CHRIS BILKEY : BRIDGE ART PROJECT CHAIR PERSON / CURRENT MAYOR MURRAY SHIRE COUNCIL
Director, Bookfellowes.com Pty Limited;
Director, Giaconda Pty Limited; Board Member and Vice-President, Echuca Regional Health Chris Bilkey has spent the majority of his professional life in the pharmaceutical industry. From 1979 till 2003 he worked for Pharmacia and its heritage companies in marketing roles and subsequently as Managing Director and President for Australasia. He has extensive experience in the healthcare sector including roles advising Health and Industry ministers. He has undertaken projects as diverse as planning evolutionary change for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to programmes directed at building the literacy of indigenous children.Subsequent to his time with Pharmacia, Chris was instrumental in establishing and running a start-up generic pharmaceutical company in Sydney. As Managing Director, he saw it through from idea to reality, and oversaw its growth into a significant player in the Australian marketplace. Chris then created a new business in Sydney comprising bookshop and cafe, and gained exposure to the demands of small business, building a reputation as an innovative and successful retail outlet in a time of contraction for the industry. Since returning to his home town, Chris has become extensively involved in community roles, including Board membership of Echuca Regional Health, Secretary and Project Manager for the local Landcare branch and Board membership of the Committee for Echuca-Moama, among others. He is currently the Mayor of Murray Shire Council. Chris's involvement in the planning of the Bridge Arts Project thus far has been all-encompassing and tremendously valuable. As the steering committees secretary he offers an intellectual, no-nonsense approach and cultural sensitivity to all parties. BARRY DONCHI : FOUNDING CHAIRPERSON / DEPUTY CHAIR
Managing Director / Owner Nullarbor Forest Timber Industries and Perricoota Vines Retreat. Conservationist. Entrepreneur.
Barry Donchi devised the concept of the Bridge Art Project whilst reading "The Wailing: A national black oral history" by Stuart Rintoul around the time public discussion of a new bridge across the Murray River in Echuca Moama was gaining momentum. Based in Echuca/Moama, Barry is widely considered to be the pioneering founder of Australia’s thriving reclaimed timber industry. He has contributed to the nation’s growing identity as the land of the sustainable with his expertise in conservation and eco-friendly solutions in commercial enterprise. On a local scale, Barry has contributed to the economic and cultural growth of Echuca/Moama’s local business and tourism sector as an active member and sponsor of Echuca Moama Tourism and the Committee for Echuca Moama, of which he was a founding member. His reputation as a visionary in private enterprise whose business acumen and determination to succeed is unmatched in his chosen fields is demonstrated in the success of his company Nullarbor Forest Timber Industries www.nullarbortimber.com.au and by the successful development of the resort/conference centre he conceived in 2000, Perricoota Vines Retreat www.perricootavines.com. Barry Donchi was raised in Gippsland by traditional tree cutters. Following the lead of his father, Geoff who identified the need for environmentally sustainable solutions in the timber industry, he established Nullarbor Forest Timber Industries in Echuca the 1980's after moving to the area and meeting his wife Jan in the 60's. The Donchi family have worked in the timber industry for some 6 generations, developing and perfecting manufacturing procedures as well as pursuing new and creative business opportunities. Nullarbor Timber is a premium supplier of sustainable and recycled timbers. Delivering on large commercial projects such as Federation Square, Docklands, MONA and ANZ Bank Melbourne, Nullarbor products are featured in these award winning architectural structures. The affiliate dry mill and processing plant in Moama employs 16 workers and has been in operation for more than 30 years. Timber products are sold direct to the building trade and public using a warehouse/showroom in Williamstown, Melbourne. Nullarbor Forest Timber Industries Pty Ltd and Perricoota Vines Retreat have a strong history of financial stability, with 35 years of sound governance and sales. Perricoota Vines Retreat is a high-end, contemporary, yet natural accommodation hideaway for the many visiting tourists holidaying in Echuca Moama. It was built with a hefty commitment and was completed in 18 months by Barry and his wife Jan who literally transformed a bare open paddock into a magnificent villa style resort with landscaped gardens, lakes, swimming pools and a function venue, The Vines Lakehouse. Barry and Jan’s success with Perricoota Vines Retreat over 10 years demonstrates his ability to imagine, build and sustain a quality tourism product that continues to grow in popularity and spawn a healthy culture around it in a nebulous wine district. Now a semi-retired businessman, Barry is a humble Australian whose enduring interest in cultural affairs, history, evolution and the plight of the indigenous offers the Bridge Arts Project a broad and inspirational perspective. His ability to envisage the future and willingness to create a national legacy of importance is paramount to the projects raison detre. He never loses sight of the big picture. |
