About Us

Boys to the Bush is focused on prevention and early intervention strategies for vulnerable male youth.

Since 2017, Boys to the Bush has impacted more than 7,000 lives through involvement in our range of programs. 

These include 1:1 MENtoring Programs, Camps, School Programs, Education Programs, and Community Engagement Days.

Ongoing support is provided to more than 75% of the youth that engaged with Boys to the Bush programs.

Our Mission

To provide an environment free from the distractions in their lives, allowing boys the opportunity to be surrounded by positive influences and giving them opportunities to succeed. Encouraging mate ship, resilience and a sense of belonging.

Our Purpose

We connect communities.

We are role models leading by example, and we give our time because everyone deserves to be connected to their community.

Our Values

Engagement.

We create connections to build belonging.

Respect.

We use the power of respect as a tool for success.

Community.

We involve our communities as part of the solution.

Executive

Adam DeMamiel
Co-Founder, CEO
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Alison Lee
Head of Corporate Services
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Scott McIntyre
Head of Operations
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Rachel Jones
Head of Brand and Fundraising
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We are people passionate about helping our boys.

Area managers

Peter Butcher
Area Manager (Young, Leeton, Wagga Wagga and Albury)
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Shane Rodney
(Acting) Area Manager (Dubbo/Wellington, Bathurst, Orange and Forbes)
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Andrew Thomson
Area Manager (Bendigo, Wangaratta and Echuca)
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Location Managers

Andrew Robertson
Albury
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Jake Betts
Bathurst
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Des Gilmore
Bendigo
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Adam Gaydon
(Acting) Dubbo/Wellington
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Jack Evans
Echuca-Moama
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Luke McDean
Forbes
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Brent Lister
Leeton
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Ben Walsh
Wagga Wagga
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Matt Dillion
Wangaratta
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Dean Bedford
Young
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Shane Rodney
Orange
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Where we are

The Board

Boys to the Bush is led by a skills-based Board. The Board meet regularly to oversee the strategic direction and financial health of the organisation. Our passionate Directors encompass a wide-range of skills and professional backgrounds, with each member active in their approach to supporting the organisation.
Andrew Kaye
Chair
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Charles Cay
Vice Chair
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Catherine Douglas
Board Member
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Sam Maroulis
Board Member
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Simon McMaster
Board Member
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Boys to the Bush Ltd. Acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters, and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures, and the elders past and present.
Boys to the Bush is a Child Safe Organisation, Click on our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety

Head Office

Albury NSW 2640
Australia

PO Box 79 Lavington,
NSW, 2641


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Contact

info@boystothebush.org.au
(02) 6025 2510


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Adam DeMamiel

CO-FOUNDER, CEO

Adam was born in Leeton, NSW and grew up in towns including; Cowra, Forbes, Narrandera and Barellan.

Adam completed a Bachelor of Education, Primary (Special Education) and had been teaching Special Education since 2005.

Adam is married to Angela and they have two daughters- Zahli and Emmi and a son- Jed.

“I have loved seeing Boys To the Bush grow from being an idea to a reality. I am so proud of what we have achieved so far and I am excited for what the future holds. I can 100% say that we are making a difference.”

Alison Lee

Head of Corporate Services

Alison prides herself on making sure our Boys to the Bush office operates smoothly.

With 20 years’ experience in audit services across private and public sectors, Alison specialises in process and risk management.

Outside of work, Alison enjoys spending time with family – her husband and three kids – who get into every sport possible and go camping any chance they get.

Alison joined the team to give back to the community and be a part of an organisation that brings about positive change to the lives of young men every day.

Scott McIntyre

Head of Operations

Scott was sold on the idea of the work we do when he heard about Boys to the Bush after moving to Albury in 2023.

“I have a 16-year-old son, Archie, who is very important to me, and I have seen and experienced a lot of issues for boys navigating the pathway into adulthood,” he said.

“The BttB mission is one that is very easy to buy into, and I had also heard it is a great place to work.”

When Scott’s not working, he enjoys cooking, watching the footy (AFL), cricket and most sports, reading, mucking around in his shed and relaxing with a good book.

He studied Ag Science and headed to the NT, working in the Ag Department in Katherine and then in the Daly River/Port Keats Aboriginal Land Trust (DRPKALT) as a Land Management Co-ordinator.

Scott then spent three years in Federal and Queensland State Government in Public Health before the next 10 years in Community Relations and Social Impact Management in Mining in Cape York.

