A small crowd of just over 60 residents gathered by the Boosey Creek at the Lions Park at Tungamah to celebrate Australia Day on Saturday.
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As usual, the gathering joined in a scrumptious breakfast served by the Lions and the Leos. Bacon, sausages and eggs were on the menu, along with tea and coffee and orange juice.
After the early breakfast Moira Shire Councillor Ed Cox, always a popular figure in Tungamah, spoke of his love for smaller communities and what they have to offer.
He then revisited the work of the Tungamah Leos, when he represented the Shire Award for the best organisation which the Leos received earlier in the week.
There were some very proud people to witness this.
The Citizen of the Year Award was then presented to Mandy Williams, who has been a school teacher in the town for many years.
Paul Sidebottom spoke on the work Mandy has done as a townsperson, highlighting her work with the social club and the tennis club.
Mandy has always been a willing worker and always helping out where she can.
She had some years as secretary of the pool committee, as well as handling the duties of being a mum to two boys.
Mandy responded in kind, thanking all for their support. Mandy then spoke in support of the Leos, a small group of young people now in their ninth year.
The Tungamah Leos offer young people leadership and training opportunities and have been very successful in providing service and leadership opportunities for the youth of Tungamah.
Highlights of the club have included Shire winners of Young Citizen of the Year twice, with Nick Megarrity for the Moira Shire and Caitlyn Moore for the Federation Shire.
The Leos have also had Young Citizen of the Year Awards for Jazmine Clark and Danielle Sidebottom. Amber Gray was also Victorian Leo of the Year, plus District Leo of the Year twice.
Connor McGuire was also District Leo of the Year.
Jazmine Clark also won the District Leo of the Year Public Speaking Award.
This club has supported people who are ill, which they do without any fuss or bother. They have also made large commitments towards Children’s Cancer Research, a program which has increased the level of survival of children with cancer.
Achievements of the club include the purchase of a defibrillator for the community.
This is now kept on the wall of the fire station and is available to the fire brigade for emergencies.
They also adopted Neurobionics Research as an ongoing project and were successful in bringing world famous researcher, Professor Peter Blamey to Tungamah to speak at a well-attended dinner put on by the Leos and their families.
Presently, the club is planning environmental work in controlling carp numbers, as well as supporting drought relief for farmers. This is happening in the next couple of weeks.
They are also active in promoting the fruit fly project run by the Lions Club.
It is fitting that the food preparation area included a new canopy over the new barbecues in the park. This canopy is the Leos Centennial Project and has been erected with the help of the Lions and the Shire. An opening of that will be coming up soon.
Leo President, Joshua Ford responded with some very well-spoken words and spoke of his philosophy of helping others.
At the end of the morning, MC Les Harrison thanked all for their attendance and efforts during the morning before everyone went their separate ways.
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