Since moving to Kalgoorlie with a young family in 2008 I have met a number of fabulous women that made the transition for me and my family so much easier than it might have been!  Now, it is my time to give something back to the community that has embraced us.

Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre provides services to women, by women and is an organisation I would love to help grow and diversify, ensuring that women in the Goldfields have access to a broad range of quality health services.

With a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Laws, I have a strong human resources and industrial relations consultancy background, spending many years working for membership based associations including the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of WA as well as local and state government organisations.  Most recently, I have been with the Australian Mines and Metals Association, engaged by a number of companies in the Goldfields to assist, in particular, with equal opportunity matters, recruitment and termination, and leadership skills development.
 

I am fortunate to have been elected President of a Board made up of women from diverse backgrounds with a range of skills and experiences that will contribute greatly to the management and growth of the GWHCC.

I am excited to have the opportunity to lead this organisation through a period of change and revitilisation.


 

I've called Kalgoorlie Boulder home for 6 years now.  I met my husband here and we have 3 beautiful children together.  I'm currently a stay at home mother with a background in local government.

I've had the pleasure of being on the Board of Management with the GWHCC since September 2011.  During this time the centre has undertaken some amazing transformations both cosmetically and in operations.  It's with great pleasure that I can continue on a Vice President this year and look forward to being committed to womens health in our community.

I would like to welcome this years new board of management to the centre for what I'm sure will be a busy, challenging and very rewarding year.
    

I joined the Board because I am passionate about women’s issues and I think Women’s Health can play and important role in advocating for Women in the Goldfields.  I took on the role of Secretary in 2011.

I have lived in Kalgoorlie-Boulder after arriving from New Zealand with three children in 1996 and have been involved in many local community organisations and events since that time.  I was the Domestic and Family Violence Coordinator based at Goldfields Womens Health from 1999 to 2005.  I was also a volunteer for the Sexual Assault Resource Centre 24 hr support service for several years during this time and was on the board of the Goldfields Women's Refuge.  In 2005 I began work with the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission based in Leonora for three years before returning to Kalgoorlie-Boulder in 2008.  I have been involved in grant writing, training and assessment of grants over this time.  So my community development focus is broad.

Our family enjoy the Goldfields and have benefited significantly from moving here, and I personally love the weather, the people and the land!

I have lived in the Goldfields for nearly 20 years and as a women in her forties I have gone through many changes in life both personally and health wise.  During this period I have utilised the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre in many ways.

With two daughters, many female friends and relatives who also can and or do benefit from the centre, I wanted to give something back and have become a committee member.  I hope to assist in growing the centre and add some support to the fantastic staff.
 

I am originally from Canada and have lived in Australia for over 10 years.  I moved to the Goldfields with my husband five years ago and I now have a beautiful four year old boy.

I have over ten years grants experience working for the Queensland Government, Pricewater Coopers, the Eastern Goldfields YMCA and, I am currently employed as the Senior Grants Officer at the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission.  In this role, I provide grants advice to a large number of community groups throughout the Goldfields-Esperance region but particularly in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder area.

In 2011, I started a support group fro parents who lose children (from miscarriage to age 12 years old) at the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre after identifying that there was a large gap in the health services available in Kalgoorlie-Boulder for grieving parents.  With the support of the GWHCC, this program is now held in high regard by medical professionals and parents in the community.  Working with the GWHCC staff in the development of this program gave me a good overview of the centre and what it is trying to achieve in the community.

I was motivated to join the Board because of the positive impact the Centre has had on my life and I am keen to ensure that it continues to make a positive impact in the community.

My name is Jo Russell, I have been a resident of Kalgoorlie for 40 years, and love the Goldfields community. I am married to John, and we have three children.  Daniel is 23 and has autism, Michael is 21 and neurotypical and Megan is 8 and has autism, epilepsy and language delay.

 Until recently, I was an RN and have worked in a variety of different roles over the years.  I have been heavily involved in the disability sector for 20 years now, promoting inclusion and acceptance of diversity and difference.

I decided to join the Board of GWHCC as I admire the work that has been done over the years, and the growth the organisation has achieved in providing such an essential service to the women of the Goldfields. 

As my daughter approaches her teenage years, I will need to deal with the situation of a young women with a disability and all the implications that come with it. My aim is to achieve optimal outcomes for those women that do not have a voice, or are at risk of being marginalized by their disability.  I believe that this is an area to women's health, well being and sexuality that is not explored as often as it should be,  In essence, I look forward to participating as a Board member, to see even more growth and development of GWHCC in addressing to needs of all Goldfields Women.

Congratulations to past Board members on your outstanding work and contribution.  I look forward to the future.
 

