The hunt is underway for a new Bellarine Community Health CEO, following the resignation of John Fendyk. 

The embattled boss has announced he will not be seeking an extension of his contract when it expires in June. 

The decision follows an at times rocky 12 years at the helm of the multi-million dollar enterprise. 

The past four years, following the closure of Point Lonsdale’s Coorabin and Portarlington’s Ann Nichol House aged care facilities, have been particularly challenging with an angry backlash from residents prompting investigations into the organisation’s management and a police investigation into financials. 

“It with some sadness that I have made the decision not to commit as CEO beyond my current contract period,” Mr Fendyk said. 

“It has been a privilege to be CEO of Bellarine Community Health for the past 12 years and I sincerely want to thank the Board and Staff both past and present for all their support in that time.” 

“Signalling my intention to retire at the end of my contract allows the Board a significant period of time to recruit the right candidate to lead Bellarine Community Health into the future,” he said. 

His departure comes as BCH moves into a significant rebuilding stage of its Point Lonsdale facilities. 

“I’m proud of the work we have done redeveloping and upgrading our Community Health Centres at Drysdale and Portarlington. We have greatly enhanced the clinical spaces and facilities for our clients and the community. I look forward to seeing the transformation of the Queenscliff Community Health Centre at Point Lonsdale,” he said.

MEANWHILE Local firm BDH has won the contract to rebuild the Point Lonsdale Community Health Centre. 

Demolition of the east wing of the complex, facing Point Lonsdale Road, has already commenced. 

The multi-million dollar project will be completed in three stages to minimise disruption to medical services. The first stage will include a new dental clinic and car parking. 
​
Stage two involves removal of annexe buildings and re-orienttation of the reception and entrance and the final stage will see construction of a two storey extension to the north side of the site.

Talented Queenscliff waterpolo player Alexandra Scorgie has scored a place in the Barwon Sports Academy. 

The 16 year old is one of 94 aspiring young athletes in the Academy’s latest intake. 

Scorgie is a National Identified Athlete on the Australian Winning Edge (AWE) list, having shone during last year’s national club championships in Hobart. She was also highest goal scorer and most valuable player in last year’s U/16 state championships. 

The Borough of Queenscliffe is providing a $250 bursary to assist with her sporting costs. 
​
“The Academy is a great opportunity and every donation makes life a little easier for my family along the way,” she said. “This kind of practical support helps make pursuing my dreams of a place on a national team or squad possible, so thank you all.”

Bowls - Queenscliff will need to be at its best heading into the finals of the Premier League if its to have any shot at the premiership.
 
The Coutas finished the home and away season in third place, dropping one spot on the ladder after losing the last match against Bareena last Saturday.

Ocean Grove is the team to beat, finishing on top of the table - 46 points clear of Lara.

Sebastapol and Ballarat round out the final five. 
 ​

A formal nomination has been made to have the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve recognised alongside iconic Australian places such as Uluru, the MCG and Bondi Beach. 

But the bid hinges heavily on Borough of Queenscliffe support, which is as yet forthcoming.

Resident Andrew Sutherland has lodged a formal application with the Federal Environment Department for a “serial” listing of the reserve, citing its rich defence, cultural, maritime and environmental credentials. 

His submission coincides with the announcement of yet another community reference group to determine the reserve's future. 

In a letter to Councillors, obtained by The Rip, Mr Sutherland said heritge recognition would also significantly boost the borough's tourism credentials.     

“National Heritage listing can provide an excellent opportunity to achieve greater recognition and understanding of the Borough’s depth of heritage, which in turn will act as a year-round tourism drawcard aligning with the Council’s Destination Queenscliff strategy,” Mr Sutherland said in a letter to all Councillors. 

“While this application is made by an individual, I trust you concur it is strongly preferred that the Queenscliffe Council – as representative of the community – takes over the running of this worthwhile project and sees it through to fruition.”

The land identified for protection is bounded by Port Phillip, Bass Strait and Ocean and Winterley Roads. 
It includes the century-old lighthouse, Buckley’s Cave and a collection of old Defence and maritime structures including gun emplacements and the fog horn shed.

The Borough of Queenscliffe manages the land immediately around the lighthouse. The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) controls the rest.  

A serial listing would link the reserve to the Queenscliff Fort and Point Nepean, which boast complimentary heritage assets. 

“This approach is proposed as the Point Lonsdale site has similar heritage and environmental values as the other two locations and their history is intrinsically intertwined,” the nomination states. 

Mr Sutherland was a member of the original community reference group, established by Council in 2014 to determine the reserve’s future and has been a leading community advocate for protecting it from development. 

To gain National Heritage Listing, a location must have “outstanding natural, Indigenous or historic heritage values for the nation.” 

Point Nepean and the Quarantine station are already on the more than 100-strong list, as is the Great Ocean Road, Bondi Beach and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

With its rich links to our nation’s defence and maritime history and as the location of the cave where William Buckley – regarded as the “Father of Reconciliation” – lived with the Wathaurung people for some 30 years, the reserve appears to meet the criteria. 

“The Point Lonsdale Lighthouse precinct is of architectural, historical and archeological significance to Australia as it contains important navigational aids.. and defence structures associated with the First and Second World Wars,” the nomination continues.

Borough CEO Lenny Jenner is currently preparing a report on the implications of heritage listing for the municipality. 

Prior to his election, Councillor Boyce Pizzey – a former Director of Heritage Victoria - was among a group of prominent locals to sign an open letter supporting Heritage Listing.