Geoff Bowyer new chair of Bendigo Community Health Services board

The Beck Legal director replaces Peter Robertson who served on the board for more than seven years, with the last 12 months as chairman.

Mr Bowyer said the importance of developing and empowering communities would drive his tenure as chairman.

“Born into a strongly migrant community on an orchard at Grahamvale, just outside Shepparton, I had welded into my soul the need to reach out and represent more vulnerable members of our community,” he said.

“In later years it has become abundantly self-evident to me that without your health then you have no wealth and that for a growing number of our community there is just a paucity of ‘on the ground’ health services which can assist and empower people to take control of their health and wellbeing.

“BCHS has been a quiet achiever in this area and I look forward to working with an excellent board and great staff to increase the range and depth of services and develop greater community awareness of BCHS as a fearless advocate in promoting and delivering innovative health and wellbeing solutions.”

Mr Bowyer congratulated Mr Robertson on his outstanding contribution to BCHS.

“His strong background in health services and is empathy for the needs of disadvantaged members of our community has been an important driver in pursuing BCHS achievement of its objectives,” he said.

“He was a caring and considerate chairman.”