My name is Sharon Jessett and I recently turned 44 years young.  I have four inspirational sons; David -19, Phillip -17, Nathan-14 and Nicholas-11 and have resided in Kalgoorlie-Boulder since October 2004.  I commenced employment with the Department of Indigenous Affairs in June 2011 and am the Senior Project and Land Office, previously having worked for the Department of Sport and Recreation since 2006.

I am passionate about women's health and the education of women's issues across the board.  I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in January 2008 and underwent 18 months of treatment including Chemo, Herceptin and Radiation treatment.  I am still continuing that journey with a double mastectomy planned for 2013 as my mothe was diagnosed early this year with her second bout of Breast Cancer and I was already high risk.
 

Organisations such as the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre are an Invaluable resource to all women and their families to provide information, education and sometimes just a friendly ear and I feel privileged to have been accepted onto the Board with such a dynamic, wonderful group of women.  I look forward to contributing back to the Goldfields community and hope that my experiences and knowledge can assist others in their journey through womanhood.
 

My name is Melanie Rule and I am the youngest of the board members at 23 years young.  I am the daughter of local business woman and fellow board member Jenny Schaffer and I have a sister, Peta who is 20.

I was born in Port Headland but have lived in Kalgoorlie the majority of my life.  I graduated from Eastern Goldfields College and have completed my apprenticeship in Hairdressing.  I am currently working at Ahead of Time after recently moved back to Kalgoorlie, after spending two and a half years in Perth.

I became involved with the GWHCC to create a link between younger, middle aged and mature aged women of the Goldfields.


 

I have been with my husband for 28 years, married for 10 of those years, have three children, Lincoln 25 years, Rhys 23 years and Shae 18 years.  My husband, daughter and myself have been in Kalgoorlie only since February 2012, our sons have been here for 6 years and three years respectively.  Our reasoning to move here was to be closer to our sons and for our daughter to rebuild her relationships with her brothers after living apart for so long.  We also have another 18 year girls living with us, my daughters BFF since primary school, so it has been an interesting exciting and busy time within the household....and I must say given the dynamics, we are all getting on extremely well.

We originally lived, in what was a small rural fishing/farming village in Tweed Villey: Kingscliff on the border of QLD and NSW where we have an enormous family group and of course many friends.  I was very involved in community/school events organising and assisting fetes, concert fundraisers, tuckshop etc and being president for many years on the school boards.

We bought a 65 acre property appox 12 years ago at Baffle Creek, Qld, where we eventually moved to 6 years ago.  I resumed work whilst at Baffle Creek as an Aboriginal Teachers Aid, having previously completed an Aboriginal Education Cert 111 at TAFE in 2005.  I was employed at both the local Primary School and the High School, eventually full time employment at the High School as a Teachers Aid.  My time there was fantastic, I enjoyed the daily contact with the students and was great to see their abilities grow; also given my daughter attended the same school and I was privy to her friendship group.

I then went on to be employed with Churches of Christ Care-Pathways in Bundaberg as a youth worker, then  Fostering Case Worker for a period of 5 years.  I thoroughly enjoyed my job with Pathways, as I worked with carers to support their children in their care with their behavioral/sexual/neglect/abuse issues.  I worked mostly with women, and we formed an extremely strong bond with most, that continues today.  Whilst working full time in a stressful/emotionally draining occupation, I attained my Bachelor of Human Services Degree, with double major in Councelling and Child and Family. Looking back, goodness knows how I ever did it!! Actually I do know, pure stubboness..if a women wants something she usually works hard until she gets it :)

We moved to Kalgoorlie, I began employment with the Sexual Abuse Resource Centre, the catalyst for applying for this position was I had vast experience in children and adults with sexual abuse trauma, also I had done my Uni prac at Pheonix House Sexual Abuse Counselling Service.  I found this service to be such a vital part for the community, they counselled all ages, hence alot of children and women & men.  Whilst at Pheonix House I participated in the annual White Ribbon Day, where members of the community walked down the main street of Bundaberg in the evening with candles (the street is closed to traffic) for the sold purpose of awareness of womens safety within the community.  This event is well supported by organisations and many members of the general public.

So my reasoning for wishing to participate on the members for Women's Health is, as a woman, I think it is emperative that women have the support from specialised empathetic professionals, whether it is the receptionist, counsellor, coordinator, a passion for women's needs and a place where women feel safe is a vital part of any community.  We, at Kalgoorlie are very, very fortunate to have such a service, and people who are passionate about women's health.  I have very strong women in my life, my Aunties that I value their wisdom, I am very close to my two sisters, my mother, have many wonderful female friends and of course my beautiful daughter, which I thank everyday for them being in my life.  Hence, this is the primary reason for being on the committee, as I believe women have strong innate power to nurture and protect. the Goddess in us all is a powerful thing, occasionally we might get a bit "lost" and need guidance from other women to help us on our way again...... Goldfields Women's Health is just the place.