Governance-Tasmania
The Tasmanian Council of the RFDS supports and promotes the aims and reputation of the RFDS in Tasmanian communities by providing financial assistance to enhance the service and to further develop primary health services in Tasmania. We promote the RFDS via scholarships to medical and dental students, and actively engage with community groups throughout mainland Tasmania and the Bass Strait islands The Tasmanian Section is based at our hangar at Launceston Airport, Western Junction.
The RDFS Tasmanian Section is governed by an elected Council.
The Council consists of the following 8 members:
President: Dr Colin George Merridew. Elected 1995.
Consultant Anaesthetist: Active in the RAAF Specialist Reserve.
Senior Vice-President: Mr Malcolm White. Elected 2005.
Member of the National Board of RFDS Australia; Chief Executive Officer Tasmanian Skills Institute; Air Transport Pilot Licence.
Vice-President: Mr Michael Hackman. Elected 2004.
Master of Politics and Public Policy; Company Director; Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; Private Pilot and aircraft owner.
Secretary/Public Officer: Mr Robert Grey. Elected 1999.
Master of Defence Studies; Justice of the Peace; Company Director; Commercial Pilot Licence.
Treasurer: Mrs Sarah Merridew. Elected 2005.
B Ec, FCA, FAICD; Company director, formerly a partner of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.
Mr Lindsay Millar OAM. Foundation member 1960.
Past President (2 terms), Life Member; Tasmanian Section Councillor 1965 - current; National Council and Aviation; Committee 1976 - 1989; National Board 2002 - 2008; R.F.D.S. Rev. John Flynn Fellowship Award (National ) 2009; Tasmanian Aero Club 1956 - current, Past President, Life Member; Orchardist (retired); Farmer; Private Pilots Licence.
Mrs Jeanette Gatenby. Elected 2008.
Teacher; Former journalist; public relations and marketing project manager; Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Dip Teaching, Graduate Diploma Career Counselling
Ms Caroline Wells. Elected 2009.
Chief Executive Officer, Diabetes TASMANIA; Master of Business Administration; Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors; Chair, Tasmanian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance
The Council is supported by two part time staff members, a Marketing and Development Co-ordinator, and a Finance Officer both of whom operate from the Launceston Base.