About Us

Democratic Principles
Community College Gippsland and ECG College support and promote the democratic principles on which Australian society is based. Our commitment to cultural diversity and respect for individuality means that we are also committed to freedom of religion, freedom of speech and association, the values of openness and tolerance and the equality of rights before the law. We recognise that these freedoms and rights derive from a democratically elected government and a commitment to the rule of law. We aim to integrate these principles into all our programs and services within our organisation.

Community College Gippsland is Gippsland’s own not for profit Registered Training Organisation, operating from ten locations across Gippsland and South East Melbourne. It is a rapidly growing organisation committed to providing locally based high quality learning opportunities in partnership with industry and the community.

Community College Gippsland provides over 110 courses ranging from Certificate II through to Advanced Diploma level courses in Management, HR, Project Management, Business, Financial Services, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Agriculture, Aged Care, Children’s Services, Disability Services, Youth Work, Education Support, Hair, Beauty, Retail, IT and Hospitality training. Community College Gippsland is highly committed to providing opportunities for adults and young people to develop their literacy, numeracy and communication skills and provides intensive supports for people who may have a disability to transition successfully into employment.

It is Community College Gippsland’s Mission:
to build resourceful communities through skills and knowledge development

and Vision:
To be a recognised leader in skill and knowledge development that delivers for individuals, communities and industries in constantly changing environments.

Community College Gippsland works in partnership with business, industries, communities, families, individuals and governments to find and realise opportunities to deliver our mission and vision.

Community College Gippsland is a not for profit community managed organisation that is structured as a Company Limited By Guarantee.
Community College Gippsland is governed by a Board of Directors, who as individuals and as a Board, are committed to providing opportunities for the growth and development of learning. The Board meets monthly.

Board Members

Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer profiles

Board membership as at January 2012 is:

Cheryl Glowrey - [CHAIR]

B.A., Grad.Dip.Ed., Grad. Dip (Read. & Lang), M.Litt. (Aust. Hist), M.Ed.

Cheryl is Principal of South Gippsland Secondary College. Cheryl is currently undertaking PhD studies in environmental history and has published a book on the history of Snake Island in Corner Inlet, Gippsland. Cheryl has completed a period as a member of the Board of the Victorian Qualifications Authority (VQA). She is a member of the Gippsland Adult Community and Further Education Regional Council.

Cheryl is a member of the Rotary Club of Foster and the Foster and District Historical Society.

Cheryl joined the Board in 2001 and was elected Chairperson in 2004.

Graham Paynter AM

Graham has been involved in dairy farming for over 45 years. Graham has held the positions of Chair, Rural Training Council of Australia, National Industry Steering Committee and Primary Skills Victoria as well as being a panel member for the Kirby Review. Graham is a former member of Gippsland Regional Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) Council, Farm Innovation Council, Council for Standards in Agri. Industry, National Farmers Federation Agri. Industry Promotion Group and former Chair of the Fairview Village Board.

Graham joined the Board in 2003.

Peter Campbell

B.Sc., Dip.Ed. Dip. Ed. Admin.

Peter is currently Head of Senior School at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar. He was formerly a Secondary School Teacher, Deputy Principal and then Principal (Warragul High School) and Assistant Principal (Warragul Regional College). Peter’s key interests are in Finance, Marketing and Adult Education.

Peter joined the Board in 1988 and was Chair from 1990 - 1992. Peter was granted Life Membership in 1998.

Jenny Carmichael

Jenny is Westpac Bank Senior Relationship Manager for the Gippsland area and has been involved in the Financial Services Industry for over 30 years. Jenny has been posted at Warragul since 1993 and specialises in Commercial & Rural Business. Jenny is very well networked into the Gippsland Region.

Jenny joined the Board in 2000.

Mavis Gallienne, AO

Mavis brings to the Board a wealth of experience and knowledge of the aged care and disability sector, working with volunteers and staff as well as management and board governance. Mavis is currently on the Board of Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria and has previous experience as a board member in the not for profit sector at local, state, national and international levels. Mavis received her AO in recognition for her work to establish services for people with Motor Neurone Disease. Mavis is a past Service Director for Vision Australia Foundation, Gippsland.

Mavis joined the Board in 2000.

Julia (Julie) Ettery

B.A. (Psychology & Humanities), B. Social & Community Welfare, T.P.T.C

Julie was originally a Primary Teacher but has spent most of her adult life as a dairy/beef farmer. She is a past Branch Secretary of United Dairy Famers Victoria (UDV) and member of school councils at Seaview, Hallston and Mirboo North. Julie has served for several years on the State Board of VICCSO and for a year as their representative on the Country Ed Project. Julie is also a volunteer with Lifeline and CFA. Heavily involved in community development and local newsletter. Currently working in the welfare field.

Julie joined the Board in 2006.

