Graduates

Manager Human Resources – Lower Murray Water

Completed both primary and secondary schooling in Mildura, then commenced Bachelor Business in Mildura then deferred and after travelling around Rockhampton in 2002.  After 5 years in Queensland he moved back to Mildura to raise a family.  Joe has been at Lower Murray Water for 3 years and enjoys working within Human Resources and has previously worked at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and other various private companies.

Joe has also completed Certificate IV Occupational Health and Safety and Assessment and Workplace Training.

Joe was lucky enough to travel around Australia with his family at the age of 11 and enjoys listening to music, playing tennis and holidaying on the beach.

Member of Alcheringa Tennis Club and assists the junior players on the weekends.

GIS and Data Management Officer – Mallee Catchment Management Authority

Danny was born and raised in and around Mildura. After school he completed a Diploma of Natural Resource Management at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE. After a year working in several NRM related jobs, he moved to Adelaide to complete a Batchelor of Environmental Management at Flinders University majoring in Remote Sensing and GIS. Following a year working for the SA government in the field of Prisoner Transport, Danny moved back to Mildura and began work for the Mallee Catchment Management Authority where he has been for the last 8 years. Outside of work Danny enjoys gardening and growing food, website development and programming, and has 3 children, all boys, who keep him very busy.

Danny is currently the treasurer of Sunraysia Fruit and Vegetable Swap Inc. and is regularly involved in Clean Up Australia Day. Danny is keen to get more involved within the community through the opportunities the Northern Mallee Leadership program provides.

Business Improvement Officer – Mildura Rural City Council

Kellie relocated to Mildura with her family in 2011 from Broken Hill, NSW. After an extensive career in the retail and finance industries where she completed several qualifications including a Certificate IV in Business (Frontline Management) and a Diploma of Management. The move to Mildura enabled Kellie to further pursue her studies where she has completed a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, a Diploma of Business Administration, and an Advanced Diploma of Management. In 2015, Kellie became one of the first regional students to graduate with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from La Trobe University, Mildura.

Kellie has over ten years Management experience in private enterprises where she received a national award for Store Standards and Operations. For the past three years Kellie has worked in the public sector, gaining valuable experience in her role with Mildura Rural City Council. As a Business Improvement Officer, Kellie provides specialist support to strategically implement the Australian Business Excellence Framework across all areas of Council. Her role includes providing corporate training, survey development, support and advice, facilitating positive change and supporting organisational sustainability initiatives. Kellie is passionate about continuous improvement and learning. She enjoys the diversity and challenges of working in a large organisation.

Kellie has held numerous community roles including volunteering with Scouts Australia, St John Ambulance Australia, Lifeline Australia, and Rostrum Victoria. She is currently an active Geocacher and is looking to become a member of the Mildura Young Professionals Network in 2016.

Fishers IGA

Aleesha is a very passionate community member who firmly believes that living in a regional area is not a disadvantage. Having lived in rural Victoria almost all of her life, Aleesha has had countless opportunities to become involved and hopes to be able to inspire more young people to stay in the region or return once they have completed further studies. Aleesha studied at the local La Trobe University, where she acted as a Student Ambassador, Connect Mentor and Student Learning Advisor and was fortunate enough to be selected to participate in the Multicultural Australia-China Student Forum in Chongqing, China on a full scholarship in 2015. She has previously travelled overseas for volunteer work in poverty stricken communities and takes an active role in many local organisations so that she can continue to contribute to the region. Aleesha is currently completing online studies in fitness and counselling and hopes to develop a program to assist local youth with mental health strategies.

Events Coordinator of Mildura Young Professionals Network, member of Deakin Mildura Rotary Club, Committee member and netball player at Merbein Football Netball Club

EcoSystems Consulting – Principal Consultant

Cath has recently started her own environmental consulting business with the objective of assisting Mildura to find a balance between environmental and economic sustainability.  With a PhD in environmental management and more than 20 years experience in regional areas, Cath is dedicated to providing regionally appropriate advice to rural communities.

Cath has always been passionate about the environment and left Sydney to begin her career with an undergraduate science degree in regional Victoria.  Cath received support from CSIRO to undertake her Honours research in regional Queensland and subsequently received a scholarship to complete her PhD in New Zealand with one of the world’s top wetland researchers.  Emerging with an extensive series of publications in international journals, Cath was awarded a Visiting International Scientist position at the University of California to undertake further work on balancing the water demands of San Francisco/Los Angeles and the environmental needs of the area.

Cath returned to Australia to work for 18 months as a senior scientist at the Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre in Mildura.  After finding an affinity with the environment of the Mallee, Cath abandoned her nomadic research lifestyle and has now lived in the area for over 10 years.  For most of this period Cath has been involved in the development and implementation of strategic environmental programs.

With an equally extensive career in environmental education Cath remains passionate about building the community’s capacity to attain environmental sustainability whilst improving economic and social viability.

Cath has a long history of undertaking endurance cycling and triathlon events, with a more recent venture into ultra distance trail runs up to 100km.  She thoroughly enjoys the trail running available along the River and throughout the region – and with a husband and two kelpies, she is never short of a running partner!

Cath Hall is an active member of the sporting community, participating in sporting events that raise money for local groups, including Port to Port, the Australia Day Aquathon and Mallee 12 fun run. Cath also raises money for charities such as the John McLean Foundation and One in Five.

Cath is looking to increase her involvement with community based environmental groups.

