Jean is a gem

By Tania Martin
JEAN Worrell has been honoured as one of Emerald’s little gems.
The 87-year-old has taken out the town’s inaugural Citizen of the Year award.
She was surprised by the nomination but never expected to win.
“I never dreamt I would ever win,” she said.
The gong was awarded as part of the Performing And Visual Arts in Emerald (PAVE) festival on Sunday 10 April.
Emerald’s village committee initiated the awards earlier this year in a bid to acknowledge those who make outstanding contribution to the communities of Avonsleigh, Clematis and Emerald.
Committee spokeswoman Sheila Hampson said all communities need people like Mrs Worrell who were willing to put themselves forward to take on leadership roles.
“She has helped enrich the lives of others… she has made our community a better place to live.”
Mrs Worrell is renowned in the hills for her family’s involvement in sport.
But she says it was inevitable.
“I never played myself but my husband, son and daughter played sport and you get tangled up in it,” Mrs Worrell said.
She never hesitated to offer a helping hand at the football, cricket or netball clubs.
Mrs Worrell has lived in the hills all of her life.
She was born and raised in Gembrook but moved to Emerald in 1962 with her husband, Clem.
The pair worked together taking bookings at the town hall for many years.
Mrs Worrell has been an active member of the RSL and senior citizen clubs for the past 26 years.
For the past 20 years she has also been keeping Emerald’s seniors fit and healthy.
But Mrs Worrell said she fell into the job.
She takes exercise classes the senior citizens centre most weeks.
“I’m not sure you would call it teaching but I try to keep them in line,” Mrs Worrell said.
The half-an-hour classes normally consist of a few exercises followed by some folk and line dancing.
The classes all started when a lady at the club travelled to Melbourne to do an exercise class.
But after she left the group, Mrs Worrell somehow ended up with the job.
“If I don’t go I miss it… it’s a good way to get some exercise,” she said.
Mrs Worrell was honoured by her award. “I thought it was it and a bit,” she said.