The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has today announced the end of the special administration at the Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation.
The Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation is based at Gongolgon in far north-west New South Wales. It operates a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for clients across a large part of western New South Wales.
The Registrar had placed the corporation under special administration on 7 June 2010 following a request from the former directors for help.
Prior to the end of the special administration the members elected a new board of directors. The new directors are:
| Mr Alistair Ferguson (chair) | Mr Robert Davis | Mr Michael Williams | Mr Cecil See | Mr Lawrence Walford |
| Mr Lennie Frail | Mrs Jeanette Barker | Mrs Hellen Mannix (independent) | Mr Reginald Humphreys (independent) |
‘I am pleased my office has been able to provide the support needed to restore confidence in the corporation,’ Mr Beven said. ‘The special administrators and my staff have worked closely with members and key stakeholders to strengthen the corporate governance structure and to expand the corporation’s membership base.’
Mr Beven acknowledged the efforts of a number of organisations in rebuilding Orana Haven. These include key funding bodies, the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH), NSW Health and Aboriginal Hostels Limited, local Aboriginal medical services and other community groups.
‘Orana Haven has a highly qualified board with many years of governance experience between them in the community health sector. They have also appointed two highly qualified and respected independent directors and established an advisory committee with government and non-government representatives to support the board,’ said Mr Beven.
‘My office will work with the corporation’s directors and members to ensure the practices and procedures implemented during the special administration are maintained and a sound corporate governance structure underpins their operations.’
The corporation’s CEO, Mr Norm Henderson, was appointed in February and clients will start treatment at the centre on Monday, 28 March 2011.
9 March 2011
Contact: Donna Murray
(02) 6219 7611
Ref: ORIC MR1011-25