I reflect on this as I have the privilege of writing my first Chair’s report.
The last 12 months has been a time of great change for Women’s Health Loddon Mallee as we welcomed a new Board Chair and CEO into the fold of the organisation. Accordingly, it has also been a time of deep respect and admiration for the past with a renewed focus on planning and excitement for the future.
For those who may be less familiar with our history, it is a long and storied one. In mid-1987 a Women’s Health discussion day was held in Kangaroo Flat, which lead to the formation of a Bendigo Women’s Health Collective, and later the establishment of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee in its modern form. The women of these eras were true pioneers. Advocates, activists, visionaries. Their work is never to be forgotten.
In present day I am grateful to serve the women of our region alongside a passionate and committed Board, the foundations of which were well established by outgoing Chair Julie Slater during her six-year tenure. I have been equally grateful to work alongside outgoing CEO Tricia Currie, who dedicated nine outstanding years to Women’s Health Loddon Mallee and who has cemented a legacy within the sector that will be remembered for many more years to come.
Specifically, our work this past year has centred around reaffirming our commitment to the vision and purpose of this organisation, whilst also preparing the organisation for the future. With this in mind we were pleased to welcome CEO Kellie Dunn to Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, bringing with her 26 years of leadership experience across housing, mental health, family violence, and related sectors.
As we look towards the next 12 months, we will continue to recognise the resilience and commitment that has paved the way for progress. As we build on this legacy, we envision a future where our governance structures are strengthened, allowing us to champion gender equality more effectively and amplify our collective impact.
The Board will also commence the process of developing a new strategic plan. We will consider the needs of rural women at the forefront of our priorities, with an emphasis on safeguarding against the political and economic constraints that could act to undermine our efforts to advance the needs of all women in the Loddon Mallee region.
Finally, but most importantly, I would like to give my sincere thanks to our staff, who are truly experts in their field and without whom this structural change would simply not be possible. This includes Acting CEO Belinda Buck, who has provided great stability during transition. Our staff are passionate, motivated, and enthusiastic to share the deserving stories of women which would otherwise not be told or heard. Thank you for all that you have done, and all that you will continue to do.
Dr. Skye Kinder – Chairperson WHLM
