Former Healesville Local and Gunaikurnai Elder Glenys Watts was announced Victorian Volunteer of the Year on 27 November for her volunteer work over the last 30 years.
Alongside being pronounced Victorian Volunteer of the Year, Ms Watts was also the recipient of the Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Award which recognises exceptional service to the community.
The Dame Elizabeth Murdoch award comes with a $10,000 donation to a charity of the recipient’s choice and is awarded by the premier.
Having grown up in Healesville, Ms Watts confirmed that the township and local community had great bearing on who she is today.
Ms Watts said, “I think that growing up in a country town like Healesville does influence your character. A strong sense of Community and the environment.”
“Community events and markets, activities rely heavily on volunteers so helping out becomes part of everyday life,” she said.
Healesville will always hold a place in my heart.
Ms Watts first began volunteering at 15 years old.
“My mum was in the Red Cross and we used to help collect funds at Maroondah Dam with the tins, I was in Netball and Baton-Twirling and it was all part of volunteering to give kids in Healesville and Yarra Glen something to get involved with,” Ms Watts said.
“I began to teach younger girls how to twirl then helped start up a team at Yarra Glen. I didn’t do it alone, it was with parents and other volunteers who helped with the group,” she said.
Ms. Watts’ volunteer work is vast, ranging from working with the Public Records Office Victoria to aid in the protection of and access to the knowledge and records of First Nations People.
Ms Watts said, “It is important to let others know the true history of our country via storytelling and truth telling and to look after the environment by developing a better understanding of Aboriginal concepts of looking after country.”
Aside from volunteering, Ms Watts loves to spend time with her friends and family.
“I have three grown up kids and five grandchildren so I like to make sure I am there for them all first,” Ms Watts said.
Currently living in the Gippsland area, Ms Watts is heavily involved with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation in helping them with other Gunaikurnai people when they were going for Native Title from 1997 to 2010.
Ms Watts was also a member of the Negotiation team with 10 other Gunaikurnai people for a Recognition and Settlement Agreement with the State of Victoria.
Ms Watts is still on the GLAWAC Board, which was the start of Gunaikurnai people being recognised as the Right people for country as the Traditional Owners for approximately 1.33 million hectares in Gippsland including 200 metres of off-shore sea territory.
Working with the Dhelk Dja Indigenous Family Violence Action Group in supporting the Dhelk Dja 10 year Agreement along with leading strategies to address Indigenous Family Violence across Victoria, Ms Watts takes part in campaigning for culturally safe, trauma informed services.
Elevating the voices of victim survivors in policy development is another key area for which Ms Watts takes part in campaigning for.
Ms. Watts’ mother was admitted into the Aboriginal Honour Roll of Victoria and was a great source of Ms. Watts’ inspiration.
“My mother’s dedication to sharing Aboriginal Culture, stories and helping others has lit the path I follow today,” Ms Watts said.
Upon receiving her awards, Ms Watts was very surprised.
Ms Watts said, “I volunteer as I am passionate, to share an understanding of local issues and to seek solutions.”
“I volunteer to create change and to work with other like-minded people and in this work, you are never alone,” she said.