LYNNE GILLARD : SECRETARY/TREASURER
Bio coming soon
DAMIAN MORGAN-BULLED : YORTA YORTA NATION REPRESENTATIVE
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Vice-President of Rumbalara Football/Netball Club, Treasurer of Njernda Aboriginal Corporation, Board Member of Moama Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Qualifications: Post Graduate Certificate in Environmental and Heritage Interpretation, Deakin University. Graduate Diploma in Natural and Cultural Heritage Interpretation, Deakin University. Damian has worked within the Cultural Heritage and Natural Resource Management field for more than 20 years including stints with the Murray Darling Basin Authority in Canberra and the Department of Sustainability & Environment, Victoria. Damian has represented the Yorta Yorta Nation on a number of key negotiating teams and committees, currently including both the Steering Committee and Community Consultative Group for the Echuca-Moama Second Bridge Crossing for VicRoads. Damian is considered a leader within the Aboriginal community of Echuca-Moama and has developed a well establish network throughout Northern Victoria and Southern Riverina New South Wales. As a proud Yorta Yorta man and nominated representative and spokesperson for Yorta Yorta Nation, Damian brings valuable wisdom to the Bridge Arts Project planning table. His ability to communicate from both an historical and present perspective offers the project a level grounding with focus on ethical considerations. His involvement on a range of local committees on behalf of Yorta Yorta means Damianʼs understanding of local infrastructure is wide-ranging. His input at committee meetings is a cross-pollination of knowledge that reflects his broad experience in the community. |
JOHN KENLEY : MEMBER
Profession:Director, Cadell Trading (Escare Holdings Pty Ltd). / President and Board Member, Campaspe Shire Development Committee / President and Board Member, Echuca regional Health / Board Member: Echuca Regional Development / Board Member: Port of Echuca Authority
Qualifications: Bachelor of Economics [Monash University] Post Graduate Diploma in Management [Portsmouth School of Management , UK]
Around Echuca/Moama, John Kenley’s name is synonymous with progress and action. His role as a board member on the Echuca Regional Development Committee and the Port of Echuca Authority is indicative of his dedication to the development of the region’s profile from a state and local perspective. John has been the President and board member of Echuca Regional Health for 3 years and was instrumental in the board attaining a multi million dollar funding coup for a new hospital. He is also the President and member of the Campaspe Shire Development Committee which further solidifies his well-rounded and highly experienced position as a committee mover and shaker in the region.
John’s understanding of Echuca/Moama’s organisational infrastructure informs his position on the many boards on which he sits and over 20 years, John and his colleagues have clocked up an endless portfolio of successful campaigns to bolster local facilities as they work toward the region’s further economic progress.
To the Bridge Arts Project committee, John brings sound knowledge and advice and offers a strong sense of professional focus. His planning advice is invaluable.
Qualifications: Bachelor of Economics [Monash University] Post Graduate Diploma in Management [Portsmouth School of Management , UK]
Around Echuca/Moama, John Kenley’s name is synonymous with progress and action. His role as a board member on the Echuca Regional Development Committee and the Port of Echuca Authority is indicative of his dedication to the development of the region’s profile from a state and local perspective. John has been the President and board member of Echuca Regional Health for 3 years and was instrumental in the board attaining a multi million dollar funding coup for a new hospital. He is also the President and member of the Campaspe Shire Development Committee which further solidifies his well-rounded and highly experienced position as a committee mover and shaker in the region.
