Media release

From the Minister for Aged Care

Friday May 28, 2004

NEW FACES, FRESH IDEAS FOR SENIORS ADVISORY COUNCIL

New membership of a key Government advisory group will generate fresh ideas on issues affecting Victoria’s 800,000 seniors, Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings said today.

Announcing the new members of the Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians, Mr Jennings said they would help the council continue its work to improve the quality of life for Victorians aged 60 and over.

“The Bracks Government has appointed seven new members to the 15-member committee,” Mr Jennings said.

“The council advises the Bracks Government on a range of issues affecting older people and will help shape Government policy.

“These new faces bring a wealth of life experience and fresh ideas to the committee and will build on the talents of existing members to give older people a strong voice in Government.”

The Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians was launched in 2001 and the new members will complement the council’s central focus on:

  • Addressing ageism and ageist attitudes;
  • Promoting health, physical activity and social participation in community life;
  • Addressing mature-age employment and retirement issues, and
  • Accessing information and communication technologies.

The first MAC meeting involving new members started yesterday and is continuing today.

“The Bracks Government is committed to listening to the needs of older people and investing in services to improve the wellbeing, health and quality of life for seniors,” Mr Jennings said.

Mr Jennings said the move of the Office of Senior Victorians (OSV) to the Department of Victorian Communities (DVC) from July 1 would ensure that seniors are heard across Government.

“We recognise the important role of seniors in the Victorian community and the move to DVC will ensure that the interests of older people are better recognised across Government,” he said.

*For details on the Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians, email or phone the Department of Human Services on (03) 9616 8318.

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The Ministerial Advisory Council of Senior Victorians comprises:

Janet Wood, Gisborne (chairperson)

A member of the Refugee Review Tribunal, the reappointed chair has extensive experience in community and church organisations, including the YWCA, Lifeline, the United Nations Association of Australia and the Australian Council for Overseas Aid. Government appointments have included membership of the Ethnic Affairs Commission of South Australia, the Classification of Publications and Theatrical Performances Boards of South Australia, membership of the National Committee for the International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples 1992 and the Ethics Committee of the Department of Human Services and Health (Chairperson 1993-96). Ms Wood has held numerous positions within the Uniting Church in Australia and associated church councils.

The seven new members are:

Richard Armstrong, Somers

Vice President, Somers Residents Association and a committee member of the Balnarring Probus Club (treasurer), Westernport & Peninsula Protection Council (ex president), and Devil Bend Park (Melbourne Water) reference committee. An active volunteer, Mr Armstrong is a broadcaster/ narrator for 3RPH Vision Australia and Christian Blind Mission International (narrating books) and an Office of the Public Advocate appointed guardian for a person with a disability. He was a consultant for private companies and local governments (1996-2000), Business & Marketing Manager, City of Stonnington (1996), small business proprietor (1995-96) and National Category Manager, Bilo Coles Myer (1987-1995). Before emigrating from the UK, he held positions in the Royal Navy, British Colonial Prisons (Kenya), and bread production. He is undertaking off-campus studies (International Relations) at Deakin University.

Judith Cassar, West Footscray

A committee member of her local Community Building Advisory Group (also a volunteer and group representative on Doggies to Highfield committee), Ms Cassar is also on the Braybrook & Maidstone Public Tenants Association, Housing for the Aged Action Group, Arthritis Victoria Speakers Bureau, Maidstone Seniors, and founder of WRA2000 Dolphins (arthritis water exercise self help group). Before retirement, she was a co-coordinator of seniors social support programs for local Office of Housing seniors, Gateway Social Support (1999-2001). An original participant in the Brotherhood of St Laurence Family Centre Project in the ’70s, she has strong links to grass-roots self-help movement and welfare rights.

Dawn Dakin, Hampton Park

Secretary of Hampton Heath Retirement Village Residents’ Association (past president) and the CPSU/SFSP (Victorian branch) Retired Officers Division, Ms Dakin’s many community group memberships include committee/board member of Casey/Cardinia Life Activities Club (immediate past president), City of Casey Seniors Consultative Group and Positive Ageing Strategy Planning Committee, Cranbourne Plaza Indoor Walk Steering Committee, South PCP Adult Onset Type B Diabetes Consumer Reference Group, Hampton Park Progress Association, Friends of Hampton Park Library and the Brentwood Park Community Centre. Previously a school registrar and member of the Merit Protection Board. In 2003, she received a COTA Seniors Achievement Award and was City of Casey Senior Citizen of the Year.

Maria Erdeg, Noble Park

President of the Hungarian Seniors Citizens Club of Greater Dandenong for the past 12 years, she is also vice-president of the Multicultural Prime Timers and a committee member of the Greater Dandenong Multicultural Aged Care Association, Southern Health Community Advisory Committee and Noble Park Community Centre. After moving to Australia from the former Yugoslavia (Hungary) with her husband and two young sons, Mrs Erdeg learnt English and did factory and office work. A Dandenong Migrant Resource Centre volunteer, she has networks in the broader multicultural community in Greater Dandenong, speaks Hungarian and has been involved with Hungarian community radio and TV in Victoria.

