Community Advisory Committee

Appointed 2018

After holidaying in the region for 30 years, Diana and her husband made the permanent move to the area in 2016. She has keen interest in the community, preventative health, and arts and culture. Once she had time to contribute, she wanted to use her experience in these areas.

Although Diana was already busy with several other community organisation committees, when the opportunity became available to be involved with her local health service she jumped at the chance. Her extensive experience in leadership, negotiations, listening and mentoring, as well as involvement with several local networks, has helped her make a strong contribution as a Community Advisor. 

She has been able to use her skills and contacts to gain community input, and incorporate those ideas and feedback into the many health-related committees she is now involved in. Diana has relished the opportunity to contribute by being the voice of the community to make a positive impact and looks forward to continuing to do so into the future.

Appointed September 2019

Gill has lived at Cowes since 1984, having previously lived at Ventnor for five years. She was born in England and moved to Australia in 1967. Gill is married, has two children in their 40’s and two grandchildren, a brother in Brisbane, and two other brothers living in the UK and the USA. She has a great interest in history, how people relate to each other, and loves to travel and being involved with the community.

Gill brings a diverse range of skills and experience to the Committee, having a vast background in management, administration and book-keeping. She was the Practice Manager for Phillip Island Medical Group for 20 years, managing four locations and all facets of employing doctors, practice nurses, allied health professional and ancillary staff. 

Gill is also a member of Phillip Island Medical and Health Action Group, the Phillip Island Health Hub Auxiliary and the Phillip Island Hospital Community Consultative Committee.

Appointed November 2018

Paulette originally came to the Bass Coast to stay in her much loved holiday house to experience all that Bass Coast has to offer. She made the move with her husband permanently to Inverloch after retirement. Paulette’s passion for person-centred care has developed from personal experience and an extensive career in health.

Paulette held a long-term position with Mary MacKillop Aged Care Facility in Hawthorn East, in Human Resources. Prior to this she was an Enrolled Nurse. Having also worked with AMES Australia, a government agency for the training and employment of multicultural immigrants, she is keen to ensure people receive the information in a way that is easy to understand to enable the best health options and outcomes for all consumers.

Her other interests in the community are the Inverloch Historical Society, the Garden Club and Friends of the Library.

Appointed June 2023

Sharry was a regular visitor to the Bass Coast area with her two young children for many years, before eventually setting up a base in Inverloch around 2009.

Sharry is a qualified company director with the Australian Institute of Company Directors and resided on many company boards and committees throughout her career, providing expert assistant and corporate leadership to companies in Australia and the United States of America. During her career, she has had the privilege to ensure value was added to boards, through her various roles including: Chairman of Health Ability (Nillumbik Community Health Services), Advisory Board to the Minister of Small Business, and many governance, academic, risk and compliance boards in the education sector throughout Australia.

With over 25 years' experience in CEO and Senior Management roles, Sharry has a reputation for quality and results. Over the years Sharry has refined her skills, and now brings these skills and her passion for the Bass Coast community to the CAC.

Appointed August 2023

Werner lives in Harmers Haven with his wife and his ninety-seven-year-old father-in-law.

Werner began his career in 1972 with the PMG as a Telecommunications Technical Officer in Training but in 1976 decided his future should be in the power industry with the SECV. He worked his way up to the position of Shift Charge Engineer at Yallourn W Power Station in 1990-92.

The adventure however really began in 1992 when the family became expatriates and moved to the Middle East for 11 years. This included a job with Aluminium Bahrain (one of the world’s biggest aluminium smelters) as a Shift Charge Engineer in their power station between 1992 and 1996. They then moved to Qatar for the commissioning of a new LNG plant with Qatar Gas.  

He returned to Bahrain and Aluminium Bahrain as a Senior Shift Charge Engineer 1997-2003. He finally returned to Australia in 2003, working at Alcan Gove in their alumina refinery in Arnhem Land as the Power Station Operations and Maintenance Superintendent. Upon returning to the Latrobe Valley in early 2004, to life in the Callignee Hills, Werner's remaining working years were spent in various training roles at Yallourn W, Hazelwood and finally at Loy Yang B Power Stations until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he retired.

His retirement on the Bass Coast has included developing and presenting a Renewable and Sustainable Energy course at U3A Wonthaggi and Bass Coast Adult Learning Centre. He is also Vice President and Program Manager at U3A Wonthaggi, is on the Committee of the Bass Coast Fine Film Group and helps at ArtSpace Wonthaggi in various capacities.

Appointed October 2023

Ann has lived in Inverloch for the last 6 years after holidaying here for over 20 years with her husband and 2 children.
She was born in the UK and trained as a physiotherapist before marrying an Aussie and moving here permanently in the early 80’s. Ann has worked in the public health systems here and in the UK, then built a successful neurological physiotherapy private practice with a partner, treating clients of all ages with a range of various disabilities. 
These experiences over the years in public and private health have given Ann the ability to understand and appreciate what is required to provide a person-centered approach to health care. 
Ann has been on various professional committees during her working years and since moving to Inverloch she has continued her interest in local activities, being on the Friends Of Inverloch Library committee and joining the local Disabled Surfing Association, as well as being involved in many general community activities. 
 