John’s understanding of Echuca/Moama’s organisational infrastructure informs his position on the many boards on which he sits and over 20 years, John and his colleagues have clocked up an endless portfolio of successful campaigns to bolster local facilities as they work toward the region’s further economic progress.
To the Bridge Arts Project committee, John brings sound knowledge and advice and offers a strong sense of professional focus. His planning advice is invaluable.
JACQUELINE DONCHI/BERTHAUME : MEDIA LIASON / ART COMMUNICATIONS
Owner/Principal Photographer: Picturebook Commnications Echuca. Freelance Journalist/ Copywriter. Online Marketing Consultant / Visual Artist.
Qualifications: Diploma in Visual Arts New Media (Swinburne University). Advanced Diploma Professional Screenwriting (RMIT Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology School of Creative Arts). Diploma of Freelance Journalism (ACJ) Diploma of Childrens Book Writing (ACJ). Adv. Diploma of Commercial Photography (ICPP)
As a photographic and new media practitioner, Jacqueline’s work has been exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne and New York. Her work has been shortlisted from thousands in the prestigious Moran Contemporary Photography Art Prize (Sydney), Daylesford Bienalle, the Prix de la Photographie Paris (winner), and Sony Projections (highly commended). She has worked as a commercial copywriter in television (Nine Network) and magazines and has written and directed plays about Echuca/Moama’s colonial history, commissioned by the Campaspe Shire. These plays involved the legendary talent of actor, Bud Tingwell and local aboriginal performance artists.
During her time in the state's capital, Jacqui studied professional writing, film, visual arts. She was a script assessor at Palace Films and under a mentorship with RMIT screenwriting lecturer Dr Lisa Dethridge she acted as a sub-editor for Lisa's book 'Writing Your Screenplay' and was a production co-ordinator for her Patrick White nominated play 'The War Against Short Trousers' directed by Kaarin Fairfax - a satire on world politics, which pre-emptively was scripted shortly before attacks occurred on the world trade centre. While studying photography at ICPP and NMIT, she did a 2 year series of modern portraits featuring Fitzroy media personalities Clem Bastow, Marieke Hardy, Mia Timpano, The Black Cyclists and satirical performance artist Carla Yamine’s political alter ego “Jules” who campaigned for indigenous rights.
Jacqueline worked as an Electorate Officer and Media Liason for Paul Weller MP in 2008 and was an Editor of 3 magazine titles at McPherson Publishing in Shepparton in 2009. Her work as a broadly published journalist / photographer in Cream, Frankie, Coast & Country, Bride+Groom, Ido Ido, Forte, Food+Wine and Your Home magazines, developed from her role as Founding Editor of Mess and Noise magazine, a subcultural music anti-bible in Melbourne. She is now living back in the Echuca area and works as a successful wedding portraitist, real estate photographer and online marketing consultant while single mummy to her petit bon homme Armand Jacques Pierre.
Her communication skills, education in contemporary visual arts and Australian history lends valuable perspectives to the Bridge Arts Project. Her vast knowledge of postmodern art movements here and abroad allows the committee to extend their ideas beyond the ordinary and tokenistic.
Qualifications: Diploma in Visual Arts New Media (Swinburne University). Advanced Diploma Professional Screenwriting (RMIT Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology School of Creative Arts). Diploma of Freelance Journalism (ACJ) Diploma of Childrens Book Writing (ACJ). Adv. Diploma of Commercial Photography (ICPP)
As a photographic and new media practitioner, Jacqueline’s work has been exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne and New York. Her work has been shortlisted from thousands in the prestigious Moran Contemporary Photography Art Prize (Sydney), Daylesford Bienalle, the Prix de la Photographie Paris (winner), and Sony Projections (highly commended). She has worked as a commercial copywriter in television (Nine Network) and magazines and has written and directed plays about Echuca/Moama’s colonial history, commissioned by the Campaspe Shire. These plays involved the legendary talent of actor, Bud Tingwell and local aboriginal performance artists.