Pam Robinson OAM, Parkville

Ms Robinson is a board member of Parks Victoria and life member of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association and the Wanenbayne Boho Land Protection Group. She has an enduring and strong background in agriculture, environment, forestry and community issues. Following 30 years in Violet Town, including membership on many local and statewide agricultural, environmental and associated organisations as well as time as Shire President, she moved to Melbourne. Ms Robinson now runs a consultancy business specialising in rural, local government, Landcare, forestry, social issues, mediation and conflict resolution.

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Anne Sgro OAM, North Coburg

Ms Sgro is the President of the Union of Australian Women, a group established in 1950 to advance the status of women as citizens, workers and mothers. She worked on the development of The Women’s Charter and is a regular presenter on the UAW program on 3CR. She has been an activist member of FILEF (Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and Families) for 30 years. Prior to her retirement, she was a primary school teacher and played a major role in promoting the teaching of community languages in State Government schools in Victoria. She was instrumental in the establishment of the first work base child-care centre at the Commonwealth Clothing Factory in Maribyrnong. She speaks Italian.

Joan West, Newtown

Mrs West is the President of National Seniors Geelong and the Victorian Chairperson of National Seniors, a member of the COTA National Seniors State Policy Council in Victoria and her local Neighbourhood Watch committee. She is a volunteer in local church op shops. She was previously employed as a teacher in primary, secondary sectors and adult literacy field and was a primary carer for her disabled mother.

Reappointed MACSV members are:

June Hearn, East Melbourne

Dr Hearn is the first female Deputy Chancellor of Monash University. She is also the President of Court Network Victoria. Dr Hearn recently retired from the Mt Eliza Business School Board and the Board of the Alzheimer's Association Victoria and is a long standing member of the Monash University Council. She was previously Chairperson of the Met-ticketing Task Force and the Joint Victorian Post Secondary Education Commission Research project on Women in Senior Management in Victorian Higher Education. Dr Hearn was the Foundation Dean of Arts, Victoria College (Deakin University), Director of the Hawthorn Institute of Education and Inaugural Managing Director, Hawthorn International Education Ltd. She was also a Professorial Associate of the University of Melbourne and Senior Lecturer in the University of Melbourne Business School. An author, her works include books, articles, chapters in books and conference papers, mainly on industrial relations, migrants and trade unions, education, women in management.

Dennis Lowther AM, Mount Waverley

Professor Lowther, a retired biomedical researcher who returned to tertiary study in psychology and sociology post retirement, works part time as a marriage and relationship / loss and grief counsellor. He is a member of the Australian Retired Persons & Over 50s Association (committee, and Relationship and Retirement Counsellor), Rotary, various professional associations including the Australian Psychological Association and National Association of Loss and Grief.

Lola McHarg, St Kilda East

Ms McHarg is currently employed as the Aged Care Admissions Manager, Brotherhood of St Laurence Aged Services. She is also an actor and model. She was previously employed in a women's refuge. Ms McHarg is a member of COTA (Vic), the Women's Circus (general sister and front of house), the International Women's Development Agency, and an occasional member of Amnesty International, Greenpeace, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Eritrea Relief Committee. Until recently Ms McHarg was also a director of Yarra Community Housing.

Robert McNabb, Castlemaine

Mr McNabb is a member of the Mt Alexander Shire Disabled and Elderly Advisory Committee, Newstead Senior Citizens (secretary), Chewton Senior Citizens (committee), Heart Support Australia (secretary Castlemaine Branch), Castlemaine Community Health Centre Auxiliary, Chewton Community Centre (treasurer), Castlemaine Historic Vehicle Club, Castlemaine Bowls Club, Amateur Radio Old Timers Club, Mackenzie Lodge (secretary) and COTA (Vic). He is a retired farmer/maintenance worker and was previously a local councillor with Newstead Shire, Shire President 1986-87.

Cliff Picton, Glen Waverley

Mr Picton is Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University and was previously a Senior Lecturer, Social Work, La Trobe University and the CEO Australian Council on Ageing. He is currently a state director of the National Seniors Association and the Australian & New Zealand College for Seniors Ltd and a member of Third Age Learning Interests Studies (TALIS).

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Bessie Yarram, Sale

Ms Yarram is an indigenous elder who was born on a mission in Western Australia and is currently employed as Home and Community Care Program Development Officer in the Gippsland area. She is the Chairperson of the Community Justice Panel, Sale and, until recently, was chair of the National Indigenous HACC Reference Group. Ms Yarram is an executive member of the Victorian Indigenous Homes and Aged and Community Care Statewide Committee and the Victorian Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organization and a member of the War Widows Guild. She is one of the founding members of Ramayuck District Aboriginal Co-operative.

Robert Yung, West Footscray

Mr Yung was born in Hong Kong and schooled in Australia. After an extensive career in private business, including work as an accountant, the first Australian manufacturer and wholesaler of pavlova, Chinese takeaway food outlets and a restaurant, real estate consultancy and a licensed bookmaker, he officially retired from business in 1994 with investment and community service interests including aged care, Chinese language community media and community festivals.

Media contact: Rebecca Armstrong - 9651 5799 / 0407 837 272