Yarra Glen women Dorothy Barber, left, and Jillian Hess, right, were presented with certificates of recognition for dedicated work within their community. They were congratulated by Councillor Jeanette McRae.
By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Ranges mayor Graham Warren spoke of the dedication, passion and commitment that underpins local communities at Yarra Ranges Council’s Australia Day Awards ceremony at Upwey on Thursday.
Nine people from across the shire and members of an Upper Yarra community group were recognised for their outstanding contribution, in many cases over long periods of time, to the community, the environment and sport.
Eight major awards were presented with Upwey community worker Andrew Fullagar being honoured as Citizen of the Year and youth advocate Joshua Watson from Lilydale named Young Citizen of the Year.
The Millgrove Residents Action Group was named Community Group of the Year and Irene Pearey from Macclesfield as Environmental Achiever of the Year.
Les Skate from Lilydale received the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Coldstream community, with the Ian De La Rue Community Leadership Award going to Margaret Brooks of Monbulk.
Jordan Crook from Sassafras received the Ken McIntosh Memorial Award as Young Environmental Achiever of the Year.
Certificates of recognition were presented to Yarra Glen women Dorothy Barber and Jillian Hess, and to Alice Keogh from Mount Evelyn.
Ms Barber was recognised for her leadership in the campaign to get a doctor for Yarra Glen and her volunteer work with people with mental health issues through agencies including Rivendell and Eastern Access Community Health, with whom she is still a board member. She is also on the board of a company involved in the building of low-cost housing, especially for people with a mental illness. Ms Hess is involved with several community groups including the Living and Learning Centre, Red Cross, and Uniting Church.
She is renowned for her random acts of kindness, especially to older and needy members of the local community – visiting nursing homes, delivering meals to those in need and taking a friend to medical appointments.
Cr Warren congratulated the recipients saying Australia Day awards were a chance to celebrate community spirit and recognise those who had given so much to their community.
Thanking them, he said their contributions made Yarra Ranges a great place to live and work. “These winners are just representative of the hundreds who give so many hours to their local communities.
“Many are unsung local heroes so Australia Day is just one opportunity to recognise their hard work.”
As well as the award ceremony, 80 Yarra Ranges residents became Australian Citizens.
