Board of Directors.
Safe Waters Community Care Inc. is led by a Board of Directors who are passionate and dedicated to helping those experiencing homelessness, social isolation and other vulnerabilities in their local area of Ulladulla.
Sarah Date - Founder, Executive Director & President
A mother of two, spending much of her working life helping others. After graduating with a Psychology degree, Sarah went on to work in homelessness services in the Shoalhaven and Illawarra areas and now also has a private counselling practice in Ulladulla. Sarah has also ran programs supporting men leaving prison and managed men’s and families refuges. In 2019, with the knowledge there were no homelessness services where she lives in Ulladulla, Sarah founded SWCC with a board of like-minded people. Spiritually led, Sarah feels deep compassion for those who are vulnerable or have lost their voice in this world.
Chris Martin – Co-Founder, Director & Secretary
Chris Martin’s background is in education and drug rehabilitation. For 20 years Chris was head teacher of agriculture at Dubbo TAFE before taking a counselling course and establishing a residential drug rehabilitation program based on a farm, with his wife Jeanie. Relocating to the Ulladulla area, he became heavily involved in the SWCC founding committee, forming the SWCC board of directors. Motivated by his faith in God, Chris is passionate about helping people who have been damaged by life to find a better future.
Jeanie Martin – Co-Founder, Director & Vice President
Formerly a primary school teacher in Dubbo, Jeanie Martin loves nurturing people to reach their potential. After studying counselling, with her husband Chris, they began a residential drug rehabilitation program which ran for many years. After moving to Ulladulla, recognising homelessness was a growing problem, she became involved with the SWCC founding committee forming the SWCC board of directors. Jeanie is a Christian who believes that following Jesus means caring for those experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Adam Gowen – Director
A Wiradjuri man, Adam Gowen has a passion for equity, higher education and Indigenous cultural perspectives. Adam is the Centre Manager at Country Universities Centre Southern Shoalhaven and has three young children with his wife Lisa. In 2018, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Indigenous Studies (first class honours) from the University of Wollongong, where he worked previously in a range of roles including student engagement. He also has a Graduate Certificate in Theology from Indigenous perspectives, from the North American Indigenous Institute of Theology (NAIITS) Australia & New Zealand.
Lisa Gowen – Director
Lisa Gowen has been working with children, youth and families in Ulladulla for 16 years. She joined our Board with her husband Adam, after being concerned that no local services offered safe shelter for people facing homelessness. Lisa has a Christian faith and truly believes in the innate worth and value of each individual and their right to dignity and safety. She looks forward to the day SWCC can provide people with a pathway into stable housing and out of homelessness.
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Kent Lorking – Director
Kent loves helping people and all things mechanical. After a varied career in engineering, Kent’s passion for people’s welfare and education saw him join The University of Sydney as an Engineering Technical Officer. In his mid-40s he gained a Bachelor of Education, and taught Technology and Engineering in high school. When he retired a few years ago, Kent wanted to provide meaningful, practical help to people who are most in need. He is able to do this by volunteering at the Safe Waters Shelter.
Chris Lorking - Director
Chris and her husband Kent are proud parents of four, and grandparents to nine grandchildren. Chris has always loved children. Following her passion, after her youngest child started school she studied her Bachelor of Teaching as a mature aged student. Chris taught infants and primary school for over 20 years, focussing on teaching students with special learning needs. Motivated by her Christian faith to help people in need, Chris started volunteering at Safe Waters.