “Looking Back at 2025” 

Nick is a local Western Suburbs man from Williamstown. He has played both footy and cricket for Williamstown and captained & coached various cricket teams in the west & north suburbs of Melbourne.
He is married to Sophie and they have 3 grown children, 3 grandchildren. Nick works in the Disability Employment sector.

He is also Pastor of the Williamstown Gospel Mission Church and in Leadership of the Men’s Support Mission.

Nick has always embodied a “never give up” attitude throughout his schooling, sporting achievements & in supporting communities, including many years as a volunteer with Prison Fellowship, where he visited and ran programs in prisons.

Nick has also been a Volunteer Chaplain with the VCC (Vic Council of Churches) Emergency Ministries, which is an organisation specialising in disaster response in Victoria.

Nick has a passion for helping people and bringing out the best in them, and has shared his faith locally, interstate, and overseas, continuing to do so where and when he can.

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And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to make an online deposit to the Men’s Support Mission Account.

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Date:  TUESDAY, 14th October 2025

Where: 8-10 Electra St, Williamstown
Time: 7.30 pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Paul Lassig 

Theme: “A Father’s Welcome Home” 

Paul is the son of a Pastor and the grandson of a World War II veteran.

Paul has served 16 years with the Air Force, and he appreciates both the honour and the challenges that come with a service life.

This meeting explores the story of the Prodigal Son and how we need to heal as he did and become true sons, getting to know Jesus better.

Paul will also be looking at how we reach those people who aren’t turning toward home like the prodigal son.

Maybe they’ve never experienced what a great home is like. Maybe they can’t comprehend that the Father is longing for them.

I encourage you to attend tonight, as Paul has a few stories that he’ll share and build into a real-life, home-hitting testimonial night.

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And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to make an online deposit to the Men’s Support Mission Account.

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Date:  TUESDAY, 30th September 2025

Where: 8-10 Electra St, Williamstown
Time: 7.30 pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Richard Boonstra (State Manager, Prison Fellowship Victoria)

Theme: “Sharing an update on Prison Fellowship Victoria” 

Richard is passionate about reaching people in prison with the hope of the Gospel that he has discovered himself and loves to help people see themselves as God sees them, loved and valued as human beings.

A teacher and principal in Christian Schools in Victoria and WA for 34 years, Richard helped establish and grow a Christian school in Bairnsdale, East Gippsland.  He has always been passionate about distinctively Christian education and helping people to think Christianly.

His passion for reaching people in prison began in 1984 when he joined Prison Fellowship as a volunteer in Perth, WA, visiting men in Fremantle Gaol. He volunteered for five years, going into Freo Gaol most Saturday afternoons.  He soon realised that this was what God was calling him to do, and his passion for it grew.

In 2018, he finished his teaching career and started working with Prison Fellowship Australia, becoming the Victorian State Manager in July 2021.

He is married to Jenny with four children and nine grandchildren.

Richard shares that we are not defined by where we are or what we have done but by the fact that we are made in God’s image, inherently valuable and fully worthy of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

I encourage all to bring a friend to come along and hear Richard share…. and update us with what is happening in the “prison world”, especially in Victoria.

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And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to make an online deposit to the Men’s Support Mission Account.

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Date:  TUESDAY, 19th August 2025

Where: 8-10 Electra St, Williamstown
Time: 7.30 pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Marcus Valles (Director, Imagine Network Australia Inc, Consulting Director APAC, Offer Australia, National Coordinator, Family Foundations Int, Australia)

Theme: “How To Hold Onto Your Impossible Dream”

Marcus Valles is an experienced bi-vocational professional with over 20 years in Christian ministry and 30 years in business and entrepreneurship.

He is the National Coordinator of Family Foundations International, Australia and Lead Pastor of Imagine Micro Churches.
He also lectures at Insight Academy, a Melbourne-based college that assists people in starting their own businesses.

Throughout his career, Marcus has been instrumental in helping people with real-world problems, personal challenges, family life, and living with a sense of mission.

In a world that is more connected than ever, our families still experience so much conflict and cut-off.

Experts have identified loneliness and social isolation as the next public health epidemic. For instance, the UK has the world’s first government Minister for Loneliness.

Marcus, a husband and father of three, understands how changes in information technology and social media have impacted addictions and family relationships and brings unique perspectives to serve your family.

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And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to make an online deposit to the Men’s Support Mission Account.

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Date:  TUESDAY, 19th August 2025

Where: 8-10 Electra St, Williamstown
Time: 7.30 pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Bruce Challenor 

Theme: “The Light and Darkness of Grief”

Bruce Challoner has an extensive background, knowledge and expertise in understanding people and knowing what makes them tick, with a national and international profile as a seminar speaker.

