Our Team
Jack Cannons AM - Chairman
Jack’s experience in caring for kids spans the past 40 years. Jack is passionate that all kids deserve a fair go and have access to equal opportunities. As listed below he has donated his time and expertise to support many organisations. His work and dedication have seen many successes in Australia, United States of America, Haiti, Ukraine and other parts of the world.
2005–Current; Founded, developed and launched the ‘Bush to Beach’ Program, dedicated to inspiring hope, confidence, and self-esteem and promoting education for our great Aussie bush kids.
2016 – Current Board Member Variety the Children’s Charity NSW.
2012–2013 CEO Variety International the Children’s Charity (based in Los Angles).2006–2012, Vice President/Board Member, Variety International the Children’s Charity.
2009–2011 Chairman Variety Australia
2006-2009 Deputy Chairman Variety Australia.
2004–2006 Chief Barker/ Chairman Variety the Children’s Charity NSW.
2004–2008 member of the Board of Governors - Pittwater House Schools Collaroy.
1997-2000 Director Warringah Rugby Club.
1994–1995 Founded, launched and coordinated the Manly / Warringah Farm Hand Appeal.
1992–2011 Board Member Variety the Children’s Charity NSW.
1991–2005 Vice President–Australian National Flag Association.
1980–1990 member of Police Consultative committees. (Collaroy area)
1980–1984 launched and co-ordinated Neighbourhood Watch. (Collaroy area)
Christopher ‘Burra’ McHughes - Director
The first time Christopher ‘Burra’ McHughes saw the ocean, was on a Bush to Beach trip in 2007. A naturally shy kid, Burra says the experience “opened his eyes to what is possible.” Burra is a proud Murriwarri Ngemba Yuwaalaraay man from Brewarrina, and 10 years after his first taste of the sea, he’s not only an accomplished photographer and founding member of the NSW Rural Fire Service’s first Indigenous State Mitigation crew in Brewarrina and Bourke, but also an inaugural Bush to Beach Director. “It took me a while to realise the impact Bush to Beach has,” says Burra. “I was a kid from the bush who all of a sudden found myself exposed to totally new experiences and a different environment from what I was used to. “The program is so important to the community here. It’s giving kids a reason to stay in school and providing opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have had. “There are some unfortunate pathways for young Aboriginal people, but I’ve always embraced the good opportunities that have been there for me.
I don’t see myself as role model, although a lot of kids and community see me that way. I want to bring them along and teach them that they can be part of both worlds – they can have an identity with Aboriginal culture but still be a part of the mainstream.” Burra has been a Director of Bush to Beach since 2020.
John Cannons - Treasurer
John is a financial services industry professional with over 14 years’ experience working across multiple areas of finance including Superannuation, Advice, Insurance and Banking. He is the recipient of multiple top-tier CEO awards within Westpac and is the recipient of the ‘Bronze medal of Bravery’ from the Royal Humane Society of New South Wales. John has been involved with charities from an early age through his Dad (Jack Cannons AM - Bush to Beach Founder) and his charity work over the years. John has also been directly and indirectly involved in many fundraising programs and events through employment at Westpac.
Other than being an early helper with Bush to Beach since the program started in 2006, John has been involved with programs and events such as the Variety Kids Xmas Party which is annual event thrown by Variety - The Children’s Charity, hosting thousands of Aussie kids from across NSW and helping them get a fair go at Christmas time.
John was instrumental in organising support for Bush to Beach through the Westpac Foundation and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). This support included yearly grants of ten thousand dollars to help the program run and also other support including assistance through Westpac’s partners to help establish Bush to Beach as a standalone charity program.
John is excited to help grow the Bush to Beach program and help thousands of Aussie Bush kids.
Daniel Robinson -
Director
Dan is a Principal at a leading national insurance law firm and a state and national committee member of the Australian Insurance Law Association. He is widely recognised in the Australian insurance market and has received a number of industry awards and recognitions.
Dan is committed to initiatives that assist in advancing the welfare and wellbeing of indigenous Australians and their communities. Dan is delighted to be involved with Bush to Beach and looks forward to helping thousands of kids through the roll out of the Bush to Beach programs.
Every year, many volunteers come together to support the Bush to Beach program at South Narrabeen Surf Club and this has been happening since the beginning of the program.
Peter Clarke Life Member and the then President Steve Maxwell Life Member were instrumental in the program starting in 2006 at South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club.
The Bush to Beach Committee has grown to include many volunteers from South Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club in particular Ted Billett APM Life Member, Pam Billet, Peter Madden Life Member, Ken Passmore, Brett Picknell Life Member, Chris & Matt White, Kim Brown, Cal Smyth and many volunteers from across the Northern Beaches including Sabrina Matuda, Hanna Clare, Suhhee, Naresh, Greg Lewis, Narelle Simpson, Beryl Driver, Beaver O’Reilly and Tony Russell-Jones and many Surf Life savers from across the Northern Beaches.