The Board (Trust)
Marg Lewis – Trust Chair
Marg is the new chair of the board as of 1st September 2020. Marg was appointed to the board in July 2018 and has been a member of the Finance Committee.
Marg Lewis - Trust Chair
Marg is the new chair of the board as of 1st September 2020. Marg was appointed to the board in July 2018 and has been a member of the Finance Committee.
Marg’s professional career was as a teacher and principal in the Loddon Mallee region for 35 years. Throughout her career she was a strong advocate for children from rural areas and children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. For many years Marg was involved in the organisation of the students with disabilities program across the region. Marg was a foundation member of the Goldfields Local Learning & Employment Network and is currently the deputy Chair of the GLLEN.
Marg was an active union member during her teaching career, as a union rep in schools where she taught, as an Australian Education Union State Councillor and as an AEU delegate on Bendigo Trades Hall Council.
During her working career Marg also raised three children as a single parent and was an active participant in numerous community groups and organisations in the Mount Alexander Shire and regionally.
In the early 1990’s Marg became a life member of a Class B Cemetery Trust where she has been the Chair for many years. She has an interest in the historical aspects of cemeteries, particularly our local goldfields cemeteries. Marg’s interest in family history has led her to visit cemeteries across Victoria, interstate and overseas and expanded her knowledge in governance and community involvement across the cemetery sector.
After retiring from her career in education, Marg had the privilege of being appointed as a member of the Victorian Legislative Council in 2014.
Marg has continued her community involvement locally as a member of groups such as her local Landcare and on the Board of Castlemaine Health, and statewide as a member of the Adult, Community and Further Education Board and as a member of a Department of Agriculture Reference Group on sustainable animal industries.
Natalie Stanway – Deputy Chair
Natalie has over 25 years’ experience in banking and finance which has allowed her to create and foster strong connections within the Greater Bendigo business community.
Natalie Stanway - Deputy Chair
Natalie has over 25 years’ experience in banking and finance which has allowed her to create and foster strong connections within the Greater Bendigo business community.
A committed volunteer emergency responder with qualifications in emergency management, Natalie currently works in the social sector, engaging stakeholders to facilitate care for older persons, and has served on the Bendigo Health Community Advisory Committee since the beginning of 2019.
Natalie’s family has a long history in the Bendigo area, with Junortoun named after one of her ancestors, and she is an active member of the Strathfieldsaye community.
Mark Gibson JP
Mark has worked in the health and community service sectors, in a variety of roles over the past 30 years. Mark has served as a Director on a variety of Boards and Committees
Mark Gibson JP
Mark has worked in the health and community service sectors, in a variety of roles over the past 30 years.
Mark has served as a Director on a variety of Boards and Committees within the Victorian health sector, with sporting clubs, animal welfare agencies and on a Ministerial Advisory Committee.
Mark is an active Justice of the Peace, a Member of Bendigo Health’s Community Advisory Committee, a Member of the Bendio Historical Society and a Member of the Australian Institute of Community Directors.
Mark holds formal qualifications in Human Resource Management, Community Services Work and Financial Counselling.
He has a strong interest in heritage matters and a number of his ancestors are buried in Bendigo Remembrance Park.
Marissa Hewitt
Marissa served on her first Board 14 years ago, and to the RPCV Board, she brings her wealth of knowledge in governance, financial management.
Marissa Hewitt
Marissa served on her first Board 14 years ago, and to the RPCV Board, she brings her wealth of knowledge in governance, financial management and her experience working for international blue-chip organisations as well as private consulting.
A Chartered Accountant, Marissa holds a Masters of Supply Chain Management, Bachelor of Commerce, a number of project management qualifications and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
With her heart in Central Victoria, Marissa’s long term aims for RPCV are to ensure the loved ones at our remembrance parks are looked after well into a sustainable future.
Madeleine Laming
Madeleine is an experienced board member with expertise in governance and strategic planning. She has been a member of the Board and Regional Councils
Madeleine Laming
Madeleine is an experienced board member with expertise in governance and strategic planning. She has been a member of the Board and Regional Councils within the Victorian adult, community and further education sectors, and a Director of a range of community and not-for-profit organisations in the areas of human rights education and the prevention of family violence. Madeleine’s professional career was as a teacher and academic in Zimbabwe, Victoria, and Western Australia. She is Deputy Chair of the Kilmore Cemetery Trust and an active Justice of the Peace.
Graeme Robertson
Graeme has been a resident of Bendigo for over 30 years. During that time, he has undertaken a range of roles within the Victorian Education Department
Graeme Robertson
Graeme has been a resident of Bendigo for over 30 years. During that time, he has undertaken a range of roles within the Victorian Education Department both in regional Victoria and in the central office. Many of these roles had a strong focus on resource allocation and management, strategic planning and policy development. Graeme played a key role in the development and implementation of the Bendigo Education Plan which transformed secondary education in Bendigo. An important part of the roles he has fulfilled has been the development of strong and positive relationships with communities across the north western sector of the state.
