John Clark has returned to his roots to take on the interim chief executive role at Warramunda Village.
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The former Tongala football star, who went to school at Tongala’s St Patrick’s Primary, before finishing his education at Xavier College and Deakin University, has been a key player in several of Victoria’s largest organisations.
His appointment was confirmed last week, with the three-month contract starting immediately while the recruitment process for a permanent chief executive officer continues.
He will oversee the aged care facility’s operations until January next year while the facility searches for a replacement for outgoing chief executive Sandy Websdale.
Mr Clark, now 60, played in the famous Des Campbell-coached Tongala premiership team of 1983 as a 22-year-old, but was sidelined for the 1984 flag victory with a shoulder injury.
“My shoulder kept popping out toward the end of the season. So, they asked me if I wanted to be the runner for the game,” he said.
Mr Clark said he was able to accept the role with Warrmunda Village as his contract work with Parks Victoria had unexpectedly finished six months ahead of schedule.
“I got a phone call out of the blue, it was a little serendipitous,” he said.
“Parks Victoria asked if I wanted to finish early and this opportunity to come back into the community happened simultaneously.”
In the initial days of his appointment Mr Clark was walking the corridors of Warramunda when he passed Tongala premiership teammate Dave Connally, now a respected businessman in Echuca.
“His parents are residents at Warramunda. In fact, a lot of my parents’ friends are residents,” Mr Clark said.
“Mum worked at the Ky hospital in midwifery, so there is a lot of ‘is your mother Judy?, she delivered me’ going on,” Mr Clark said.
He said it certainly felt like a homecoming.
Mr Clark said it was not all sunshine though, with a walk along Allan St bringing back the reality of how regional Victoria had changed in the past 40 years.
"It was the first time I’ve done that walk for for 35 years,“ he said.
“It’s very different to what I remember.”
Mr Clark departed for boarding school at Xavier College as an 11-year-old.
“Most people won’t know me because of the time I spent away,” he said.
Mr Clark is one of six children of Howard and Judy Clark, who are world-famous in equine breeding circles for their Koyuna Stud.
Judy, now 86, still lives in Echuca and two of Mr Clark’s sisters also live in the riverside town.
His father passed away on Christmas Day in 2019.
Howard Clark and a stallion from the property, Souvenir, are both in the Equine Hall of Fame.
Souvenir’s progeny have won several Olympic gold medals in equestrian events.
Mr Clark said he had enjoyed his career and was happy that he could play a role in assisting Warramunda through this interim phase.
Mr Clark completed a Bachelor of Commerce in sports management and marketing.
He was with Melbourne Cricket Club for seven years, overseeing major attractions such as the National Sports Museum, before spending three years as Tennis Australia’s commercial general manager.
Earlier in his career he had a senior management role with Skiing Australia.
For the past three years Mr Clark has been Parks Victoria’s commercial director.
Warramunda board chair Alison Hunter said she was delighted to secure a leader of Mr Clark’s experience to oversee the organisation until early next year, when a permanent appointment was expected.
“John has a huge passion for the region as well as a fantastic combination of strong sector knowledge and great business leadership experience,” Mrs Hunter said.
“While we complete the recruitment process, the board and I are delighted that the organisation is in such a safe and capable set of hands.”
Mr Clark said he was thrilled to return from Melbourne to the Goulburn Valley to provide leadership and stability to Warramunda during the chief executive recruitment process.
“Since commencing last week my priority has been to get around and meet as many staff and residents as possible,” Mr Clark said.
“People have made me feel very welcome and I am impressed by the passion and community spirit that is so evident at Warramunda.
“Warramunda is an extraordinarily valuable community asset, and I am honoured to be able to play a role as interim CEO in further strengthening this terrific organisation.”
Mrs Hunter said Ms Websdale would continue to work with Mr Clark during the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.
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