Development

About Pro Patria Property Trust

Our Vision

The Pro Patria Property Trust will provide a multi-faceted facility that enables the creation of a sustainable, multi-disciplined, holistic and clinical treatment centre for our veterans and first responders.

Mission

To purchase the Carmelite Monastery and make it fit for purpose as a facility that enables the Pro Patria Centre to offer holistic therapies & clinical treatments for veterans, first responders & their families

The urgent need

A recent local survey and the initial research conducted by Professor Boss for the Royal Commission shows there is an urgent need to make available breakthrough therapies, that enable veterans and retired first respondents to move off high levels of medications that are creating severe side effects including addictions, depression, anxiety, family breakups, suicide & more.

Our Trustee Directors

The directors of the Trust are experienced professional business people, who are committed to creating a facility that is fit for the purposes required by the multi-directional Pro Patria treatment centre.

Gordon Saggers

Gordon is a Doctor of Dentistry, from Sydney University. Joined his father’s dentistry practices in Wagga Wagga & Lockhart in 1970. During his forty six years of dental practice he established a large professional business providing quality dental and hygiene care.

He was a foundation member of the Men’s Committee for the Carmelite Nuns, in 1970.

He has directly & indirectly financially supported a wide variety of community activities such as the Mary Potter Nursing Home, the Riverina Cancer Care Centre, Calvary Palliative Care, Kurrajong Waratah and Country Hope.

He has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga (PP & S-PHF), Wagga Picnic Race Club (PC) and the Classic & Historic Automobile Club of Aust – Wagga Wagga Region & Wagga Swap Meet.

Gordon has made many trips to Timor Leste carrying out voluntary emergency style dentistry in remote villages.

His family has extensive experience in property development, including retaining the dental practice building, developing two child care centres in Wagga Wagga & other significant property developments.

Gordon recognises the urgent & serious need to establish a holistic treatment centre for our veterans & first responders.

David Friedlieb

David has lived in Wagga Wagga since 1989, with a career as a Chartered Accountant in public practice, with a special interest in small business families and retirement strategies.  David is a former director of the Wagga firm, WDF Professional.

He has also served on school and charity boards, was a director of the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, and remains involved with Rotary including as Club President 2019-20.  He sees his involvement in Pro Patria as a way of acknowledging the importance of veterans and first responders to the strength of Wagga Wagga as a regional city.  

Des Goonan

Des was a partner in a local insurance brokerage for 14 years and Proprietor/Director of Insurance Brokers of Wagga Wagga Pty Ltd for 8 years. He was the Chair of the Catholic Diocese Wagga Wagga Provident Fund, President of the State Councillor St Vincent de Paul Riverina and President of the Committee St Vincent de Paul Micah House Wagga Wagga for 4 years each.

Des has been the Chair of Henschke Catholic School, Chair of St Michael’s High School Board and Chair of Trinity Catholic High School. He also served the Riverina Umpires Association as Treasurer/Umpire for 11 years.

Madeleine Suttie

Madeleine is a senior consultant in law, education, professional training and governance. After undergraduate studies in law and commerce at Sydney University she completed a Masters in Bioethics at Monash. Admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of NSW in 2005, she completed her doctoral studies at Oxford. She has advised widely in the corporate, not for profit, University and government sectors.

She is passionate about improving opportunities for rural communities and small businesses by providing expert advice in dispute resolution and organisational modelling.

Angelo Strano

Angelo is a Chartered Accountant and Tax Agent with over 40 years in the Industry.

He was a Partner of the National firm RSM Australia Pty Ltd for 28 years and a Director representing the accounting practice  on  the  RSM Financial Services Company Board for 16 years.

He has also held  the role of NSW Regional Managing Partner.

He currently consults with RSM on a part time basis.

He has dealt with a diverse client base advising on accounting ,taxation, succession and business strategy matters.

Shannon Smith

Shannon is a Wagga Wagga born Chartered Accountant and has over 23 years experience in the Industry. She is a Director of a local Accounting & Financial planning firm and enjoys assisting clients achieve their potential and get the fulfilling life they deserve.

With strong roots in Wagga Wagga, her father has owned and run a small business for over 50 years,  Shannon has learnt the value of a strong work ethic and many other skills that come along with running a business. This has assisted her own career and the value she has been able to add to other along the way.

A keen horsewomen, Shannon enjoys spending time with her horses and passing the love of animals onto her two daughters. Her husband on the other hand is not as keen and prefers the other variety of horse power!

Shannon enjoys giving back to the community in the way of Volunteer work and offering advice to organisations that can benefit from her years of experience. She sits on a number of Boards and Committees in the community and enjoys building relationships with others. It is that passion that has lead her to join the PPPT Board, her grandfather and great grandfather both served in the Army during World War I and II respectively. She believes that those that have served our country deserve to be supported and thanked through the provision of a holistic treatment centre and space to connect with each other.

Our Trustee Secretary

Alan Lean

Alan is a Rotarian, including Past President of Wagga Rotary (2021/22) - (1988/89) and Kerang Rotary (1978/79). He is a Paul Harris Fellow (Saphire), Peace City Ambassador, Group Study Leader (North Carolina) and is Chair of the Rotary Shine Awards.

Alan is also a Member of the Medical Advisory Board for Riverina Cancer Care Centre and Chair of the Consumer Governance Board.

With a passion for community radio, Alan has been Board Director and Chairman of Wagga Community Media Inc (Radio Triple A) as well as an on-air presenter.

He was also awarded Community Citizen of the Year in 2019.