FURNER farmer Gwenda Lawlor believes her financial acumen and broad experience in local government, health administration and regional development puts her in good stead on the board of Millicent not-for-profit organisation Boneham Aged Care Services.
Ms Lawlor told The South Eastern Times she was approached to join the BACS board.
“After consideration I put my name forward and I was appointed for a three-year term,” Ms Lawlor said
“After serving on Beachport District Council for six years and Wattle Range Council for 15 years, I feel I am able to listen to the community, evaluate situations and work with others to represent their views.
“Millicent would be lost without this wonderful facility.
“The district needs to fully support and embrace it”.
Ms Lawlor said she became interested in BACS through an aunt who was a resident of the facility.
“I would visit her every Friday morning and they were marvellous to her.
“I have visited other aged facilities and we are lucky to have BACS.
“If people have any concerns about BACS, I would direct them to the complaints system that we have in place.
“If they are not happy at the end of that process, they can come and talk to me.
“Regarding the pharmaceuticals needs of BACS residents, they are entitled to use the Millicent chemist.”
Ms Lawlor is a member of the Mount Gambier Health Advisory Council, having previously been a member of the Mount Gambier Hospital Board.
She started her career as a council representative on Kennion Ward with Beachport District Council in 1991.
Cr Lawlor served through to the amalgamation with the Penola and Millicent District Councils to form Wattle Range in 1997.
During this time, Cr Lawlor served as deputy chairman for two years and chairman for three.
After making an unsuccessful bid to become the inaugural Wattle Range Mayor, Ms Lawlor took a six-year break from local government.
She then spent 15 years as a Corcoran Ward representative from 2003-2018.
Ms Lawlor was a long-serving deputy chairperson of Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast.
Her involvement with regional development started as a member of the then Limestone Coast Regional Development Board in 1997.
