Andrew and Linda Fullagar celebrate his Citizen of the Year award with supporters, left to right, Peter Van Santen, Val Hoyle, Richard Homershan, David Moncrieff, Dianne Lagerwey, Gayle Moncrieff, Jenny Hill, Michaela Fullagar, Robert Fullagar, Gillian Anderson, Marion Fullagar, Sharon Twining, Michael Twining, councillor Noel Cliff, Joan Ricketts and Trevor Ricketts.
By Casey Neill
76368
Picture:
Casey
Neill
“HE’S IN everything – he’s like pepper and salt.”
Streeton Ward councillor Noel Cliff could not speak highly enough of Yarra Ranges Citizen of the Year Andrew Fullagar at last week’s Australia Day awards ceremony.
The shire recognised Mr Fullagar for his tireless work in the Upwey community, particularly with Glenfern Valley Bushlands and the Upwey Township Group (UTG).
“Receiving this award is undoubtedly a highlight of my life,” he said.
Mr Fullagar said he was privileged and honoured to accept the award “on behalf of all the volunteers in Yarra Ranges and the Community of Upwey”.
“There are thousands of volunteers throughout the shire, working hard in so many areas, many unnoticed,” he said.
“To those I say ‘please keep going – your contribution does make a difference to the character and strength of the community’.”
Mr Fullagar has been a Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands member since its inception in 2001 and served as president and vice president.
He’s been instrumental in helping the group grow in size and purpose and has overseen several projects, including new seats, an information shelter, planning the new main entrance and working on a vision for the quarry site.
“They have been some highs and lows on that journey, but the standout would be the way the reserve has brought together such a wonderful team of people, who not only care for the reserve but for each other,” he said.
Mr Fullagar is an integral part of UTG and, together with his wife Linda, was one of the key drivers for graffiti removal in the township.
“Upwey Township Group best described as a collection of community-minded individuals who care enough to want to do something,” he said.
But when he joined the group several years ago, it had dwindled to only a few members and was involved in little aside from the town’s billycart races and some graffiti removal.
“We went through a pretty frustrating period there for a while,” he said.
With motivation from Montrose Township Group members and last year’s Citizen of the Year and former UTG president Mark Addison, the group “now has a new lease on life”.
“I believe that the combined lobbying of the two groups helped in council establishing the Graffiti Response Unit,” he said. “If Upwey has improved a tad over the past 10 years, then it has truly been a team effort of which I’m proudly a part.”
Andrew is also a member of the Southern Region Environment Alliance committee and has worked efficiently across diverse community groups to secure funding for the development of a management plan for the Puffing Billy rail corridor.
He’s looking forward to a busy 2012 filled with exciting projects like the Upwey Tecoma Community Recreational and Sporting Hub (CRASH), co-ordinating three grants at Glenfern Valley Bushlands, and working on the rail corridor plan – and less exciting projects, like keeping Upwey graffiti-free.
