Board members
East Grampians Health Service was incorporated under the Health Services Act 1987 Part 3 by the Governor-In-council, acting under Section 64A and Section 65 of the Health Services Act (Vic) 1988. The incorporation came into effect on 1st July 1995.
East Grampians Health Service is accountable through its Board to the Minister for Health, The Hon Daniel Andrews MLA.
In accordance with The Health Services Act 1988, Division 4, Section 33, the Board has affirmed that the Management Group and staff will carry out the Policies and Procedures of East Grampians Health Service with due diligence.
The men and women who represent the Community on the Board are recommended by the Minister and appointed by the Governor-In-Council. The term of office for a member of the Board is usually three years.
Members of the Board and Executive staff are required to lodge Declarations of Pecuniary Interest to the Chairperson prior to each Board meeting.
Governance Process
Overarching Governance Process
The Board's charter is to ensure that East Grampians Health Service achieves it mission and key strategic goals, in accordance with the By-Laws of EGHS and, in doing so, avoids reasonably foreseeable unacceptable actions and situations
Board Role
To facilitate appropriate organisational performance, the Board will develop and monitor Board-level policies which provide direction and boundaries for both its own and CEO's functions. The Board will develop the following:
- Strategic Goals
- Governance Process policies
- Board/CEO Linkage policies.
Sally Philip
President
Sally Philip is the Executive Officer with West Vic Division of General Practice based in Ararat. The Division provides support and recruitment services to general practices from Beaufort to the South Australian border. Sally has a Master of Business Administration majoring in Human Resource Management.
Sally has been a member of the Board of Management since 2006 and was Vice-President from 2007 to her appointment as President in 2010.
Sally and her husband Tim have 3 children and reside on a farm in Maroona.
Graeme Foster
Vice President
Graeme has lived in Ararat all his life and is married to Alana and has 3 children. Graeme is the fourth generation family member to run the family men’s wear business (Fosters Mensland).
Graeme has served on the Board of Management since 2004 and was President from 2006 to 2010. Graeme has since taken up the position of Vice-President. He is also a member of the Finance Committee and the Clinical Consultative Committee.
Graeme has been in involved in many sporting and community organisations and was Vice Chair of the EGHS "Building for the Future Appeal".
Louise Staley
Treasurer
Louise Staley is the Director Food and Environment Unit at the Institute of Public affairs where she researches and writes on public policy issues. Louise's work has been widely published in newspapers, reports and on radio. Her particular areas of policy expertise include agriculture and rural communities.
Prior to moving to Western Victoria eight years ago, Louise held an executive position with a major global funds manager. Louise has a Postgraduate Diploma in Finance, is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a Masters in Public Policy.
Louise and her partner Stephen live on a family farm at Willaura where they crop.
Wilfred Dickeson
Wilf moved to Ararat in 1975 as Primary PE teacher before taking on classroom duties at both Ararat West and PS 800 and eventually Principal of Ararat West for 5 years. This was followed by 2 years as Manager of Central Queensland University – Sydney International Campus before retirement from education and returning to Ararat.
Previous roles have included 5 years as an Ararat Shire Councillor prior to amalgamation and 3 years as President of Chalambar Golf Club.
Sport has played a pivotal role in Wilf’s life through football, cricket, swimming and golf with many playing, coaching and administrative positions.
Community involvement has always been significant.
Wilf is married to Sandra who was born in Ararat.
Geoff Laidlaw
Geoff lives on the family farm at Ararat and runs a cropping and sheep enterprise. Geoff is fourth generation to live in the Ararat district and manage the family farm.
Geoff was married to Angela (deceased) and has 4 children. Geoff is actively involved in the community and was a Committee member of the Health Service’s ‘Building for the Future’ Community Appeal.
Geoff is also a member of the Fire Brigade and Victorian Farmer’s Federation and spent 13 years on the Ararat Primary School Council.
Heather Fleming
Heather Fleming came to the district in 1993 after a background in education. She lives on a family farm near Willaura with her son Thomas.
As well as being a member of the EGHS Board Heather is a Committee member of the EGHS Ararat Ark Toy Library.
She is actively involved in a number of other community organizations, including the Willaura Development Group, the Willaura branch of the Royal Children's Hospital Good Friday Appeal Committee, and the CFA. Heather was the inaugural Director and Company Secretary of the Willaura-Lake Bolac Community Bank® - Bendigo Bank and although no longer the Secretary, still remains a Director.
Heather's involvement with the hospital continues a tradition begun by her grandmother, who trained there as a nurse more than ninety years ago.
Matthew Wood
Matthew Wood came to Ararat in 2005 when he was appointed as the Officer In Charge of the Ararat Police Station. Matthew has 32 years experience with Victoria Police serving in a variety of locations and roles around metropolitan and country Victoria. Matthew holds a graduate certificate in applied management, an advanced diploma in public safety (emergency management) and a diploma in police management. He is currently the treasurer for the Grampians YMCA, a member of the Marian College Stewardship Council and a member of the Ararat Prison Redevelopment Community Advisory Group.
Matthew has been active in sport all his life, playing squash, running and is a central umpire for the Mininera football league.
Matthew is married to Donna, and their three children have all attended school in Ararat. Matthew describes Ararat to be a fantastic place to live with a strong, caring and friendly community.
