Introducing Our Vicar

The Revd Dr Sharne Rolfe was ordained deacon on February 1st, 2014 and priested on November 29th, 2014, Sharne completed curacies at St Stephen and St Mary’s, Mt Waverley (2014) and at St Andrew’s, Brighton (2015 - 2016) before serving as Priest-in-Charge at St Nicholas’, Mordialloc (2016 -2019). She has a Master of Divinity degree (2013) and a Diploma in Theology (Pastoral Ministry) (2014). Sharne also has a Master’s degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychology (Monash University, 1979, 1983). 

Prior to her call to ordained ministry, Sharne worked at the University of Melbourne as an academic, teaching and researching aspects of child development for more than twenty-five years and was a specialist consultant to the Victorian Government child protection services and the Children’s Court. Sydney-born and raised, Sharne came to Melbourne in her early 20s to undertake post-graduate studies at Monash University after completing a science degree majoring in psychology at the University of NSW (1976). 

Sharne has two adult children, Jess who is married to Ben (both lawyers) and Sam (senior management role with the AFL in Sydney) married to Dani (a marketing executive). Jess and Ben have three children (Jack, aged 8, Eliza, aged 6 and Grace, aged 3). Sam and Dani have two children (Chloe, aged 5 and Pia, aged 3). They all live in Sydney. Sharne retired from full-time parish ministry in 2019 in order to help Jess and Ben with the care of their three young children. She returned to locum ministry in 2022 and, having completed a very happy three-month locum at Holy Trinity Hampton, she is delighted to have been appointed Vicar (part-time) of this Parish. 

Sharne is passionate about the role of prayer and contemplation in deepening spirituality and parish life and is an experienced leader of Christian meditation groups. Her priorities include compassionate and loving pastoral care of the parish community, parish growth through effective Christian outreach and incarnational ministry to all ages, building links between church and the local community and growing together in The Way of Jesus Christ through careful study and reflection on Scripture. She strongly supports social justice, inclusiveness and celebration of diversity. 

Sharne loves getting out in nature, bushwalking, reading, music of all kinds from indie rock through to classical, and is an avid movie-goer, especially foreign film festivals. She is a passionate traveller and finds great joy in visiting overseas countries and appreciating their cultures through a better understanding of local history, art, geography and people. In the past few years she has travelled to many overseas countries, including India, Russia, Siberia, Greece and Italy. Next year she plans to visit the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) as well as Shetland and the Orkneys. 

Deeply spiritual in her own life, Sharne brings to her work as priest an understanding of the long tradition of the Christian mystics and their contribution to an understanding of a life well-lived. An encourager by nature and committed to servant leadership, Sharne is looking forward to ministering to and with the community of Holy Trinity Hampton and will be working part-time, 4 days per week. These days will be advertised on the website once they are firm.