By Danielle Galvin
EMERALD stalwart and community champion David Greenaway said volunteering puts a smile on his dial as he accepted the Cardinia Shire Council’s Community Service Award.
Mayor Ed Chatwin said the “Yarra Ranges refugee” mentored adults and children in the community and supported disadvantaged people in his work with Interchange.
“His accomplishments include being Emerald Village committee member and secretary, Emerald Community House chairman, member and treasurer, founding member of PAVE Festival committee and founding member of The Lyrebirds Awards,” Cr Chatwin said.
Mr Greenaway founded Gemco Players in 1980, and has been active in the Emerald community since moving to Australia in the 1970s.
“Thank you very much, it’s great to be nominated and then to win the award,” he said.
“As the others have touched on, this is about paying tribute to a lot of people.”
But the British-born theatre goer and president of Gemco who lives in Menzies Creek, says there’s something special about the “little towns” in the Cardinia Shire. “That’s why the shire is so lovely, because of these towns like Emerald. Whether people are helping the children, adults or the elderly, there’s always a sense of community,” he said.
Mr Greenaway joked that he nearly didn’t come to the Australia Day celebrations in Pakenham at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, doubting he’d be the one to win.
“I nearly didn’t come. It was good this year they didn’t tell you if you’d won, it was sort of like the Academy Awards,” he said. The secret for Mr Greenaway is not taking himself too seriously.
“If you volunteer, you shouldn’t be grumpy. That’s why they say you should die laughing,” he said.
Grant Johnson from Nyora, Marlene Dalziel from Cranbourne, Michael Muaremov from Narre Warren and Mark Hunter from Nyora were nominated for the Community Service Award.
Mr Greenaway said working with young people kept him motivated.
“I was interested to hear what Geoffrey Rush said about being excited to work with young people. They have so much energy,” he said.
“It’s great to have young people at the theatre, they are the future.
“It also gives them a chance to gain some self-esteem and it’s inspiring to us older aged people.”
With the help of his friends and like-minded community members, Mr Greenaway said he was proud of how far Emerald had come.
“It’s important to remember that you can’t do it all alone. A pat on your back is a pat on the back for everyone you work with, that’s what it’s all about.”
