Board Chair Retires
2 July 2008
Western District Health Service President of the Board of Directors Mr. Richard Walter has retired from the role and as a member of the Health Service Board from 30 June 2008.
Mr. Walter was initially appointed as the Administrator of 
Hamilton Base Hospital in December 1995 until the formation of the new Board in July 1997. Mr. Walter was inaugural President of the Western District Health Service Board when it was formed in July 1998.
After 12 ½ years at the helm Mr. Walter said “he felt it was time for a change particularly as he was now living in Port Fairy”.
Mr, Walter said “he enjoyed every minute of his time with Western District Health Service and was fortunate to have had outstanding Board Members, Chief Executive Officers and other senior Executive Staff to work with”.
“It has been a privilege to be part of such an effective health service and rewarding to know that the community so strongly supports the range and quality of healthcare we offer. I shall miss the regular contact with my many friends within the service”.
Chief Executive Officer Mr. Jim Fletcher paid tribute to Mr. Walter’s outstanding leadership and guidance over the past 12 ½ years. Mr, Fletcher said “Western District Health Service is a vastly different Health Service today from the one that Mr. Walter came into as Administrator in 1995. At that time the community was justifiably concerned about the future of the Health Service as there were serious doubts about its viability as a referral centre. Staff morale was also at a low ebb following the resignation of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at the time”.
“Today the Health Service is considered to be a leading Sub Regional centre evidenced by its recent naming as the 2007 Regional Health Service of the Year.”
“Under Mr. Walter’s stewardship there had been many developments including the amalgamation of Hamilton Base Hospital, the Grange Hostel, Penshurst Health Service, Southern Grampians Community Health Centre, Coleraine District Health Service and YouthBiz to form Western District Health Service as a single provider for the Southern Grampians Shire”.
“The building redevelopment of Hamilton Base Hospital, Grange, Frances Hewett Community Centre and the Birches were major projects modernising facilities to improve the quality of care provided to our community. Mr. Walter has also been a great supporter of the many innovative and progressive programs introduced at Western District Health Service”.
Mr. Fletcher said “being a Board Member requires significant commitment and being President even more of which Richard had given 100% plus over 12 ½ years. It should be remembered that being a Board Member is strictly a volunteer position and in a complex organisation like a Health Service requires members to dedicate countless hours”.
As a result of Mr. Walter’s retirement the Governor in Council had appointed Mr. Peter Duffy to the Board from 1 July, and current members Mr. Ron Jones and Ms Elizabeth Lawrence were also reappointed.