The West Wimmera Health Service chief executive retired earlier this month after a career that spanned more than five decades. 

John’s time with the health service started in 1965, when he was looking for work. 

“I had been unsettled in my employment ambitious for the future,” he said.

“I had worked at a bank, a plastic factory and a stock agency before I started at the hospital.

“I had finished up at a trustee company at Ballarat, which was good training for me.”

John studied accounting and when the job came up at the hospital, he immediately applied for it.

He started work as secretary of the Nhill Hospital on January 4, 1965. 

John said the role was a way for him to return to his roots.

“I went to school in Nhill, so it was virtually my home, even thought I was born in Donald,” he said.

When he started his position, he had no idea that he would still be there almost 53 years later.

John is the longest ever serving chief executive of a Victorian health service.

“I had never worked at a health service in my life until that point,” he said.

“I had no idea if I would succeed or not.

“But I was ambitious, and the history now speaks for itself.”

John said when he first started, it was usual for people to change jobs and move onto other things.

“But I stayed in Nhill,” he said.

Instead, John moved with the times.

“I got a Diploma in Health Service Management and a Masters in Health Administration,” he said.

“This gave me excellent qualification to move to the future.”

Over the years, there were many changes at the hospital as it turned into West Wimmera Health Care Group in 1995.

John said the amalgamation of Nhill, Rainbow, Jeparit, Kaniva and Natimuk hospitals created a health service of greater magnitude.

“It brought opportunities that working in a regional city hospital might not have otherwise presented,” he said.

However, John said the amalgamations were challenging times.

“There were small places like Rainbow and Kaniva that were struggling to survive under the financial strain and changes,” he said.

“Some of the small hospitals were in the bush nursing system.

“People in these towns had strong feelings for their own communities and wanted to maintain a health service and a doctor.

“These hospitals became supported by the community at large and we were able to achieve what is now in place.

“More recently, we embraced the Dunmunkle Health Service as well, which involved Rupanyup, Minyip and Murtoa.”

John was appointed the chief executive of the new service with Dunmunkle in July 2016.

He said he had many highlights over his 53-year career.

“Every achievement was a highlight,” he said.

“Personally, I advanced my own career by becoming involved in the Victorian Hospitals’ Association.

“I was initially in its divisional council for rural hospitals, but I eventually became chairman of that organisations, which embraced hospitals through Victoria.”

John was vice-chairman and inaugural member of the Victorian Health Industrial Association and was chairman of the Australian Hospitals Association.

“More recently, I was on the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards,” he said.

“I was also chairman of the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards International, which meant I had exposure to health issues in the middle east and Hong Kong. 

He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Director.

”Every one of those associations was a highlight,” he said.

John said he also enjoyed helping people work in the health care industry.

“I was able to assist people coming into the industry and help them extend their education and qualifications,” he said.

“This also helped create a superior health service.”

John describes his career as a marvellous experience.

“From being an unsettled boy to a man of maturity, I am very grateful for the opportunities that I have been afforded,” he said.

“I am now gracefully retiring.

“However, I couldn’t have done it on my own and I had extensive support and help from many health professionals, right up until my retirement. 

“I admire them all and wish them well.

“I thank them all sincerely for the support they have given me and the contributions we have been able to make to West Wimmera Health Service and the Nhill community particularly.”

John said he didn’t have any set plans for his retirement.

“It’s still early days, but I’m finding it difficult to settle down,” he said.

“I’ve already picked up two consultancies, which are part time and will give me an opportunity to stimulate my thinking, and my desire to be active. 

“I will also look at travelling – I have an interest in South Australia and I might even move there eventually.”