Council Members
Minister Lisa Neville MP with Merle Mitchell AM
Merle Mitchell AM, Springvale
Merle is a well known advocate and community worker who was the inaugural and long term Director of the Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, a groundbreaking community organisation with a strong commitment to working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She has been a board member and President of the Victorian and Australian Councils of Social Service. Merle’s involvement in policy development and advocacy on a range of issues affecting low-income people led to appointment to a number of senior government advisory boards at state and national levels. Her enduring commitment to social justice and inclusive approach to decision making were recognised in her entry to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.
Ms Jill Anwyl, Carlton North
Following a 20 year career as a teacher, Ms Anwyl held a number of positions in the Department of Education including Participation and Equity Program Schools Co-ordinator. She was a member of the secretariat for the 2000 Review of Post Compulsory Secondary Education in Victoria. Current community connections include the Inner Northern Local Learning and Employment Network Committee of Management, Princes Hill Secondary College Council and the Education Foundation Australia Board.
Mr James Brassil AM, Frankston
Now a solicitor and mediator, following a successful career as a senior Commonwealth public servant with the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet and Employment and Industrial Relations, Mr Brassil served as an accredited mediator with the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. He was also a member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal and as inaugural Chair and Chief Executive of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (Worksafe Australia). His current community connections include service on the Victorian Liquor Licensing Panel, the Elder Law Section of the Law Institute of Victoria and charity work with the St Vincent de Paul Society.
Mr Fred Chuah JP, Doncaster
Following a 30 year career within the TAFE sector, Mr Chuah has taken a lead role in the development of the Chinese Community Social Services Centre and associated community programs. Current community connections include the Chinese Community Social Services Centre, On Luck Chinese Nursing Home and Community Chest. Until recently he was a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Cultural and Linguistic Diversity; including its working group on aged care (2002-2006). He was born in Malaysia and speaks Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay and Indonesian.
Mrs Anne Davie OAM, Ventnor, Phillip Island
Mrs Davie is a beef farmer on Phillip Island. She previously ran a physiotherapy practice on Phillip Island for 40 years and worked as a Community Development Officer. She is a former Phillip Island councillor. Current community connections include West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, U3A, Bass Coast Community Foundation, Landcare and the Phillip Island Arts and Cultural Committee. She received a Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians 2000, Regional Arts Victoria Award 2005 and was admitted to the 2005 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
Mrs Margot Green, Seymour
Mrs Green has worked in a number of areas including as a barmaid, manager of a dry cleaning business, pet shop owner and console operator at the local motors. She also ran a local farm with her husband for 18 years. Current community connections include Country Fire Authority committee (currently Communications Officer), Seymour Agricultural and Pastoral Society committee, Nuclear Veterans Association (Victorian Co-ordinator), Meals on Wheels volunteer, Native Animal Shelter carer, Victorian Wines Show committee and cookery judge. Mrs Green was awarded a CFA National Medal (1996), Centenary Medal (2003) and was the Mitchell Shire Senior Woman of the Year (2006).
Dr Henry Hudson, Queenscliff
Dr Hudson’s career included academic positions with Deakin University (Head of Department of Chemical and Analytical Sciences) and the former Gordon Institute of Technology (lecturer – Department of Applied Chemistry) and time as a teacher within the Tasmanian state school system. Community connections include U3A, Probus, Rotary International, Maritime Museum of Victoria (Chairman), Deakin University “Science and Engineering Challenge” and Science Schools Foundation. Dr Hudson has been a community representative on five advisory committees to the Borough of Queenscliffe on Harbour Development, Heritage, Environment, Seniors’ Festival Week and Queenscliffe Museums Committee. He is also a member of the Science and Mathematics Education in Geelong committee.
Mr Don McDonald, Mordialloc
Mr McDonald recently retired from private practice as a psychologist. He was employed by the CSIRO as an Experimental Scientist and then corporate Health, Safety and Environment Adviser from 1967 – 2001. He has degree qualifications in physics and psychology and Grad Dips in Sport Science and Health Sciences. Current community connections are with National Seniors Australia as Chairman of the Victorian State Policy Group; Member of the National Policy Group and member of the Mentone-Bayside Branch (inaugural President); member of the City of Kingston's Positive Ageing Advisory Committee and of the Kingston University of the Third Age as a tutor, student and member of the Committee of Management.
