About Us

Wendy Brooks, Co-Chair (Governance)

Wendy’s career in marketing, fundraising and management has spanned the welfare, arts and health sectors over the past fifteen years. Wendy is currently Director of Advancement and Marketing for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne and was previously Director of the Royal Women’s Hospital Foundation which supported research, clinical services and health care programs for women of all ages and new born babies. From 2000 to 2005 Wendy was the Strategy & Development Manager for Orchestra Victoria and established an extensive performance and education program throughout regional Victoria. As a music graduate and keen violist she had a long performing and teaching career. She performed in, managed and toured with a number of chamber and symphony orchestras. In 1991 Wendy established and directed Bay City Strings, a youth orchestral program. Wendy’s life partner also works in Marketing and they have four children. Since acquiring a neuro-muscular condition Wendy has used an electric wheelchair, which has given her and the family an insight into living with a disability.

Tricia Malowney, Co-Chair (Representation)

Tricia has been co-Chair of the Victorian Women with Disabilities Network Board since its inception in 200. Prior to this Tricia was Convenor of the VWDN Collective from 2004. She was responsible for overseeing the partnership agreement with Women’s Health Victoria to develop the Advocacy Information Service and the redevelopment of the Network.  She has extensive experience influencing government and community service organisations, and sees her systemic advocacy as a way of ensuring inclusion. Tricia takes every opportunity to speak to women with disabilities about their lives, and brings their stories to her work in representing VWDN.  She uses her roles as President of the Disabilities Services Board, co-chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission Disabilities Reference Group, member of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, Public Transport Access Committee, the Road Based Public Transport Advisory Council and Council Member of Women’s Health Victoria to ensure that the needs of all Victorians are considered in policy planning and development, service delivery and research.

Simone Rutherford, Treasurer

Simone has served on the Board of Directors since being co-opted in April 2009 and was recently elected VWDN Treasurer. Simone was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2004 which led to her becoming involved with the MS Society. She began volunteering for the organisation in 2005, completed a two day training course as a Peer Support Worker in 2006, and accepted a role as an MS Advocate in 2008. Simone is a Certified Practicing Accountant, with a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) from RMIT University Melbourne. She has been involved in accounting work, across a number of sectors (financial services, retail/wholesale and mining), since 1989. She has further spent three years working in accounting overseas (London). Simone is currently employed by Gazman Pty Ltd, where she has been the Company Accountant for the past eight years.

Margaret Bayly

Margaret Bayly has been a member of the VWDN Board since its inception in 2007. Prior to this she served on the VWDN Collective from 2003. Margaret has been a member of community, national, international, and government groups, all at different levels of involvement. She believes that you have to be part of things if you want them to change. Margaret has been a single mother of 3 children and is now also the grandmother of 8. Her pets live in fish tanks. Margaret loves creating things out of scrap materials and gardening on a small scale. She writes poetry, which have been published in hardback books (Australia and USA) and other publications. Margaret also paints on canvas. Her A frame does not stop her from getting out the power tools to construct things, to make life more comfortable.

Catherine Brooks

Catherine is a litigation lawyer and has been a board member of VWDN since December 2008. Catherine regularly acts as an advocate for marginalised people within the community and is proud to work for and with women with disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Victoria University. She has recently completed a Certificate in Corporate Governance with Chartered Secretaries Australia Ltd and is currently undertaking an MBA. Catherine is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, Victorian Women Lawyers, Senior Rights Victoria and Reprieve Australia. She currently works as a lawyer in commercial disputes for Holding Redlich.

Brenda Gabe

Brenda has been a member of VWDN for several years and was delighted to become a member of the Board in October 2009. After retiring from her Psychology practice Brenda has been able to devote all her energies to her passion – an inclusive Community. She is a Member of the Board of Management of MonashLink Community Health Service and a member of the Health Issues Centre. She sits as a consumer representative on the Bayside General Practice Network Primary Integration Project Steering Committee. Brenda is a member of the City of Monash Disability Consultative Committee. She is a member of Disability Resources Centre and Disability Action South East and is also a member of Aids and Equipment Alliance and Grit Media. Brenda is a graduate of the LeadershipPlus Leadership Program and sits on the Reference Group of the Leaders Network.

Sharon Granek

Sharon Granek is the coordinator of the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) which began operation in early 2007. She has previously worked in various capacities - always in the field of diversity - including case management, residential and respite care, policy development, housing, education, training and employment, public health and advocacy. Sharon currently also sits on the Leadership Plus Board and is completing a Masters in Social Science - Human Services and Public Policy.  She has completed two research reports - The Accommodation Needs for People with Huntington's Disease and Housing for Life - Planning for Accessible and Adaptable Homes in Victoria.

Effie Meehan

Effie joined the inaugural VWDN Board in 2007. She has been working in the disability field for 30 years and is particularly passionate about working with and advocating for people from ethnic communities and parents with disabilities. Effie was one of the co-founders of Action on Disability in Ethnic Communities (ADEC) in 1982. She has worked with women’s health services in the West, where she helped set up a support group for women with disabilities. Effie was also Coordinator of Advocacy at the Migrant Resource Centre in St Albans for three and a half years where her role was to encourage people to speak up for themselves. Effie has been involved in many committees, including the Sunshine and Footscray Disability Committee that focused on health; the Women with Disabilities and Cancer Committee for the Victorian Cancer Council; and was Chairperson of the Disability Resource Centre Committee. She was also involved with the Department of Human Services discussions about Victorian disability funding. Effie currently works for the Greek Carers Support Group and is the Volunteer Coordinator at ADEC.

Delia Portlock

Delia has been a member of the VWDN Board for two years and brings with her extensive experience in standing up for the rights of people living with disabilities. Delia has a nursing background, is a past President of Headway Victoria and has spent many years advocating on behalf of people with acquired brain injury. She was also a member of the inaugural Victorian Disability Advisory Council which advises the Victorian government on the policy concerns of Victorians with disabilities.

Margaret Stevens

Margaret Stevens has been a network member of VWDN since 2003. She feels privileged to have been a part of the transition to a board structure and to serve on the Board. Margaret was Board Treasurer for many years and has also been and continues as co-editor of the VWDN Newsletter. She has previously held the positions of Chair of the Eastern Public Tenants Association and the Victorian Disability Advocacy Network (VDAN). She has been an active member of the Scoot, Wheel ‘N’ Move group, the Disability Justice Advocacy group and is presently involved with Action for Community Living (ACL), Gritmedia and Women’s Health Victoria (WHV). Margaret is VWDN’s representative on the DHS Industry Development Plan-Consumer Advisory Group and has represented VWDN at the workplace group subcommittee for the State Plan For the Prevention of Violence Against Women. Margaret hopes to continue raising awareness of women with disabilities/gender issues at a local and state level for as long as she can.