Des Williams

Dip. Agriculture Science
Post Grad. Assessment and Evaluation

Des is currently the Community Relationship Manager Gippsland for the Victoria Department of Primary Industries. He has a 30 year background in the agriculture sector which has included two years overseas and has extensive experience in organisational management and development. In his various roles in Government, Des has operated at both corporate and operational levels within Government and has been involved in career development projects such as mentoring and leadership programs for young scientists. Des was previously Centre Leader for the Department’s Ellinbank facilities.

A long standing resident of Warragul, Des has been a member of various Warragul community organisations and has a broad knowledge of agriculture across the Gippsland region.

Des joined the Board in 2007.

Kim Rielly

Kim is a Senior Relationship Manager for BankWest Gippsland and has been involved in the Financial Services Industry for 23 years.

Kim has been posted at BankWest Traralgon for the last three years where she specialises in Commercial and Rural Business Banking and prior has worked in Gippsland since 1995.

Kim was co-opted to the Board in 2009.

Vivienne Helps

Bachelor of Arts (1977)
Graduate Diploma of Education (1978)

Vivienne is currently the Senior Marketing Consultant, International Marketing Students for Melbourne Institute of Technology. Vivienne has 14 years experience developing projects and marketing International students into the TAFE sector. Additionally, Vivienne has vast experience in consultancy and management within TAFE Institutes.

Vivienne joined the Board in 2010.

James (Jim) Pennell

With wife Jan, Jim moved to Sale from Melbourne in 1975 to take the photographer’s position at the Gippsland Times. In the mid 80s, after 20 years of photography, Jim and Jan began their life in retail. Together they established and operated a number of successful shops and boutiques.

Following his passion for the arts, Jim joined the art gallery committee which was instrumental in establishing Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale. He then joined the arts council which lead the community push for the theatre that launched as the Wellington Entertainment Centre. Jim was the secretary for both committees.

Jim is the secretary of the Sale Community Business Association, the local chamber of commerce, a position he has held since the organisation commenced in 1996.

From the late 80s, Jim has represented the arts community on the Adult Community Education Sale (ACES) committee. He was elected chair in 1993.

Jim joined the Board March 2011.

Lesley Hocken

Lesley is the first daughter of a family of nine, who lived in Black Rock. Lesley worked in the textile industry from the age of 13½ years.

Lesley and her husband Alf worked in Alf’s brothers butchery business, before moving to Cobram to work in an abattoir/butchery business. Following closure of business, Lesley and family purchased a Hotel in Briagalong which they operated for 12 ½ years.

On retiring from that adventure Lesley moved to Sale where she became the Receptionist/Switchboard operator at the Gippsland Base Hospital for 12½ years.

Upon retiring again, Lesley joined U3A (Sale) in 1999. Lesley then became programs coordinator for 5 years and secretary for 7 years.

Looking forward to what the future brings me.

Lesley joined the Board March 2011.

Elaine Cuthbertson

B. App. Sc.(RMIT); Grad.Dip. Environmental Hort.(Melbourne University); Cert 4 TAA (Gippstafe)

Elaine is a medical scientist, microbiologist and horticulturalist who has lived in the Drouin area for 35 years. She has worked both locally and in Melbourne, including 15 years at the Department of Primary Industry, Ellinbank.

As a vocational trainer she has worked for Gippstafe, Melbourne University and ECG College, teaching teenagers, young adults and mature-age students. She is also a voluntary literacy and numeracy tutor and has worked with local children and young adults for over 20 years.

Elaine’s family has long-held farming, quarrying and earthmoving business interests in Gippsland. She is also an ambassador for the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

Her passion is for quality education delivered locally.

Elaine joined the Board April 2011.

Paul Wilson – [Chief Executive Officer]

Paul is a New Zealand citizen who although born on the West Coast of the South Island grew up and was educated in Christchurch.

He had an interest in and eventually enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1973 as a radio electronics engineer. During his initial time in the Navy he completed trade, technician, and advanced technician training in electronics and computing areas. He undertook several overseas deployments on NZ navy ships and had a year of specialist training in England in 1979. In 1986 he accepted a commission as a Weapons Engineering Officer and following advanced officer training in this field in England in 1988 he spent two years at Auckland University completing a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering with 1st Class Honours in 1991.

In 1993 Paul left the Navy to commence his career in tertiary level engineering education at Auckland University of Technology for 5 years, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology for 8 years, and then 5 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Tai Poutini Polytechnic based in his birth town of Greymouth on the West Coast.

During this period of time as a professional educator and manager Paul gained his Chartered Professional Engineer status with the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) and become very active in the registration and education areas for IPENZ as a volunteer. Paul undertook several extended periods for IPENZ as Chair of both the Competency Assessment Board and the Standards and Accreditation Board; undertook local and overseas accreditation reviews as panel leader; was elected to a Fellowship of IPENZ in 2004; and in 2010 was awarded the Fulton Downer IPENZ Presidents Gold Medal Award for his contribution to engineering registration and education.

Paul commenced employment 23 January 2012.