Neighbourhood Watch Volunteer Association of South Australia Inc Board of Management

Vice President - Phil Tavender

Phil is the Vice President of the Board, Area Coordinator of the Hope Valley/Highbury Neighbourhood Watch Area #222 and Chair of the Eastern District Neighbourhood Watch Group. He has also served as President of the Board and authored the Neighbourhood Watch Volunteer Association of South Australia Inc Constitution.

Phil is a seasoned expert in constitutional and regulatory frameworks and a wealth of knowledge regarding the history of Neighbourhood Watch in South Australia.

He has organised Neighbourhood Watch volunteers as marshals for Australia Day parades and has been the volunteer manager for three police tattoos.

Phil has been involved with Neighbourhood Watch since 1995.

Secretary - Andy Constantinides

Andy joined the St Clair Neighbourhood Watch Area #628 in 2019 as Secretary and Media Coordinator. She became the group’s Area Coordinator the following year. Andy is also a State Counsellor r and Treasurer for Western District Neighbourhood Watch.

Andy has lived in St Clair for more than a decade and grew up in Cheltenham, where she has seen many changes in the area over time.

“I want to see St Clair become an inclusive community looking out for each other, neighbour by neighbour,” she said.

Andy’s biggest role is Mum to her son. She loves her footy and has been an Adelaide Crows member for 32 years – she was there in 1997 and 1998 to see them win the flag.

Treasurer - George Holroyd

George joined Woodcroft Neighbourhood Watch #414 in 2003 after moving from New South Wales where he had also been very involved in the program. He is currently the group’s Area Coordinator as well as Treasurer of the Southern District Group.

George is a remarkable mentor and is always willing to provide expert advice and support to other volunteers. This is demonstrated by his work with other Neighbourhood Watch areas requiring assistance with financial processes, events and initiatives. His altruism has also led to him also being the Treasurer of St Clair Neighbourhood Watch #628.

George is passionate about the future of the Neighbourhood Watch program and regularly shares ideas and initiatives to support the program, promote the program, recruit members, prevent crime and create connected communities.

Heather Merritt

Heather first joined NHW in 2014 when she was asked to become the Secretary of Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Watch Area #163/347. She later became Area Coordinator.  Heather and her daughter Gemma formed a mother-daughter team when Gemma became Secretary continuing a family tradition as Heather’s mother was one of the original NHW members.

Heather is a past Secretary of the NHW Board and supports the current Secretary as required. She is also Secretary of Southern District Neighbourhood Watch Region, and Vice Chair of Reynella Neighbourhood Centre and Christie Downs Community House. Additionally, Heather is editor of Onkaparinga VIEW club newsletter and a member of the Antipoverty Network.

Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Watch is now a Facebook-only group and Heather is a group administrator.

Simon Brewer

James Slocombe

James is an external member of the Board, which means he is not a Neighbourhood Watch Police Volunteer.

He holds formal qualifications in law, criminal justice, public safety and public administration.

In his professional career, James is a Manager for the Attorney-General’s Department. Over the course of his career, James has worked in various legal roles in administrative and public law, mitigation law and criminal law.

Outside of work, James has been a dedicated volunteer with animal rescue organisations and in emergency response for the last 15 years. He has served as a public officer, committee member, team leader and crew member in these areas at various times.

His favourite memory as a volunteer is helping at a staging area during the Cudlee Creek bushfires where he witnessed the enormity of the response by everyday people helping their neighbours.