Andy Prideaux (Campus Director)
My name is Andy Prideaux, I live in the backwoods of Drouin, but I share God’s word the Bible in the intellectual capital and spiritual desert that is the University of Melbourne.
If that makes me a backwoods preacher man, so be it. I am married to the beautiful Vannessa and together we have sired 4 wonderful children: Lucy, Chloe, Samuel and Molly. We also have a dog called Ruby who enjoys hang gliding, and spending time on face-book. I do not enjoy spending time on face-book. If I knew what these words ‘face’ and ‘book’ meant when they were joined together, maybe I would.
I am a luddite, and I reject CDs, iPods and other new fangled electrickery in favor of LPs. If you don’t know what an LP is, don’t worry, but here is work to be done.
My number one passion in life is knowing and making Jesus Christ known. Jesus Christ is the meaning of history, the man who is God and the appointed ruler over the cosmos. Coming to terms with His death, resurrection and Lordship over everything including me, when I was in first year (sometime last century), turned my world upside down.
This is the main reason that I didn’t become a rock star but became a preacher instead (The other reason is because I am not talented enough). I believe that one day Christ will return and turn the whole world upside down once and for all, even if that means interrupting the final of the latest idol series. This is why it’s a good idea to get to know Jesus now!
I tell my kids that I get paid to tell people about Jesus. This is true. I do this by sharing God’s Spirit breathed word the Bible in as many different ways as I can. I need to pray a lot in my line of work. Lesser passions but great gifts of God that I regularly enjoy are music…especially the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan who are the architects, template and twin pillars which uphold all rock and pop music.
If you disagree with this, sadly you are mistaken. I look forward to getting to know you despite your musical taste, and I hope that first year at Melbourne Uni is a life changing experience for you, and a God glorifying experience for God.
Julie-Anne Laird (Senior Staff Worker)
I’m Julie-anne and am married to Andrew and we have 4 awesome kids.
On Campus my job is to help Christian students be more confident about sharing their faith and also to help all students at Uni to engage and get to know Jesus. On Tuesdays from 11-1 we’re hoping to pop around and chat to people about what they believe in. Knowing that what you believe in actually impacts how you live your life.
Come and say “Hi” anytime, I’m always up for a chat!
Robert Miller (Senior Staff Worker)
Being part of Sydney Uni EU had a huge impact on my life. I got to know and love the work of AFES by going to National Conferences. I love sharing God's word with students - in large and small group settings, and one-to-one. It's a great thing to see people respond and change and grow. I also love being married to Beck, and our two boys and two girls.
Sarah Sugars (Staff Worker)
My challenging, encouraging, exhausting, exhilarating role is to support our highly capable and godly Melb Uni CUers... By helping them to love God and the people around them, Christian or not, and to serve the people who come along to CU through organising, encouraging, challenging and praying. At the moment there's nothing else I'd rather be doing!
Rowan Austin (Trainee)
Hi, I’m Rowan, and I’m undertaking a traineeship with Melbourne Uni Christian Union. I’ll be working with the Music Interest Group, as well as students from the Victorian College of the Arts. This year I'm really looking forward to supporting VCA and Music students as they seek to serve Christ and make Him known at uni. I'm excited to be able to talk about Jesus all day, and I really hope that I'll be able to encourage others to know Him and grow in love for Him. My background is in Music and Education, and I am married to Bethany, who teaches music at a school in Melbourne's West. In our free time we like to go sailing and talk about music pedagogy.
Beck Miller (Staff Worker)
Hi I'm Beck, It's great to be working with Arts IG and to join CU in witnessing to Jesus' great love and compassion for the people of Melbourne Uni. I love pretty much everything that goes along with being in Arts - Coffee, chatting, deep thinking, leisure seeking and people, people, people. Feeling blessed to be with you .
Mardi Easton (Ministry Apprentice)
I'm a high school teacher, but I've decided that teaching people about Jesus is more important that teaching them about maths and physics. So I'm doing a theology degree and have a long term plan of doing missionary work overseas. I'm really keen to get involved with students at Melbourne uni and I pray that God will use me and enable me to be effective in sharing Jesus and encouraging others to do the same.
Alison McDonald (Staff Worker)
It's so wonderful to have the opportunity to serve God through working with students at Melbourne Uni. I love chatting to others about Jesus and reading God's Word together. I look forward to supporting young Christian women as they grow in their faith, and reaching others with the Good News. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 Jn 3:1)
Luke Prentice (Senior Staff Worker - Cross Cultures)
Hi I'm Luke Prentice, the Senior Staff Worker for Cross Cultures. I'm passionate that international students hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. I want to spend my energy sharing about God's restoring and life-changing love, and of Jesus' life, death and resurrection.
Michael Phillips (Trainee)
Hello! I’m a Ministry Apprentice at Melbourne Uni in 2013. I was involved in Christian Union as a student, and now I’m keen to serve on the staff team to see students come to know Jesus and grow in maturity in Him. I’ve spent the last two years working as a Maths and Science teacher, and this has shown me the great need for the gospel that is evident in our community. I spend my time praying for students, talking to students, and reading the Bible with them.