“After a few years running my own consultancy, I went back to the NT as CEO at Thamarrurr Development Corporation (TDC) in Wadeye.”

Scott also has a daughter, Lilla (19) and three step kids with his partner, Jo, here in Albury.

Rachel Jones

Head of Brand and Fundraising

Rachel, originally from the UK and now settled in Albury, has joined BttB as the new Head of Brand and Fundraising. With an extensive career in charity and not-for-profit organisations, Rachel brings a unique perspective and fresh approach.
 
Rachel worked for more than 20 years in Aged Care in the UK and enjoyed the variety of work including governance and compliance and being on the front line with service users and staff alike. Rachel studied teaching and silversmithing before embracing a career in social care and has never looked back enjoying her leadership journey. Rachel studied towards her own professional leadership development, completing the coveted Dangoor Senior Leadership program in 2018/2019 with a group of likeminded charity professionals. This  unique networking and learning experience gave Rachel the essential tools and skills to be a responsible and emotionally astute leader.
 
Rachel is a Board member for Albury Wodonga FoodShare and enjoys playing an active part within the charity. 
 
Rachel lives in Albury with her husband and daughter and enjoys cooking and gardening in her spare time.

Peter Butcher

Area Manager (Albury, Young, Wagga)

Providing opportunities for disconnected and vulnerable young men to grow and thrive is what drives Peter Butcher in his work with Boys to the Bush.

With a focus on building strong relationships and fostering a positive culture among staff, Peter emphasises creating an environment where everyone’s ideas are valued, and individuals feel supported to contribute their skills and perspectives.

Drawing from previous experience in team management and leadership, Peter prioritises equipping his team with the necessary tools for success while celebrating achievements and maintaining a personal connection with each employee.

Outside of Boys to the Bush, Peter engages with the community through coaching Junior Rugby League, further extending his impact beyond the organisation.

Shane Rodney

Location Manager - Orange

Shane is a highly respected member of both the Rugby League world, and the Central Western region.

With an extremely successful Professional Rugby League career (taking home two premierships in his time with Penrith Panthers and Manly Sea Eagles), he also had a stint overseas playing for the London Bronco’s in their Super League.

Moving from Sydney to the Central West, Shane and his wife Jacquie wanted a slower, country life for their family, settling in the Central West.

For the past few years, Shane has coached the Orange Hawks First Grade side. His ability to get the best out of these young men is second to none. He has a quiet, reserved way of helping people reach their potential – and is already kicking goals with the kids in our programs.

He is also one of the loveliest blokes you will ever meet.

Shane is helping build the Orange team and Location to support the many vulnerable youth in the area.

Andrew Thomson

Area Manager (Bendigo, Wangaratta and Echuca)

Fostering trust and nurturing relationships is high on the list for Andrew Thompson in his role of mentoring young boys at Boys to the Bush.

With a background in disability services, Andrew brings expertise in team management and multi-tasking.

Outside Boys to the Bush, he actively engages with the community through sports, volunteering, and networking, drawing from more than 35 years of local involvement.

Andrew’s dedication lies in empowering both his team and the youth he mentors, ensuring positive outcomes for all involved.

Andrew Robertson

Location Manager - Albury

Andrew Robertson (aka Robbo) was a NSW police officer for 29 years across a range of different roles but mainly worked in criminal investigation achieving the rank of Sergeant.

He comes with a lot of experience dealing with young men as he has three teenage boys (Corby, Isaiah and Ryder) while his daughter Ella is at university in Melbourne.

Robbo loves watching his boys play footy on the weekends and catching up with close friends.

“I want to help kids and young men be better people by passing on some of the knowledge and attributes I have learnt and been taught.”

Jake Betts

Location Manager - Bathurst

I feel privileged to be part of Boys to the Bush, where I can share meaningful experiences with young people who may not have had the same opportunities I did. Witnessing their growth in enjoyment, confidence, and belonging is incredibly rewarding. Our dedicated team in Bathurst prioritises the children’s best interests, and I strive for transparency in leadership.

My background includes six years in construction, where I learned hard work and resilience, followed by a rewarding role in disability support that fueled my passion for helping others. Living in Bathurst, I am committed to giving back to my community by coaching the local first grade rugby league team and engaging in harness racing, allowing me to support local talent and connect with others.

Des Gilmore

Location Manager - Bendigo

Des worked in Youth Justice for 20 years before undertaking NDIS work in 2023.

