A FORMER Wodonga health chief has taken over as interim chairman of the Albury-Wodonga Corporation.
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The corporation announced late yesterday Andrew Watson would fill the part-time position.
Bill Hanrahan was corporation chairman for 17 years before finishing on December 31.
Dr Watson has been a corporation board member since September 2007 and was also chairman of its audit committee.
His previous roles have been as chief executive and the executive director of medical services at the former Wodonga Regional Health Service.
Dr Watson’s appointment as corporation chairman was made just before Christmas by federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann and runs until the end of this year.
Dr Watson said he welcomed Senator Cormann’s decision to make an interim appointment to ensure board oversight of the corporation’s activities continued until more permanent arrangements were finalised.
Dr Watson also paid tribute to the significant contribution made by Mr Hanrahan.
He said board appointments were for terms of no more than three years.
Dr Watson said given the fact Mr Hanrahan was re-appointed on numerous occasions by successive governments was testimony to the high regard in which he was held.
“Significant changes were made to the role of the corporation during Mr Hanrahan’s time as chairperson, the most recent being in 2005 when the Australian government directed the corporation to cease land development activity, focus on the disposal of its remaining land assets and prepare the organisation for winding up,” he said.
Under Mr Hanrahan’s guidance, the corporation switched from being a land developer to a land disposal agency.