Workforce Compliance Officer – Tristar Medical Group

Louise was born in Ballarat and moved to Mildura at the age of 5. She has been working with Tristar Medical Group for almost 4 years, and is responsible for the recruitment and retention of doctors, and ensuring they comply with government legislation. Louise has grown up through the Scouting movement, and now enjoys motivating youth members in her leadership role. She is passionate about mental health, and hopes to complete her Cert 4 in Mental Health in 2016. Louise has an interest in travel, and has spent time travelling and working overseas. Her hobbies include reading and music. She would like to get involved with the Rotary Club, in particular the Rotary Youth Exchange Program.

Louise is the Venturer Leader for the 5^th Mildura Scout Group. She has been a leader for 7 years. She is also the Assistant Producer for Sunraysia Gang Show.

Mildura Fruit Juices

Completed both primary and secondary schooling in Mildura, then commenced Bachelor Business in Mildura then deferred and after travelling around Rockhampton in 2002.  After 5 years in Queensland he moved back to Mildura to raise a family.  Joe has been at Lower Murray Water for 3 years and enjoys working within Human Resources and has previously worked at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE and other various private companies.

Joe has also completed Certificate IV Occupational Health and Safety and Assessment and Workplace Training.

Joe was lucky enough to travel around Australia with his family at the age of 11 and enjoys listening to music, playing tennis and holidaying on the beach.

As he is moving to Mildura, Ben is looking for opportunities to be involved in local groups.

From Home, in her art/meditation studio & as a Meditation Facilitator & Health Coach at The Natural Choice Lime Avenue Mildura.

Jade was born in Mildura & was raised on citrus, vine & farm properties. Throughout primary school, Jade was on correspondence & school of the air. After high school in Mildura, Jade attended university where she has studied Science, Environmental Management/Agriculture, Tourism & Tour Guiding & Health Coaching.

She is an Artist who has won many awards for her work including the Mildura Rural City Council Acquisitive Prize of $3000 & has held exhibitions of her art in Mildura, Wentworth, Broken Hill & Burra. Jade also ran her own art gallery & café in Wentworth for 4.5 years. She has 3 children. She has a special interest in health, she loves to create art, garden, cook, sing, socialise with friends, walk, run, do yoga & karate. Jade & her partner are planning on opening a real estate business in 2016 in Wentworth & she likes to invest in property.

Jade is a befriender with the Mallee Family Care Befriending Program.   She facilitates meditation classes to workplaces, schools & groups.

Mallee District Aboriginal Services – Manager Cultural Support

Ada works at Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) and has done so for almost 10 years in various roles within the organisation.  Ada has assisted in the planning and implementation of various community building events and partnerships including NAIDOC, MDAS community forums and the 2015 Reconciliation Action Plan with Mildura Rural City Council.

Ada is currently actively involved in a number of organisations in Mildura including the Mildura Rural City Council Aboriginal Action Committee, Mildura Base Hospital Community Advisory Board, Department of Justice LAJAC/RAJAC, Taskforce 1000, Loddon Mallee Aboriginal Reference Group, Northern Mallee Community Partnership Collective Impact.

Ada attended the Red Cliffs High School and has completed a Diploma in Community Education through RMIT in Melbourne, Certificate in Business Administration, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing & Management Training Course, RMIT- Basic Koori Counselling and DHS Child Protection and Youth Justice Professional Development Unit- Beginning Practice in Child Protection.

Ada considers housing, AOD (drug & alcohol), family violence and the lack of youth support and activities as being the main issues faced by this community. Ada believes that we need to work together as a community to tackle these problems holistically by engaging all cultures and community members to create change.

Health Information Management Association of Australia Limited and Mildura Base Hospital.

Formerly lived in Mildura, Red Cliffs, Diamond Creek, Hawthorn, Springvale – but only ever Victoria!

Sharon has a Degree in Applied Science in Medical Record Administration, now referred to as Health Information Management. Having been involved in the health sector for 30 years in management, consulting and health information management roles in Melbourne and Mildura, she is currently involved in both Health Information Management and teaching via distance education.

Sharon relocated to Red Cliffs from Melbourne in 1990 when her husband accepted a role with Lindemans Wines. So began her journey of understanding the dynamics of a small rural town and the industries that underpin it. As a mother whose focus was raising three happy, well-adjusted and resilient children she discovered that with that focus came a sense of belonging to her community and the sense of reward that contributing brings. Sharon also has experience in developing and managing family vineyards, witnessing the industry from both a grower and commercial perspective. Her involvement in both the health sector and horticulture has given her insight into how intricately related the industries of the district are to the health and well-being of her community.

For the first time in 23 years, Sharon is not currently a member of a community organisation in a formal capacity. Through those 23 years Sharon has been involved in Sunraysia Volleyball and Red Cliffs Junior Football & Netball Club as a committee member and an actively involved parent, coach, umpire, catering assistant and team chauffeur; Team Leader and primary facilitator of Red Cliffs recreation user groups to formulate and present a case plan to MRCC for the construction of netball courts and facilities at Quandong Reserve in the projected 10 year period, including sourcing funding to enable construction; Red Cliffs Netball Association committee person and team coach; Chair and Board member of St. Joseph’s Primary School, Red Cliffs 2005-2009 and member/President of the Parents and Friends Association from 1997- 2009. President Red Cliffs Kindergarten 1999 & Committee member 1997, 2004-2005; Member and President of Red Cliffs Play Group 1993 – 2005; Committee Member Red Cliffs Toy Library; member & Treasurer of Red Cliffs Uniting Church.

Having engendered a sense of community in her children and enabled their active participation, Sharon now has the time to contribute her skills and energy into new and different areas