At the AGM, held on March 21, 2013 we said goodbye to two of our Board members, Bruch Brown and Jane Gibson, and welcomed two new faces, John Damrow and Lisa Thomas.

Below is a list of the new Board for the next year. If you would like to participate on the Woodend Neiohbourhood House Board then please call Jill Scanlon, Coordinator, on 5427 1845 to find out more information.

Janet Pearce is the Chairperson of the WNH committee – for the third year!  She’s been involved since 2009.  She moved to Woodend with her family in 2000 after working and travelling abroad for 10 years.  She’s always been struck by the strong, supportive, friendly community feeling in Woodend.  Previous committees have included Woodend playgroup and Toy Library.  She believes that as WNH is part of a Hub and that it’s very important to encourage work and support between groups. We always hope to engage and support all of the community.  She’s also a participant in the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Programme for 2013, which she’d highly recommend to all.

Yael Morris is the WNH Secretary, but is also a trained music and dance teacher.  She’s been a professional community worker for over 20 years, initially in Port Melbourne then with migrant elderly with the Migrant Resource Centre.  Before having children, she moved into the field of Women's Health. Afterwards, she continued to work locally as a community worker. She’s been involved in community activities since her teens and believes centres like Neighbourhood Houses should be pivotal for community, as space where ideas can be developed into community assets both intellectual & physical.  She’s been involved with WNH for five years.

Diane Dobson’s ancestors came to Hesket and bought land in 1844, paving the way for her return!  Born and bred in Hesket, she moved to the city to get work but moved back a few years ago. After hearing a Treasurer was needed, in 2012 she brought her Cert IV in Finance Services (Accounting) skills to the committee.  She’s raised two kids, who have now provided her with four grandchildren.

Lisa Richards is the WNH Volunteer Coordinator and is a People Person!  She moved to Woodend in 2008 with her husband and year-old daughter. They now have two girls and as a family have become connected to the Woodend Community through many outlets. She gets great satisfaction from singing with the Pollyphonics Choir; shopping at the Farmer’s Market; engaging with her fellow book group members; running with the Macedon Ranges Running Club and volunteering at the Neighbourhood House.  Her background is predominantly in the Arts sector, having a degree in Art History from the University of Manchester and several years of post-graduate study at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London and the University of Melbourne. Her areas of special interest are South African art under apartheid and art from Zimbabwe.

In his homeland Germany, Hubert Weisrock was very much involved in organizing youth groups, camps and bike tours. His 25 years as technical officer on all types of mercantile and passenger ships took him many times around the world.  In September 1991, while still working full time on ships, he started together with his wife Anna, to build a mud brick house in Woodend and having no experience in gardening, joined the Woodend Garden Club in 1992.  After his retirement in 2002 he enrolled in computer classes at the then Woodend Neighbourhood Centre. When his teacher realized his abilities in explaining digital photography she suggested that he give classes in the subject at the WNC which commenced end of 2005 and has continued ever since. Soon after starting his first class he also was asked to join the WNH Committee where he is still active today.  He also volunteered when there was a need for a handy man, helped to organize a walking group, soon to be revived, and is still leading a small cycling group.  His aim is winning new participants for both these groups and for that reason he is in close contact with the Macedon Ranges Healthy and Active People Initiative.

Dr Manisha Fernando

Board member

Lisa Thomas

Board member

John Damrow

Board member