BCH welcomes John Lesser to the Board.

John has previously sat as a Board member on several local organisations over many years, including Barwon Coast Committee of Management (8.5 years), Queenscliff Music Festival (5 years) and the Ocean Grove Primary School (5+ years, including as Chair).

Professionally, John has more than 35 years experience sitting as a legal decision maker on Victorian and Commonwealth government tribunals, and the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, from which he retired in 2019.

John is currently a Reserve Magistrate, working sessionally, which will gives him more time to devote to community engagement activities in the future.

John has had a long term interest and experience in health, disability and community issues, particularly mental health, as a result of sitting on the Veterans Review Board for 10 years, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal for 6 years and the Mental Health Review Board for 16 years (9 as full-time President).

He is looking forward to being able to make a contribution to Bellarine Community Health which he says is an invaluable service provider to the local Bellarine community.