
Sam Bunyan
President

Victor Tysoe
Vice President
I moved from Sydney to the Central Coast in 1983 and have been living the good life here ever since.
I have lived at numerous suburbs on the Coast since 1983 and moved to Phegans Bay in December 2020 to enjoy the natural outlook and use of the waterways. My wife and I are now near 3 out of our 5 children’s families. Lucky them!
I love The Bays area as it has a quiet holiday type appeal; a friendly community feel; and is remote and largely unspoilt by over development of the landscape.
I enjoy estuary fishing and have since made many friends with other locals who also live and enjoy this wonderful locality. I am proud of our area and its community and enjoy helping and working with other local minded neighbours in maintaining the Phegans Bay foreshore. This foreshore is used by many people of The Bays for exercise or walking their dogs, our friends and family.
Summertime is my favourite time of year to live here where the warmer days entice you out of your home to enjoy the wonders of the waterways and local bushland areas.
My hobbies are fishing, gardening and fixing things.

Rachel Gamble
Secretary
I moved to the Bays from Pearl Beach with my two daughters seven years ago. I’m a kiwi and have been in the coast for 17 years. I love the bush aspect, sensational views, and being visited by all the bird life we have, and strangely all my homes have been a similar type setting. I am really grateful for the gorgeous sense of community we have and have made life long friends in the Bays.
I’ve travelled pretty extensively my whole life, in my twenties I drove across Africa – from London to South Africa and worked and travelled in Africa for a further few. When I returned to NZ I toured bands. The started a corporate career in banking and program management.I love sailing and pottery and collecting records!

Michelle Hopwood
Treasurer
We moved to the Bays from Sydney in 2021, and count ourselves lucky to live here in this little pocket of paradise. After being in the same place for around 30 years, we were a little apprehensive about moving into a new area. But we didn’t have to think twice, as have felt part of the community since the moment we arrived.
I’m now retired from the mayhem and stress of a 40 year career in corporate life based in the city, and now have more time to do the things I enjoy and also to volunteer.
As a Committee Member I hope to contribute in making the Bays continue to be a great place to live for the whole community

John Scott
General Member
I moved to Woy Woy Bay from the northern suburbs of Sydney around May 2021. I love the quieter lifestyle, traffic and sense of community; and of-course, I love the beautiful bays with their glorious sunrises, sunny days and colourful sunsets. I decided to join the Bays Committee as I found the community to be alive, friendly and thriving after my first attendance at a monthly breakfast. I am retired but have work and life skills which allow me to contribute positively to the great works done by the committee. The 2024 Art show was especially satisfying to be part of, it was wonderful to see so many baysiders and out of area visitors enjoying the opening night and weekend gallery showing. I really believe that a sense of community and personal interaction is somewhat missing in our busy “on-line” lives and my reason for joining the committee aims to bring back some balance for baysiders.

Keith Weir
General Member
I arrived in Australia in 2007 and discovered the beautiful Bays just a few months later. We moved into The Bays early in 2008. As I lived most of my life in and around South London, I can really appreciate what a special place The Bays is.
Soon after arriving in Australia I became a volunteer with the National Parks, a role I am still in. As an ‘outdoors’ person, volunteering with the National Parks allows me meet interesting people from all over the world while sharing with them Australia’s wildlife, flora and fauna alongside the vast landscapes and stunning walks.
Then I come home to The Bays, with its great community and where we have made so many friends. I never imagined I would be so fortunate as to live in such a special place.

Charis Palmer
General Member
We moved to the Bays from Melbourne in 2023 and have loved getting to know the community – everyone is always so welcoming and aware of how special it is in this spectacular little part of the world. We love kayaking and bushwalking and there are few places better for it. I work from home full time as a journalist and editor and joined the committee to get to know the community better and advocate for important issues. I’m also a qualified baker, so I enjoy baking for the Art Fair cafe every year. Hope to meet you at brekkie some time!

Simon Spencer
General Member
I moved up here with Charis in 2023, after having lived and worked in senior Technology roles in Melbourne, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sundance Valley and in London. From the first time coming down the hill and seeing the Bays It was love at first sight, and the warmth and sense of community across the Bays area has made this place our home. I feel honoured and privileged to be able to live here and be a part of this wonderful and special community.

Anna Nilssan
General Member

Richard Grimmond
General Member
For a copy of the Bay’s Community Group Constitution click here >>