Appointed October 2023 

Mim is a Cowes resident and has more than 31 years’ management experience in private and public listed companies.  

Mim has experience in setting and achieving budgets, strategic planning, team development and retention, ethical sourcing, and Quality Assurance and Quality Control. 

Mim is a former director of Bass Coast Community Health Service and joined the BCH Board in July 2014. She was a member of the Development Council, the Quality and Clinical Governance Committee, and the Remuneration Committee. 

Mim retired from the Board from June 2023 after 12 years.
 

Appointed October 2023

Doseena Fergie is a respected Elder in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, and is experienced in community development through building community capacity. 

Aunty Doseena founded and established good governance within multiple Aboriginal organisations, culminating in being the recipient of 2007 and 2011 NAIDOC Awards. A registered midwife and nurse academic, Aunty Doseena completed a PhD within the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

She was awarded the 2009 Victorian State Nurse Excellence Award and in 2016 became the Inaugural Fellow of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives (CATSINaM). 

Aunty Doseena was inducted into the 2016 Victorian Women’s Roll of Honour and 2019 CATSINaM Hall of Fame. In 2017 she was the Yarra Ranges Citizen of the Year recipient and in 2019 was awarded the Order of Australia Medal. 

Aunty Doseena has been recognised for her expertise on Indigenous health, successfully obtaining a Churchill Fellowship in 2016 to research Global Indigenous Nations. She continues to work part-time as an academic at the University of Melbourne and enjoys living with her family in the beautiful Bass Coast region. 
 

Appointed July 2025

Toni was born and raised in Sydney until 1969 when she enlisted in the Women’s Royal Australian Army for three years, and enjoyed a career working in varied administration roles. In late 1970 she was posted to Melbourne and fell in love with the gardens and theatre life here, as well as her husband, Bob. They were married for 47 years and raised four children.

Family has always been of the upmost importance to Toni – even now when her children are all in their 40s – and she has been blessed with three grandchildren. Toni enjoys researching her family history and craft.

Toni brings to the CAC skills gleaned from such roles as: Administrator Manager/Bursar at Eastern (Tabor) College; customer service and administration roles at World Vision; working front desk at Maroondah and Knox Private hospitals for over 11 years.

Toni and Bob moved to Wonthaggi in early 2017. In 2019, Bob commenced Haemodialysis and later became a cancer patient at Wonthaggi Hospital. During this time, Toni became a volunteer at BCH in an administration support role to the Volunteer Manager to give back to the hospital and to thank the staff for the excellent care they gave Bob each week. She continues to do this after losing Bob in 2022.

Toni has also been a volunteer with Latrobe Community Health Service’s carers group and now volunteers in an administrative support role to the Carers Support Manager.

Toni is currently the Chairperson of the BCH Volunteer Steering Committee and earlier this year became the Secretary of the Wonthaggi RSL Sub-Branch where she helps our veterans and their families – a cause close to her heart after her time in the Defence Forces.

Appointed July 2025

Alex moved to Cape Paterson in 2005 having lived in Newport, inner Melbourne, for many years. Alex is married and has a blended family of 5 children, 7 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter. She has recently moved to Wonthaggi and is within walking distance to the hospital.

Recently retired from a sales management role, working with major corporate and government departments, Alex brings a rich mix of personal and professional experience to her role, and applies strong strategic and communication skills to every initiative.

Alex has long demonstrated her commitment to community wellbeing through roles such as committee member of the Wonthaggi Theatrical Group, Lifeline counsellor, Red Cross Telecross volunteer, aged care community visitor and BCH volunteer.

By actively gathering and incorporating community feedback, Alex strives to ensure the voices of the local community are heard and help to shape the programs and policies of Bass Coast Health.

Appointed July 2025

Maddy Harford and her husband Harry consider themselves ‘escapees’ from Melbourne, having moved to Wonthaggi in 2010.  She quickly became involved in numerous community groups and activities, including Artspace community gallery, Wonthaggi Neighbourhood Centre at Mitchell House, the Energy Innovation Co-operative, Bass Coast Adult Learning, Wonthaggi U3A and Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group.  

She calls herself an Education Tragic, having spent her working life of 45 years in a wide range of roles – teaching, research, evaluation, management, consultancy and policy development - within that sector. 

Maddy is a passionate supporter and advocate of our refugee communities across Bass Coast. As a member of the Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group, since 2021 she has supported three families from Syria and one from Afghanistan, as they settle in their new country. 

Some years ago, Maddy and Harry and their two young children lived in Papua New Guinea as volunteers.  Of course, they weren’t refugees but their time there provided lived experience of having to establish themselves in a new country, with a different culture; learning a new language, making new friends and becoming part of the community.  

Maddy is also an avid gardener and has been instrumental in developing and coordinating the annual Bass Coast Edible Gardens Weekend for the past four years.