During her time in the state's capital, Jacqui studied professional writing, film, visual arts. She was a script assessor at Palace Films and under a mentorship with RMIT screenwriting lecturer Dr Lisa Dethridge she acted as a sub-editor for Lisa's book 'Writing Your Screenplay' and was a production co-ordinator for her Patrick White nominated play 'The War Against Short Trousers' directed by Kaarin Fairfax - a satire on world politics, which pre-emptively was scripted shortly before attacks occurred on the world trade centre. While studying photography at ICPP and NMIT, she did a 2 year series of modern portraits featuring Fitzroy media personalities Clem Bastow, Marieke Hardy, Mia Timpano, The Black Cyclists and satirical performance artist Carla Yamine’s political alter ego “Jules” who campaigned for indigenous rights.
Jacqueline worked as an Electorate Officer and Media Liason for Paul Weller MP in 2008 and was an Editor of 3 magazine titles at McPherson Publishing in Shepparton in 2009. Her work as a broadly published journalist / photographer in Cream, Frankie, Coast & Country, Bride+Groom, Ido Ido, Forte, Food+Wine and Your Home magazines, developed from her role as Founding Editor of Mess and Noise magazine, a subcultural music anti-bible in Melbourne. She is now living back in the Echuca area and works as a successful wedding portraitist, real estate photographer and online marketing consultant while single mummy to her petit bon homme Armand Jacques Pierre.
Her communication skills, education in contemporary visual arts and Australian history lends valuable perspectives to the Bridge Arts Project. Her vast knowledge of postmodern art movements here and abroad allows the committee to extend their ideas beyond the ordinary and tokenistic.
HAYLEY LAWTON : MEMBER
Work includes: Graphic design (electronic and print media), identity design, art direction, press ready final file production, full branding and implementation programs, strategic media placement & planning.
- Industry experience:
Diploma Graphic Design, La trobe University
USP Needham, Ford Trucks and Telecom account
Bishop Dickerson Advertising, Kambrook Electrical account
Bladon Marketing Services, Promotional items and packaging. Ambient advertising. Label Makers / SAMM, Food label design and point of sale. - McPherson Media, All inhouse group creative and campaigns for selected clients.
- Industry achievements include:
- State, National and International press awards for both inhouse and client promotion. (Nine in total)
- Community group experience includes:
- 4 years on organising committee of the Echuca-Moama B & S ball, beneficiary being
- Echuca Regional Health.
- 4 years committee member at Moama Football/Netball Club.
- 10 years service on the 'Echuca Club' board including service asVice President and President.
- Since 2006 Vice President of Horizon Committee Charitable Trust raising money for breast and prostate cancer support services nationally.Also licencee for Murray Charity Meander NSW.
- Current member of: The Echuca Club, Moama Bowling Club, Goulburn Workers, Harley Owners Group (International) and Harley Owners Group (Brunswick Chapter).
- AGDA (Australian Graphic Design Association) affiliate.
- Current licences permits held: Motor Vehicle & Motorcycle, Boat, Firearms (A,B & C categories). Responsible Service of Alcohol NSW & Vic.
- Previously held Motorcycling Australia Open Competition permit.
NINA
Nina is passionate about working in regional communities to make them great places to live and work.
Raised in the mallee scrub of western South Australia; her skills in strategic thinking, project management, governance, communication, community cultural development and community engagement position her well to advocate for the Echuca Moama region.
The current Chief Executive Officer of Committee for Echuca Moama; Nina holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts, Graduate Diploma of Community Sector Management and certificate in Governance. She has recently taken on the challenge of starting a Masters in Business Administration. She has previously worked in the various fields of community services, regional arts development and local government. Nina is also a practising artist, specialising in fine art photography, community public art projects and sculpture for her garden
Raised in the mallee scrub of western South Australia; her skills in strategic thinking, project management, governance, communication, community cultural development and community engagement position her well to advocate for the Echuca Moama region.
The current Chief Executive Officer of Committee for Echuca Moama; Nina holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts, Graduate Diploma of Community Sector Management and certificate in Governance. She has recently taken on the challenge of starting a Masters in Business Administration. She has previously worked in the various fields of community services, regional arts development and local government. Nina is also a practising artist, specialising in fine art photography, community public art projects and sculpture for her garden
VICKI
Bio coming soon
DON
Bio coming soon