Wayside is proud to be represented and supported by a vast group of talented individuals.
Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC – Patron
Wayside Chapel is fortunate to have Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC, 39th Governor of New South Wales, as the Patron of our organisation.
Prior to her appointment as Governor, Her Excellency enjoyed a long and distinguished law career spanning 43 years, during which time she served as a role model for women in law at both the State and national level.
Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989, in 1993 she was made a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the first woman to sit exclusively in that Court. In 1996, she achieved the distinction of being the first woman appointed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, subsequently, as the first woman to be appointed as its President. She served, on a number of occasions, as Administrator of the Government of the State of New South Wales.
She was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on 12 June 2006 for service to the judiciary and the law.
Her Excellency has three children – Erin, Lauren and Anthony Sullivan – and is married to Mr. Dennis Wilson, a barrister, mediator, accredited international arbitrator and Adjunct Professor of Law, at Notre Dame University, Sydney.
Her Excellency brings her deep commitment to education, youth leadership, human rights and social justice to the role in service of the people of New South Wales.
David Wenham
David became involved with Wayside at a young age. His father would take him on outings from the family home in Marrickville to the heart of the Cross to see productions in Wayside’s run down little theatre. Years later, when David moved to Potts Point, he reconnected with Wayside. Inspired by his father, who admired the work of Ted Noffs and volunteered for over 50 years with St Vincent’s de Paul, David became a Wayside ambassador in 2004. David has appeared in box-office successes such as 300, Van Helsing, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Australia, as well as some of Australia’s much-loved television shows, including SeaChange.
Claudia Karvan
Claudia grew up around the corner from Wayside and spent many childhood hours traipsing around the nooks and crannies of the old Wayside building. Claudia describes Wayside as a geographical landmark on the map of her childhood, and says that as a child she was aware of the madness, warmth and colour that emanated from Wayside. Claudia met Graham in 2005 and was won over by ‘his lightness in the face’ and his monumental and courageous undertaking. She became a Wayside ambassador shortly after they met. Claudia is one of Australia’s most respected and acclaimed film and television actors. She has had a full career, appearing in the television series Newton’s Law, Jack Irish, The Secret Life of Us and Love My Way, which she was also a producer and writer for.
Kylie Kwong
Kylie opened her new Billy Kwong restaurant in mid-December 2014 down the road from Wayside and has incorporated Wayside’s mission of creating a community with no ‘us and them’ into her mantra. Experienced restaurateur, celebrity chef, prominent author & much loved TV presenter. Kylie believes that fresh food definitely tastes better and our food choices should be ethical, sustainable and supportive of both the natural and human environments. She has enjoyed many visits to Wayside’s rooftop garden and will use Wayside’s honey, plus other herbs in her restaurant. In 2019, Kylie closed Billy Kwong, but continues to support Wayside Chapel and our community.
Indira Naidoo
Indira and The Wayside Chapel share a passion for growing produce in small spaces. Late last year, Indira launched a book last year called The Edible Balcony, which details a 12-month period where she grew produce on her 13th floor balcony in Potts Point and cooked up a storm in her kitchen. Indira is well known from her career with ABC and SBS in broadcast journalism. She has also acted as a consumer communications consultant to the United Nations trade arm in Geneva and various environmental and community organisations. In 2009, Naidoo was one of 261 candidates selected to be trained in Melbourne by Former US Vice President Al Gore to conduct regular presentations about the impacts of anthropogenic climate change.
Christian Wilkins
Christian Wilkins is a stylist, actor, model, sustainability advocate, and newest Wayside Chapel ambassador! His relationship with Wayside Chapel began when he first appeared on the SBS TV series, Filthy Rich and Homeless (Season 1) broadcast in 2018, where he agreed to swap his lavish lifestyle for 10 days living homeless on the street. He has also participated in Wayside Chapel events like Side by Side addressing inequality, volunteered serving food to people experiencing homelessness at Wayside Chapel’s iconic Christmas Street Party, as well as been a long-standing customer of the Wayside Chapel op shop (having a keen eye for a fashion-discerning bargain). Wayside Chapel was also his charity of choice in his recent appearance on Channel 10’s Dancing with the Stars where he narrowly came second (as it was also for his opponent Claudia Karvan, who is also an Ambassador of Wayside Chapel who came third).
Graham Long, Pastor Emeritus
Rev. Graham Long joined Wayside in 2004 and has become an oracle of Kings Cross. He has been instrumental in creating a community of no ‘us and them’ and each day he is a listening ear to those on and around the streets of Kings Cross. Graham is an accomplished author and speaker. His books include; Wayside (2016), Love over Hate: Finding life by the wayside (2013) and Stories by the Wayside (2011). Graham was admitted to the Order of Australia as an AM in 2015.
Rev. Graham Long stepped down from the role of CEO and Pastor of Wayside Chapel in June 2018 and handed over the torch to long-time friend and colleague Pastor Jon Owen. He began the role of Pastor Emeritus, continuing to offer guidance and teachings to Wayside Chapel’s community. In 2021, Graham also overtook duties of Minister at Bondi Beach for a two-year contract.