Bruce helps people understand one another. His counselling over forty years has specialised in marriage and family issues, as well as stress, grief and trauma.

He served twenty years in the Royal Australian Navy (1965-1985), completing active service in Borneo and Vietnam. He transferred to the Fleet Air Arm in 1970 as aircrew and flew in helicopters in Anti-Submarine warfare and Search and Rescue. He left the Navy in 1985 to complete counselling training in the USA.

Before becoming a consultant to businesses, Bruce was director of two counselling centres, then National Manager of Education and Training at “Focus on the Family – Australia”.

Bruce wrote numerous new seminar programs and developed training packages for business and community services, including Basic Counselling Skills, How to Lead a Group, Understanding Personality, Grief Management, Handling Stress, and Beating Depression.

He was a communications consultant for companies around Australia, addressing a range of personal management issues, including Change Management, Team Building, Customer Relationships, Mediation, Critical Incident Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Personnel Communication Strategies for both management and staff.

Bruce has two children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

=========================================================

And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to deposit online to the Mens Support Mission Account;

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Speaker: George Petrou OAM

Theme: “The Art of Humanity”

Artist George Petrou is a successful graphic designer and acclaimed portrait artist.
The subjects of his portraits are Australian men and women who have served our country with honour and sacrifice.
George was awarded an OAM in June 2020 for ‘Services to the Visual Arts and to Veterans‘.
He is also a patron for TPI Victoria Inc (Total & Permanent Disability).
George’s portraits proudly hang in museums in France, Government House NSW, and a range of military institutions across Australia.

=========================================================

And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to deposit online to the Mens Support Mission Account;

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Speaker: Dr Brendon Parker (Principal Dentist)

Theme: “Dental Care”

Brendon is a Williamstown local and has worked as a Dentist here for 25 years. 

He has followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather and grandfather, who were both well-known dentists practising here on Douglas Parade.

He is married to Briony and has a daughter, Edie, about to turn 13.
When he is not fixing teeth, he enjoys keeping fit at the gym, taking regular morning walks and spending time with his family in Victoria’s high country.

=========================================================

And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to deposit online to the Mens Support Mission Account;

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Where: 8-10 Electra St Williamstown
Time: 7.30pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Nick Holod

Theme: “What’s Greece Gotta Do With It?” (This follows Nick’s recent May/June trip to Greece)

Nick is a local western suburbs man from Williamstown. He has played both footy and cricket for Williamstown and captain & coached various cricket teams in the west & north suburbs of Melbourne.
He is married to Sophie and they have 3 grown children, 3 grandchildren. Nick works in the Disability Employment sector.

He is also Pastor of the Williamstown Gospel Mission Church and in Leadership at the Men’s Support Mission.

Nick has always embodied a “never give up” attitude throughout his schooling, sporting achievements and in supporting communities, including many years a volunteer with Prison Fellowship, visiting and running programs in prison/s.

Nick has also been a Volunteer Chaplain with the VCC (Vic Council of Churches) Emergency Ministries, which is an organisation specialising in disaster response in Victoria.

Nick has a passion for helping people and getting the best out of them, and has shared his faith locally, interstate, overseas, and continues to do this where and when he can.

=========================================================

And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to deposit online to the Mens Support Mission Account;

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889

Where: 8-10 Electra St Williamstown
Time: 7.30pm  (Refreshments FIRST – then the Discussion/Sharing/Message – will follow)

Speaker: Niv Neyland

Theme: “PLOM’s Disease

To find out what that is ….. you need to attend!!!

Niv is a retired Safety Consultant by profession

He is a former member of Prison Fellowship State Council; Inaugural Chair of Friends of Dismas church for prison ex-inmates;

Niv is also the Secretary of Men’s Support Mission; A former prison inmate; and has facilitated courses in two maximum-security prisons.

Niv has also written a book about his prison experience, called “Finding Myself Inside.” The book has a strong focus on forgiveness.

Niv and his wife Heather live happily in Sydenham, Victoria. (Niv is also a Collingwood fan – “and currently …. expecting miracles for 2025!”

=========================================================

And don’t forget Our Popular Segments….

1) “Better to get it off your chest – Before you NICK-off tonight” 2) “If ya CAN, bring a CAN” (A can of food, that is. This goes towards helping others)

If you’d like to donate, feel free to deposit online to the Mens Support Mission Account;

Commonwealth Bank
“Men’s Support Mission”

BSB. 063-765 

ACCOUNT NO. 1078 6889