David Landis-Morse – Mission Development Facilitator
David has worked in hospitality for all his life – starting as a 17 year old apprentice silver service waiter back in 1982. He’s worked in fine dining in Melbourne since 1992 and then in food and beverage management since 2005. In 2012 he started managing the Sycamore Tree and has loved the chance to integrate his faith with hospitality and training. He talks too much, possibly overshares, has a very unhealthy love of desserts and is currently completing his Masters in Theology. He has commenced a new role that seeks to integrate the Sycamore Tree with community connections in the Banyule area. He is married to Robyn and has two adult children.
Robby Farso – Cafe Manager
Previously a volunteer at the Sycamore Tree, Robby has transitioned from his 25+ year profession as a Chartered Accountant to hospitality to work with his passion of coffee, food and people. Robby is married to Danielle and is a Heidelberg local. Not only does Robby love coffee and food, he has been making home made salami, tomato passata, hot jam ricotta donuts and hot chili sauce which is very proud to announce to anyone who will listen. Robby also loves a good chat and not only thinks of himself as a great story teller, but also a great listener and is always looking to hear about peoples’ backgrounds and stories.
Carol – Volunteer
Carol started with us after looking for local volunteer work. One of her friends suggested the Sycamore Tree and the rest is history. Carol makes sandwiches, serves out the front and is always up for a chat. She loves the variety of duties and the variety of people she works with. Carol also volunteer at local op-shops and loves the people contact of her different positions. Carol appreciates all the different skills that she’s developed over her time with the Sycamore Tree, as well as the friendships and the growth in her own confidence.
Mary – Volunteer
Mary has been with the Sycamore Tree since September 2012. She started doing Front of House – looking after customers and taking orders. Her favourite part of the job is that “there is always something to do”. (And she likes being a “clean freak” too – which is very handy now that she has expanded her job skills to include working on the sandwich bar and as dishwasher.) Mary loves her monthly discos that are run by the City of Port Philip and she loves her Maine Coon cats and her Groodle dog.
Liam – Volunteer
Liam started work with us early in 2016. He had attended a local high school and had been involved with a youth group at Northland. One of his contacts at the group thought that the Sycamore Tree would offer Liam the opportunity to practise his development of people skills and self-confidence.
Liam started quietly, but it rapidly became apparent that he had great organisation skills and speed. (Liam never walked where he could run!) He moved from working front-of-house to learning coffee and barista skills and now does two days a week making coffee for us.
Liam notes that the Sycamore Tree has increased his self-confidence and his people skills, as well as giving him valuable job skills. We look forward to seeing where life takes him.