Mr Joe Pavlovic, Geelong South
Mr Pavlovic is currently a self-employed builder following work with International Harvester, Ford Motor Co and Brintons Carpet. Born in Croatia, Mr Pavlovic studied to be a teacher in Bosnia-Herzegovina before immigrating to Australia in 1959. His community connections are Australian Croatian Association Geelong and Victorian Croatian Aged Care Services. He was a commissioner with the Victorian Multicultural Commission (1997-2005) and a founding member of the Geelong Ethnic Communities Council (1976-1994).
Mrs Beverly Peter, Mildura
Mrs Peter is an Elder in her local Indigenous community and has provided foster care for children for 20 years. Current community connections include the Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (and local Aboriginal Justice Action Committee), Indigenous Family Violence Regional Action Group, United Soccer Club for Aboriginal Kids in Mildura committee and College of Koori Education. Mrs Peter is an Aboriginal Elder at the Mildura Koori Court. She has been an ATSIC regional councillor and a member of Koori Women Mean Business.
Mr Cliff Picton, Glen Waverley
Mr Picton is currently employed as the part time Ombudsman, Latrobe University. He comes from an academic career in the fields of health and social sciences at Latrobe, Monash and Leicester Universities. He was the CEO of the Australian Council on the Ageing from 1982 – 1990. Current community connections include Banksia Palliative Care Committee and the U3A Online Committee. He served as a Ministerial Advisory Council member in 2003-2006.
Mr Peter Reid, Ballarat
Currently the self employed director of Reid Engineering Innovation and Design and part time principal of RSR Management, Mr Reid’s CV includes a range of engineering and management related positions with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Telstra, Oztrak Australia and the University of Ballarat. Current community connections include Ballarat Community Enterprise, Ballarat Trades and Labour Council, Central Highlands Area Consultative Committee (Wise Workforce program facilitator) and soccer related organisations.
Ms Georgia Richmond, Warrnambool
(resigned February 2009)
Ms Richmond was the CEO of Lifeline South West Victoria. She is a former registered nurse who has held health care related positions with Loddon Mallee Region Women’s Health Service (Manager), Outer Eastern Region Women’s Health Service (Manager), Collingwood Community Health Service (Community Nurse, aged care), Footscray TAFE (Counsellor/Student Health Officer) and Brunswick Tech School (Community Nurse). She has also been a small business proprietor in Daylesford. Ms Richmond is the current Vice President of Lyndoch Inc., a Residential and Community aged care facility in south west Victoria.
Ms Anne Sgrò OAM, Coburg North
Ms Sgrò retired from a career as a teacher (secondary and primary levels) and curriculum writer. Current community connections include Union of Australian Women, FILEF (Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and Families) and Housing for the Aged Action Group and Council on the Ageing (general member). Ms Sgrò was a Ministerial Advisory Council member in 2004-2006.
Dr Heather Wheat, Southbank
Formerly Senior Research Officer (NHMRC) at University of Melbourne specialising in sensory function, Ms Wheat is an Honorary Fellow with a continuing role as consultant. Her work includes clinical studies and rehabilitation programs related to stroke and its impacts on functioning. Dr Wheat has also worked with the Industries Assistance Commission and as a voluntary remedial teacher working with children with learning problems. Current community connections include U3A, Life Activities Clubs and Life Planning Foundation of Australia.
Mr Robert Yung, Footscray West
Born in Hong Kong and educated in Ballarat, Mr Yung operated a number of businesses including the House of Pavlova (first commercial manufacturers of pavlovas in Australia). Current community connections include the Western Region Ethnic Communities Council, Victorian Elderly Chinese Welfare Society and Hostel, City of Maribyrnong, Safety Taskforce and Footscray Community Arts Centre board. Mr Yung speaks Cantonese and Mandarin. He was a Ministerial Advisory Council member from 2003 – 2006.
Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the
department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities
(DVC) as changes are being made.
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