CEO’s Message

Heather Gray, OAM

“We see the concept of aged care as ‘entering a new phase of life’. At Dorothy Impey Home (DIH) we not only look after a resident’s physical needs, but, most importantly and equally, feed their soul and spirit. This is evident in how the excitement of the new building is shared by everyone connected with DIH”.

Heather Gray, Dorothy Impey Home’s CEO, was almost born to the job. The daughter of the Homes founder, Dorothy Impey, she has followed the strong family tradition of involvement with numerous community projects and charitable work from her early childhood when she started volunteering alongside her mother.

She traces her family roots back several generations in the Coburg community, adding to the deep connections, not only at DIH, but also the broader community its serves.

In her early working life Heather worked at Kodak for 10 years, and later as secretary in a local medical practice. She formally took up a voluntary role at DIH in 1971, after her mother passed away, stepping in to continue Dorothy’s community work. In 1981 Heather started her professional involvement with DIH when she was appointed administrator.

Heather describes “community spirit as the hallmark of DIH. This community spirit around DIH and the local community provides the vibrant dynamic backbone to this caring community organisation. It really makes DIH a unique caring home for all our residents.

“We cannot be described as ‘facility’ in the accepted sense. The almost seamless blending of residents, multi-cultural staff, and volunteers has created an extended family.

“We see the concept of aged care as ‘entering a new phase of life’. This is evident in how the excitement of the new building is shared by everyone connected with DIH”, Heather said.

In 1990 Heather’s contribution to the community was recognised by the Australian community when she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the care of the aged and to people with intellectual disabilities.

In her very limited spare time, Heather plays the piano, and, with husband Eric, is a keen ballroom dancer, which is an activity she has taught at amateur level for some years.