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Beth Ripper
Co-Project Officer for Maffra
/ Stratford
Beth Ripper, Stratford-Maffra, loves to colour her world
with art… My life at present revolves around caring for
my four year old grand daughter Tilly and working passionately
in several community organisations - as artistic director
of the Shakespeare on the River Festival and as project co-ordinator
of the Blackall Creek restoration project with the Avon Landcare
group.
Along with this I am attempting to market my home based business,
“Tranquil B&B” in Stratford. I have always had
an ability to see the “big picture” and that tends
to lead me to see the connections between “projects”
and consequently the endless potential for participation and
both personal and community development.
I tend to see the positive elements in situations before
I see the problems. I love working with others, I love research
and organisation, I love a good discussion and I love getting
down and getting mucky!
I have never been bored in my whole life. I love singing,
I love thinking and being creative, I love friends, I love
being a Willing Worker on Organic Farms (WWOOF) host, I love
growing my own food, I love living in the Stratford community
and I love living in my fabulous house.
I am part of the WwMB garden project in Stratford. This
project has a link to the Blackall Creek Avon Landcare vision
- “Blackall Dreaming” project. I was also active
in the Uniting Our Rural Communities Project - the building
of seats, two of which are located in the area being developed
as the WwMB contemplative sculpture garden in Stratford.
I also participated in the Moving the posts exhibition that
came about as a result of that group.
Beth Ripper is sharing the project officer job for Stratford-Maffra
group with Hilda Rhodes. Deb Milligan, who previously held
this position, has stood down for personal reasons but remains
project officer for Omeo and is actively involved in the
Maffra group.
Deb Milligan
Project Officer for Omeo.
 Deb
ran her own business for a few years in Stratford and worked
as a freelance designer and muralist until the birth of her
second child.
She is also a practicing artist and has
a firm belief in everyone’s innate creativity and a commitment
to encouraging its growth. Deb traveled extensively before
settling in Briagolong 10 years ago and now revels in the
strong and exciting community spirit found throughout the
whole region.
She is inspired by the vision for this
project and sees it as extremely valuable. She was involved
in one of the early focus groups and has watched its development
with interest.
Deb has a strong belief in the benefit of
projects such as the Women who Mean Business in that it empowers
individuals and it builds in strength and spirit of whole
communities
Kate Earle
Project Officer
for Orbost & District & Buchan & District
 Kate
was born in England of Irish parents who were married in Edinburgh
and settled in the Midlands in England.
Kate is an identical twin and has an older
brother and a younger brother and sister. Kate emigrated to
Australia in 1987 with her husband and three children to teach
at Nagle College in Bairnsdale.
The family settled in Bairnsdale and bought
a property near Marlo in Far East Gippsland where they farmed
ostriches and a number of goats.
Kate said, “while farming full time
I saw Peter McGauran, MLA for Gippsland, on television talking
about the 1998/99 leadership project – Uniting Our Rural
Communities – for rural women.
Kate became involved in helping the Orbost
and district women create the mosaic path at Forest Park in
Orbost and was involved in the formation of the “Women
of the Snowy River” movement.
Kate teaches one day a week at Orbost North
Primary School and is a Regional Councilor for Adult Community
and Further Education in the Gippsland Region.
Kate says she is excited about being involved
in this new project knowing that it has the potential to unite
Rural Women and develop their leadership skills and equip
them with the means to network and grow both as individuals
and as a group.
Tina Hambleton
Project Officer for Yarram &
District.
 Tina
Hambleton was born in England and moved to Australia with
her parents when she was nine years old. Tina grew up in Western
Australia on a dairy farm and apple orchard and then moved
to Perth to attend high school and university.
Tina has three children and five grandchildren.
Tina has gained a number of academic qualifications
including an Arts Degree- Majoring in Economics, a Librarian's
Certificate and a Diploma of Education. She has also had an
ongoing interest in farming having spent a number of years
involved in sheep farming in Gippsland.
She has worked extensively in both the public and private
sectors. Tina's work in the public sector has included: 24
years within the state education system, including teaching,
as an educational consultant; holding vice principal and principal's
positions at Kurnai College in the Latrobe Valley, and later,
at Warragul Regional College.
Tina has also been the Executive Officer
for a Division of General Practice in the Yarra Ranges and
for the South Gippsland Bass Coast Local Learning and Employment
Network. She is presently employed part time as the project
officer for the Alberton Project for Yarram and District.
Tina has made a significant contribution
to the community through her work as the president of the
Mirboo North Hospital Board where she presided over the important
transformation of the hospital into a hostel and nursing home.
Tina also contributed to the community through her valuable
work as the president of the School Library Association of
Victoria
She has traveled extensively, enjoys concerts,
caravanning, gardening, bike riding and is currently enjoying
the restoration of a boat. Tina and her partner live in Alberton
West. They own and manage a beef property at Binginwarri.
Michelle
Tisdale
Project Officer for Morwell /
Moe.
 Michelle
was born and educated in the Latrobe Valley. She has spent
her time participating in children's programs and community
programs, whilst raising two children. She hopes to complete
her BBsc in 2005.
She sees this project as a way of combining
the things that she values in life, Women, food,community
food and sharing. Finding this project a wonderful way to
meet new faces and develop new skills.
Lara Whitehead
Project Officer for Warragul.
 Lara
was born in the USA, but moved to Australia with her Australian
husband nine years ago after finishing her Masters Degree
in Linguistics.
Today she lives in Ellinbank with 2 dogs
and 2 children, but just one husband (the same one who brought
her here!).
She divides her 'spare' time between writing
non-fiction books for children, sewing and reading as much
as possible.
Lara's six books have been published in
five counties and she is currently working on a series of
books about environmental issues.
Meg
Viney
Introduced the project in South
Gippsland & is Managing the Quilt
Project in Meenyian
 Meg
was born and educated in Melbourne. She trained as a secretary,
then as a nurse. Subsequently Meg married and went to live
in San Francisco, but her Australian heart yearned for home,
and it was thus that Meg ventured into art, for it was with
art where Meg says she “found gentleness and strength.”
Whilst raising her two boys, Meg studied
part-time, and completed a Bachelor of Fine Art, majoring
in Fiber Sculpture.
On returning to Australia, Meg completed
a Graduate Diploma of Education and taught both Art and Food
at VCE level. Moving to Gippsland in 1993.
She again taught Art, and in 2001 was given
the opportunity to become a Gallery Director. She is concurrently
doing a Master of Visual Arts at Monash, An excited Meg says,
“I feel truly honoured to accept the position of Project
Coordinator in Women who Mean Business South and West Gippsland.
The women I have met thus far have inspired
me with the belief that this be a dynamic experience and an
unforgettable part of our growth as women.”
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