Yarrawonga has come away with two wins in the 2019 Moira Shire Australia Day Awards with Tungamah also taking out the Community Organisation of the Year.
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Nominations were up on the past two years with council receiving 33 nominations in four categories; Community Organisation of the Year, Community Event of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Citizen of the Year.
Moira Shire General Manager Corporate Simon Rennie acted as MC for the evening with special guests in attendance including Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovall, Member for Northern Victoria Tim Quilty and Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy.
Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica congratulated the people and projects nominated for these awards.
“They showcase the many strengths of local communities across the shire,” Cr Mustica said.
“Moira Shire is truly fortunate and grateful to have many dedicated and passionate volunteers who donate their time and skills for the betterment of others.”
The first award was given to the Leo Club of Tungamah and District who took out the Community Organisation of the Year with Emily and Joshua Ford accepting the award and Nathalia District Welfare receiving the special mention.
The Tungamah Leo’s are now in their ninth year and are very active within the community, through purchasing a defibrillator for the town, organising world-famous bionics pioneer professor Peter Blamey to speak at a function and continually maintaining the local Lions Park as well as environmentally focussing on the upkeep of the creek frontage.
Joshua and Emily said they were delighted to receive the award and would continue to work alongside and assist the community.
“We are proud to receive this award and love helping the community,” Josh said.
The ever-growing Numurkah Foodbowl Festival then took out the Community Event of the Year before the Young Citizen and Citizen of the Year were announced.
Recent Sacred Heart College graduate Adam Morley was the joint winner of the Young Citizen of the Year alongside Cobram’s Baneen Alrubayi.
Adam has always put his hand up to help in the community, being involved in Scouts Australia for 12 years and being one of Yarrawonga Scout Groups first joeys.
“I was very shocked honestly, I was not expecting it but I’m very thankful to everyone that has helped me along the way, the differing youth organisations I’ve been involved in, my parents and the wider community for providing me with a diverse upbringing,” Adam said.
As well as Scouts Adam has also had a large involvement in the Uniting Church for around five years assisting with their services and the church band.
Adam is moving away to study mechanical engineering at UNSW through the Australian Army but is hoping he can still volunteer where he can.
“Pretty much anywhere someone needs a hand I will always be there to help where I can,
I got that from my parents at an early age especially helping them at their business from about the age of 11 but I am hoping in the little free time I will get that I’ll still be able to volunteer somewhere in Canberra,” Adam said.
Adam’s parents Alan and Cheree were understandably ecstatic with his win and said they are immensely proud of him and what he has done within the community.
“He’s a good kid, well he’s not a kid anymore but he’ll always put his hand up to help and he’s great with kids, recently he has been teaching karate to the kids and they’ve loved it,” dad Alan said.
“We couldn’t be any prouder of him.”
A moving tribute was given to the late Christine Grinter, with a Special Mention Award accepted by Christine’s husband Max and daughter Ali Clarke.
Max was very grateful for the special mention of Christine in light of all the community work she completed.
“This is a great honour to accept on behalf of Christine and she would have been very proud,” Max said.
“Christine loved doing all the community work she did, and she never wanted the limelight but we would like to thank those who worked hard to nominate her.”
Immensely dedicated and passionate Debbie Van Corler, who goes above and beyond with her team to make turbans for those suffering with cancer was awarded the Citizen of the Year largely due to her work within the Made With Love Chemotherapy Turban Angels project.
Deb said she was absolutely gobsmacked when her name was called and was beyond honoured to accept the award but said it wasn’t just an award for herself but her army of girls too.
“I was absolutely gobsmacked when they read out my name, amazed,” Deb said.
“I’ve got a team behind me and they’re just the best team, it’s not all me and I couldn’t do it without them.”
For the better part of three and a half years
Deb has given her time to making and distributing turbans for cancer sufferers which has not only benefited locals but people throughout Australia and now eight countries around the world.
She deflects praise immediately and although the Turban Angels could not run without all the lovely ladies that give their time to create and sew, the project would not have begun without the idea coming from Deb.
“Our drive is the need, the passion, the love,” Deb said.
“Just seeing people who are suffering from the wretched disease wearing our turbans and having people come up and thank us, you can’t beat it.
“The project has heart and is so meaningful, it is just the best project.”
Debbie was also awarded after being an active community member for more than 20 years, contributing to many tourism projects, particularly of a hospitality nature, where she is also in charge of catering for the Lions Club of Yarrawonga and a key member of many projects initiated by the Lions club.
Towns throughout the Shire will hold Australia Day celebrations on Saturday, January 26 with official presentations of local Australia Day Award winners for 2019.
Yarrawonga- 7.15am at Kennedy Park. Award presentations, free cooked breakfast and entertainment provided.
Tungamah/St James- 8am at Lions Park, Tungamah. Award presentation and free breakfast provided.
Mulwala- 9am for a 9.30am start at Mulwala WaterSki Club. Flag raising ceremony and national anthem before a family fun day with activities, entertainment and rides on offer.