Beginning as a dental assistant in 1981 to the first dentist employed at ERH, Mrs Beck has been a long-serving contributor to the health and wellbeing of the region.
Having lived in Echuca for 48 years, Mrs Beck has a strong connection to the area, where she started her career at the age of 20 and has raised her family.
Being nominated was an honour in itself for Mrs Beck, who was overwhelmed to have won.
“To get nominated was amazing,” she said.
“It’s a huge honour and I just feel you can’t do it alone.”
Mrs Beck’s dedication to Echuca Regional Health is exemplified in her years of work, which she believes shows how wonderful a service it is.
“It’s such a great organisation,” she said.
“I’ve always been proud to be part of that organisation.
“You wouldn’t be there for 43 years if you didn’t enjoy what you did.”
Following her selection as a finalist for the award, Mrs Beck had an opportunity to reflect on her career.
Her role as ERH Dental Clinic manager has allowed her to lead an ever-growing team, even if she does not necessarily resonate with the label of ‘manager’.
“I moved through the pathways to be the manager,” she said.
“I don’t like to call myself a manager, I think that I’m a leader.
“I don’t like to manage people. People have got their own individual things to learn and they grow from there.”
Mrs Beck is also looking ahead, excited for the next chapter for the oral health team as they move into a new space.
Scheduled to take place within the year, the upgrades come from April’s announcement of $9.7 million in Victorian Government funding towards the ERH Central Sterile Services Department and Oral Health Unit.
“We’ve got a highlight coming, which is the movement to the new clinic,” she said.
“It will be happening hopefully over the next 12 months.
“We will be growing and moving on.”
Mrs Beck credited the connection with the community and with fellow dental clinics in the region as an important element to ERH’s success and reach.
“We’ve got a few dental services in Echuca who support us: Moama, Kerang, Cohuna and Rochy,” she said.
Mother of Sarah, Steven and Michelle, wife of Craig and grandmother of Archie, Mrs Beck thanked her family for the role they played in her success professionally and personally.
A true community spirit, she also acknowledged her fellow winners and toasted to their success.
“My family has been beautiful,” she said.
“It’s been a long time to be involved in one business, so I’ve been fortunate to have the backing of them.
“Congratulations to all those other winners, too, because they have been so worthy.”
EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Melville & Hicks Lawyers
· Jackie Avers - Collins Booksellers Echuca
· Katherine Liddell - Healthy Tummies Pantry
· Carmel Beck – Echuca Regional Health
· Emma Squires - Luca Solutions