The School Volunteer Program

WA Patron

Mrs Ruth Reid AM

Mrs Ruth Reid is the wife of former Governor, Professor Gordon Reid who was Governor of Western Australia from 1984 to 1989.
Mrs Reid enjoys working in a voluntary capacity with a wide range of community organisations in Western Australia and became State Patron of SVP in 1997.  She has been acknowledged for her work in the community with the following awards:

• The Rotary Paul Harris Award
• Order of Australia (A.M.)
• U.W.A. Hon. Doc of Letters
• Citizen of the Year (2000) (Community Service)

Ruth states that “I am honoured to be involved with SVP as Parton in WA and will continue to watch its growth as it encourages more community members to help children develop to their full potential.”

National Patron

Major General Michael Jeffery AC AO(Mil), CVO MC (Rtd)

Philip Michael Jeffery was born in Wiluna, Western Australia, in 1937 and was educated at Cannington and East Victoria Park State Schools and Kent Street High School.
At age 16, he left Perth to attend the Royal Military College, Duntroon.
After graduation in 1958, he served in a number of junior regimental appointments with 17 National Service Training Company and the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in Perth. 
From 1966-69 he served in Papua New Guinea (PNG) with 1st Battalion, The Pacific Islands Regiment and was married during this posting to Marlena Kerr, of Manly, Sydney.
This was followed by a tour of Vietnam as an infantry company commander with the 8th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. It was during this tour that he was awarded the Military Cross and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
In 1976, he assumed command of the SASR in Perth and was then promoted to Colonel as the first Director of the Army's Special Action Forces, for services to which he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. In June 1988, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to the Army and in 1989, as the Assistant Chief of the General Staff - Logistics.
On 1 November 1993, he was sworn in as the 27th Governor of Western Australia, and became a Companion of the Order of Australia, a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and a Citizen of Western Australia for his services to the State. He was Governor until 2000.
General Jeffery was sworn in as Australia's 24th Governor-General on 11 August 2003 at Parliament House, Canberra. Upon being sworn in, he became the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Australia.
He and his wife Marlena have three sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren. He enjoys music, reading, golf and fishing.
General Jeffery became the National Patron of The School Volunteer Program Inc. in 2004 after the organisation was certified as a Registrable Australian Body under the Corporations Act 2001.  He truly believes in mentoring and states in part “Mentoring is not about fine phrases and inspiring words, it is about reality; giving young Australians in need, a caring shoulder to lean on for a sustained period”.