After a decade of service, Grampians Community Health (GCH) has recognised the contribution of retiring board member Graham Parkes.
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Mr Parkes has decided to step down from the board and said he "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the board.
"I spent about 10 years on the Grampians Community Health board, I think I ran my course," he said.
"The board was really good to work with, a very dedicated board.
"They work really well together; we complemented each other and brought different skills to the table.
"I learnt a lot along the way too."
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Mr Parkes worked in National Park management for 43 years until retiring in 2016.
His last role was district manager of the South West District, which included Lower Glenelg, the Grampians, including the Ararat region and Little Desert National Parks.
He joined the GCH board through connections with the previous chair Margo Sietsma and former chief executive, Jill Miller.
"I understood it to be a great board and organisation doing terrific things across the region, he said.
"I thought it was a big contrast to the work I was doing at the time.
"It is a very progressive organisation that does excellent work across the district, it provided me an opportunity to contribute to that work."
Mr Parkes said that during his time at GCH, the board had had many successes, which gave him "a great deal of energy and pride".
"I think our new headquarters at Horsham was a real highlight because it consolidated our services into one building and provided a central focus in the middle of town," he said.
"We managed to work with continual changes in funding to the extent where the NDIS is now a major part of Grampians Community Health's operation. Seeing and implementing that change was very rewarding.
"I believe we have continued the sound financial operation of the organisation. As a result, Grampians Community Health continues to be in a strong financial position.
"The organisation's ability to provide quality services through COVID-19 has also been a massive success."
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Mr Parkes said that despite stepping down from the board, he would find no trouble keeping himself occupied.
"This coming year will be busy," he said.
"I am involved in a number of volunteer activities in Halls Gap that I am very keen to continue.
"I am involved with the Halls Gap Botanic Garden, which requires community input to maintain it.
"We have a small group helping Parks Victoria to maintain walking tracks in Grampians National Park, and I am very keen to maintain and increase my involvement in that group.
"I am also really looking forward to partaking in many family activities as well."
Mr Parkes said he is confident he has left GCH in good hands.
"I look forward to maintaining contact at GCH because they have great staff," he said.
"I also want to wish the current chair Melissa Morris and CEO Greg Little and Grampians Community Health lots of success."
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