“I have worked with young people for most of my life and was interested in the program and what it had to offer. One of my good mates was also getting involved at Bendigo so I thought that it would be a great opportunity to start something meaningful from scratch,” he said.

Des is married to Kathryn, and they have three children – Alexandra, Will and Maggie.

He is assistant coach of an u18 football side in Bendigo and follows a local cricket side where his son plays. When he’s not at the football, he can be found watching his girls play netball.

Adam Gaydon

(Acting) Location Manager - Dubbo-Wellington

Adam has spent more than 10 years working with young people across regional NSW, helping them build confidence, resilience and practical life skills.

He is passionate about creating opportunities that empower young people to grow and reach their full potential.

Born and raised in Dubbo, Adam is proud to be raising his own family in the community he now works to support.

He enjoys building strong relationships with young people, families, schools and local businesses to create positive outcomes. Outside of work, Adam enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf and camping.

While he loves his role at Boys to the Bush, his most important role is being a good husband and father. Adam knows every young person deserves someone who believes in them and is committed to being that person whenever he can.

Jack Evans

Location Manager - Echuca-Moama

Jack loves opportunities to help young males turn into respectful and proud men. He believes Boys to the Bush provides a safe space for young individuals to flourish and shine. It makes him smile seeing boys turn their lives around.

Jack has almost finished a teaching degree, gaining skills and confidence after undertaking different placements. His family own Intersport Echuca and he’s built lots of skills and connections through the community.

He’s a born and bred Echuca boy, plays AFL and cricket for Echuca and has a lot of engagement throughout the community.

Luke McDean

Location Manager - Forbes

Luke is originally from Bogan Gate, a small village in Parkes Shire of the Central West of NSW, growing up on a farm just out of town.

He now lives in Forbes, NSW where he has strong links to community sport, playing cricket locally, as well as rugby union for Forbes Platypi and Rugby League for Condobolin Rams.

Luke enjoys being involved in local clubs, building strong community connections, supporting young people in positive environments, and contributing to something that brings people together.

With a Bachelor of Secondary Education, Luke has worked as a teacher in schools where disconnected youth is prevalent. The experience helped him build strong skills in his approach to accommodating disconnected young people, understanding individual needs, and working closely with others to provide practical, hands-on support.

Luke has developed a strong MENtoring approach focused on building confidence, resilience, and positive life skills, which aligns well with the values and approach of Boys to the Bush.

He enjoys working at Boys to the Bush because of the strong teamwork and the way staff all support each other. Luke believes the MENtors all use their own first-hand experiences to help boys who genuinely need support. He wanted to work for Boys to the Bush to help provide individual, much-needed support to disconnected boys in a practical way — to help them become confident and capable young men.

Brent Lister

Location Manager - Leeton

Embracing a new path after a brain injury in 2022, Brent felt the need to change direction in both his personal and professional life.
The assistance that Brent and his family received during that difficult period has inspired him to help others in any way he can.
When he’s not working, he can be found either on a golf course, playing squash or listening to music.
He also enjoys landscaping work and spending time with his family – wife Amanda and two young boys – Bernard and Elijah.
The family moved to Leeton in 2017, coming from Shellharbour, and have loved the area ever since.
The former tech support officer at Yanco Agricultural High School has hit the ground running in his new role with us.

Ben Walsh

Location Manager - Wagga Wagga

Ben Walsh possesses a passion for community and sport.

He believes reward and positive impact for your daily work is something everyone is after and Boys to the Bush (BttB) do this well.

AFL has always been a significant part of Ben’s life.

Playing and working within the game has given Ben incredible life experiences, friendships, and a strong connection to community.

Ben studied a double degree in Sports Management/Exercise Science and Sports Coaching at the University of Canberra.

He believes Wagga and surrounding towns are great places for (BttB) to thrive and achieve some really great things.

Matt Dillion

Location Manager - Wangaratta

Matt Dillon finds immense satisfaction in his role at Boys to the Bush (BttB), where he relishes the opportunity to positively impact the lives of young boys through mentoring.

His approach to staff management centers on open, honest communication and providing ample support, resources, and autonomy for his team to excel.

Drawing from his extensive experience as a National Operations Manager and Health Specialist Coach, Matt emphasises playing to each team member’s strengths and fostering a supportive, enjoyable work environment.

