From Ontario to my state Victoria (A thread of 2 halves)

[Dave, Melbourne,Australia]

THE FIRST HALF OF THE THREAD:
This article was in the Aug2016 issue of Royalauto, the magazine of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. The RACV is the organisation most car owners belong to (and get rescued by if their car breaks down on or off the road).
http://www.racv.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/royalauto/home/my-membership/my-story/parks-victoria-ceo-fauteux-aug-2016
"The Natural"

Many things have excited Bradley Fauteux about his new life in Victoria – such as Melbourne’s arts and culture scene and the state’s passion for good food and wine. But the 44-year old Canadian, who has been Parks Victoria’s CEO since last November, says with a laugh that his favourite moment in Victoria has been a little left-of-centre.

“I didn’t know Bonnie Doon was a real place until we were driving to the alps and I saw the sign,” he says, having known of it merely from the beloved film The Castle as the place the Kerrigan family had their holiday home. “I pulled over to get a photo with the sign. I bust out quotes like, ‘Straight to the pool room’, to freak out my Australian colleagues once in a while.”

Bradley brings great experience to his role at Parks Victoria, which manages 4.2 million hectares (10 million acres) of parks and waterways. (Victoria’s parks and waterways attract 100 million visitors each year.) He is a former managing director of Ontario Parks and a former chair and board member at the Canadian Parks Council.

The Australian climate may be substantially different from what he is used to, but his aim remains the same. “Ontario has 250,000 lakes and rivers and the traditional way to move is by canoe. Here we walk, we bike and we four-wheel-drive. But the challenges are the same in terms of conservation and making sure people visit their parks,” says the new RACV member.

“The diversity of Victoria is like someone decided to put every conceivable type of geography and landform into one small place. We are blessed that everything is just a few hours away.” Bradley is particularly passionate about engaging children with nature. He grew up in Fergus (born in Iroquois Falls), where his parents “felt they could turn me out at 8am on a Saturday and that I’d come home for dinner.

I had opportunities to experience nature, like learning to canoe at a young age and how to be safe in the wilderness.” It’s a philosophy he has passed on to his two young daughters. “We’ve camped with them since they were babies. I am so grateful to give them that experience and help them develop a love and appreciation for nature.”

THE SECOND HALF OF THE THREAD: This will be posted soon.

[Dave, Melbourne,Australia]

THE SECOND HALF OF THE THREAD (a disappointing sequel):

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/parks-victoria-boss-forced-to-resign-over-inappropriate-behaviour-20160914-grfsym.html

Parks Victoria boss forced to stand down over 'inappropriate behaviour'

The head of Parks Victoria has been forced to stand down over "inappropriate behaviour" which the state's anti-corruption watchdog is to investigate.

The Parks Victoria board forced Bradley Fauteux's hand after he had served less than a year in the job. Bradley Fauteux has been forced to resign as CEO of Parks Victoria. The case is to be referred to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission.

Minister for Environment Lily D'Ambrosio said while the matter was under investigation, the behaviour had breached public service standards. "That's a matter that's under investigation at the moment, but certainly one that has breached the various standards of the public service board, and also behaviours that are appropriate to a CEO of such an important organisation," she said. Parks Victoria confirmed Mr Fauteux's employment had "concluded" on Wednesday.

Parks Victoria chairman Andrew Fairley said the termination resulted from "unacceptable conduct" that breached Parks Victoria's values and ethics policy and the Victorian public sector code of conduct. "We are determined that this matter will not interrupt the excellent progress that Parks Victoria has been making," Mr Fairley said.

Mr Fairley, however, praised Mr Fauteux as an "outstanding communicator" of the importance of Parks Victoria. Mr Fauteux began work as chief executive in November last year, having served as managing director of Ontario Parks. Ms D'Ambrosio declined to reveal details about the "serious allegations" Mr Fauteux was facing. "They are matters that go to the undermining of certain standards that are required of members of the public service." She said Parks Victoria was also conducting its own investigation.

However, Ms D'Ambrosio said a fair process must now be followed. Ms D'Ambrosio said her office became aware in mid-August that the board had concerns about Mr Fauteux's conduct and learnt yesterday of the final decision to "terminate his employment". When asked if Mr Fauteux would be paid out, Ms D'Ambrosio said the Parks Victoria board was required to give him four weeks' notice under his contract, but as of Wednesday he had no further involvement with Parks Victoria.

Mr Fauteux told Fairfax Media in December that Parks Victoria could almost be described as the "department of fun". At the time, he said he believed being active in nature was "core to who I am". He was reportedly paid an annual salary of $242,000 at Parks Victoria.

Parks Victoria's chief legal counsel Margaret Gillespie has been appointed acting chief executive. The search to find a replacement for Mr Fauteux will begin immediately.