Board Members

I moved to Bega in 1983 with my wife Loretta and three children. We purchased the Bega Village Motor Inn, which we have operated ever since. In 1991 we opened the heated indoor pool at the motel, which is used by the community for hydro exercise and learn to swim classes.

I was President of the Bega APEX club in 1988, and chairman of the Zone 2 APEX Convention committee in 1989.

I joined the Rotary club of Bega in 1991 and served as President in 1994 /95 and again in 2006/07. I have held most Board Positions and am currently the Club Secretary.

Loretta and I are members of the Bega Littleton Citizen Exchange committee and I led the delegation to Littleton in 2003.

I was honoured in 1997 in being named Bega Valley Shire Citizen of the Year.

John Cursley was born and brought up in Bega and has spent his working life split between Sydney and the Far South Coast. John was the inaugural branch manager of the Illawarra Mutual Building Societies Bega office in 1981 and went on to become the Far South Coast District Manager in 1984, supervising branches in Narooma, Bega, Merimbula and Eden.

In 1987 he moved to Zwiers Financial Services in Merimbula then moved to Sydney in 1989. Whilst in Sydney John was appointed the Southern Sydney Regional manager of Sydney Big Colour Pages, which launched Sydney's 1st internet directory. However ill health forced John to consider his future and he and his wife, Maggie, both resigned from work and travelled Australia for almost two years.

In 2001 John and Maggie started their own financial services business. John has an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services. John spent 15 years in the Bega Apex Club and was also one of the founding members of the Merimbula Jazz Festival.

Geoff has been involved with the Foundation since 2001. Before moving to the Bega Valley about eight years ago, Geoff’s career included working in secondary and vocational education, managing a publishing and import business for a national industry association and owning and operating his own business.

He is currently manager of the South Coast Business Enterprise Centre.

Born in Newcastle, grew up Griffith NSW, finished schooling on a 12 month Rotary Exchange Scholarship in Japan. Worked for a number of Japanese export companies in Sydney before moving to Eden in 1980. 2 adult children, married, lives on the river at Kiah, south of Eden. Has worked in a number of different fields, most recently community consultation and administration for the large strategic planning projects. Currently Project Co-Ordinator for the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre. Involved in many voluntary community organisations over the years inc. sport, Fire Brigade and planning committees. Interests: travel, gardening, music, swimming, kayaking, bushwalking.