Beyond BttB, Matt remains connected to the community through his involvement in various sports clubs and activities, including coaching and umpiring football in the WDJFL and contributing to the Wangaratta Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Dean Bedford

Location Manager - Young

Dean is motivated to make a positive impact on the boys he works with at Boys to the Bush, driving him to show up daily.

He values the presence of good people and witnessing any positive changes, no matter how small, in the boys’ lives.

With previous experience supervising staff, Dean prioritises leadership over management, emphasising regular communication, weekly check-ins, and building relationships with his team.

He values listening to his colleagues’ ideas, seeking feedback, and creating a stress-free work environment to promote a supportive and efficient team culture.

Dean has a background in the building trade, utilising his trade skills to teach the boys basic tool skills, which has been well received.

Outside of Boys to the Bush, he has a passion for coaching rugby league in both junior and senior leagues.

Twice a year, Dean participates in the master’s rugby league for those aged 35 and above.

Andy Kaye

Chair

Andrew grew up in Sydney spending his spare time in the outdoors. Whether through the Queen Scout and Duke of Edinburgh programs or on the family hobby farm West of Bathurst, NSW.

Having studied Construction Management at Newcastle University, Andrew spent his early working years in commercial construction in Sydney before meeting his now wife and relocating to Albury.

Since moving to Albury, Andrew has worked in a variety of capacities across the construction and manufacturing space and now runs a client-side Project Management consulting business along with Chameleon AMLS, a modular ute tray and trailer manufacturer based in Albury.

“Having grown up in the outdoors, I have witnessed, time and time again, the profound impact being in the outdoors and having strong leadership can have on a young life. It’s a wonderful program with a big future and I’m excited to be able to play a small part.”

Charles Cay

Vice Chair

Charles was born in Corowa and grew up north of the town on his family’s farm, attending primary school at a local small bush school before then going to Sydney for secondary and tertiary education.

In the late 1990’s he returned to the family farm and has spent the time since then working in Agriculture, He has broad industry experience including hands-on farming, corporate agriculture and has served on several industry boards and committees.

During the last twenty-plus years, Charles has been involved in local community organisations such as sporting clubs and have also placed an emphasis on environmental work and investments.

His involvement in Boys to the Bush comes from his belief that to be good at being a citizen, you should belong to something greater than yourself and that a worthwhile society should look after those that have fallen through the cracks, especially in this case through no fault of their own.

Catherine Douglas

Board Member

Catherine grew up in country South Australia, the daughter of parents who were both educators at local schools.

She completed a bachelor of laws and bachelor of commerce at the University of Adelaide, and later a Masters of Public Policy at the University of Sydney.

Having lived in the United States, she now resides in Sydney with her young family where she is the Managing Director of the C|T Group’s Australian research and campaigns business.

Catherine works with clients at the highest levels of business and politics, helping to navigate challenges and execute winning campaign strategies.

She passionately believes in the mission of Boys to the Bush, and looks forward to working with Adam and his team, and her fellow board members to help the organisation grow.

Sam Maroulis

Board Member

Growing up in Bourke, western NSW, has given Sam a lifelong connection to rural Australia and a deep appreciation for the resilience, values and sense of community that define life in the bush. Those early experiences continue to shape a strong commitment to supporting regional communities and creating opportunities for young people.

With extensive experience in rural business, Sam has worked closely with these communities and understands the challenges and opportunities they face. Service on several boards has also provided valuable experience in governance, strategic leadership and community engagement.

Sam is motivated by the Boys to the Bush’s grassroots approach and its proven ability to make a lasting difference in the lives of young boys, he is passionate about  helping the organisation continue its important work, ensuring more boys develop the confidence, resilience and connections they need to thrive in their communities.

Simon McMaster

Board Member

Simon was born in London and then grew up in Wellington, New Zealand. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce Degree at Otago University in Dunedin, before returning back to London to build his Advertising career with the biggest agency network in the globe, TBWA.

When his two boys reached an age where inner-city living in London wasn’t ideal, the family moved to Sydney for the Aussie lifestyle. The next stage was a tree change, moving to Albury in 2014 and now Simon is running his own advertising agency, and working on a number of Boards and community groups.

Simon started working with Boys to the Bush as a sponsor through pro bono advertising and marketing support, and he jumped at the chance to more formally assist by joining the Board.

“When I first engaged with Boys to the Bush, I loved the concept and the impact that this organisation is making on so many lives, and at all levels. Whilst it is making an immediate impact on these boys, it is also a future-focused initiative that will make an impact on our communities for years to come.”