In more recent times, Graeme has played a key role in the development of the Committee 4 Rochester and the implementation of some key community projects including the Rochester Mural Festival, an event that has become an annual feature of the town.
Dr Dean Shirley
Dean was a principal of colleges in Central Victoria, and then a senior officer within the Department of Education & Training supporting regional principals. Before retirement, Dean was the Senior Community Liaison Manager for the Department in North-Western Victoria.
Holding a doctorate in the Sociology of Organisations, Dean has a particular interest in the analysis of organisations, strategic planning and organisational change.
A founding board member of the charity Bendigo FoodShare and Deputy Chair of its board, Dean was also Chair of the board of Bendigo Uniting Care. He is currently Secretary of the Bendigo Central & Axedale Uniting Church. Dean is a member of the City of Greater Bendigo’s Community Assessment Panel which considers applications for Community Grants.
Dean regards it as a privilege to be associated with RPCV, which serves the community of the present, while memorialising the community of the past.
Dr Dean Shirley
Dean was a principal of colleges in Central Victoria, and then a senior officer within the Department of Education & Training supporting regional principals. Before retirement, Dean was the Senior Community Liaison Manager for the Department in North-Western Victoria.
Holding a doctorate in the Sociology of Organisations, Dean has a particular interest in the analysis of organisations, strategic planning and organisational change.
A founding member of the charity Bendigo FoodShare and Deputy Chair of its board, Dean was also chair of the board of Bendigo Uniting Care. He is currently treasurer of St Andrew’s Uniting Church Bendigo-Axedale. In 2019, Dean was appointed by the City of Greater Bendigo to the Community Assessment Panel which considers applications for Community Grants.
Dean regards it as a privilege to be associated with RPCV, which serves with compassion the community of the present, while memorialising the community of the past.
Victor Hamit
B.Ec (Acc) LLB FAICD CTA.
Victor is a commercial lawyer and Principal Director of Wentworth Lawyers Pty Ltd, providing practical commercial advice to NFP’s SME’s and publicly listed companies. Victor is recognised as one of Australia’s most experienced tax advisers to the NFP community clubs movement, having advised clubs from local community clubs to major professional league clubs.
He also advises major peak bodies on taxation issues and submissions to government, Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office. Victor also has extensive experience as a Director and Chair of For Profit and NFP organisations. He is also the author of over 250 articles, presentations and webinars on taxation, governance and NFP organisations.
Dr Dean Shirley
Dean was a principal of colleges in Central Victoria, and then a senior officer within the Department of Education & Training supporting regional principals. Before retirement, Dean was the Senior Community Liaison Manager for the Department in North-Western Victoria.
Holding a doctorate in the Sociology of Organisations, Dean has a particular interest in the analysis of organisations, strategic planning and organisational change.
A founding member of the charity Bendigo FoodShare and Deputy Chair of its board, Dean was also chair of the board of Bendigo Uniting Care. He is currently treasurer of St Andrew’s Uniting Church Bendigo-Axedale. In 2019, Dean was appointed by the City of Greater Bendigo to the Community Assessment Panel which considers applications for Community Grants.
Dean regards it as a privilege to be associated with RPCV, which serves with compassion the community of the present, while memorialising the community of the past.
Mandy Cooper
Mandy is an experienced senior manager with over 30 years’ working in local government, tourism, IT & telecommunications sectors in Bendigo. For the last decade she has worked at the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank as CEO of the Australian Friendly Society which provides the opportunity to work with the funeral industry.
Mandy holds a Bachelor Business (Accounting), is a member of CPA and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mandy joined the Board in late 2020 and brings a wide breadth of management experience in various disciplines, along with over 25 years of engagement and reporting to various not-for-profit, community, listed and regulated Boards. Mandy is also Vice President of the Friendly Society industry association.
With a keen interest in giving back to her community that has been her home for almost 40 years, she has held a number of volunteer roles in various Bendigo organisations and is currently treasurer of the Bendigo Youth Choir and committee member of Women in Figures.
It is important to make the passing of a those you care about as easy as possible for those left behind, and Mandy believes RPCV has a key role to play in assisting this.
Dr Dean Shirley
Dean was a principal of colleges in Central Victoria, and then a senior officer within the Department of Education & Training supporting regional principals. Before retirement, Dean was the Senior Community Liaison Manager for the Department in North-Western Victoria.
Holding a doctorate in the Sociology of Organisations, Dean has a particular interest in the analysis of organisations, strategic planning and organisational change.
A founding member of the charity Bendigo FoodShare and Deputy Chair of its board, Dean was also chair of the board of Bendigo Uniting Care. He is currently treasurer of St Andrew’s Uniting Church Bendigo-Axedale. In 2019, Dean was appointed by the City of Greater Bendigo to the Community Assessment Panel which considers applications for Community Grants.
Dean regards it as a privilege to be associated with RPCV, which serves with compassion the community of the present, while memorialising the community of the past.