Firefighter bags coveted award

COCKATOO resident Graham Simpson was named the 2015 Stan Henwood Award winner at Cardinia Shire Council’s annual grants presentation dinner, held on Wednesday 1 July, at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
The surprised and modest firefighter accepted the prestigious award from Mayor Leticia Wilmot, who also nominated him for the award, for his outstanding contribution to the Cockatoo community and Cardinia Shire.
Mr Simpson has been a firefighter with Cockatoo CFA group for over 38 years and was also president of the township committee ‘on and off’ for over 12 years.
Also, he has been pivotal in driving and shaping many community projects, co-ordinates the annual Cockatoo Australia Day breakfast and was a member of the planning committee for the Community Volunteer’s Reception.
He has seen firsthand some of the community’s best and saddest moments – from the Ash Wednesday bushfires that roared through the town when Graham was the captain of the firebrigade to the successful community fight to save the McBride Street kindergarten.
Cr Wilmot said Mr Simpson was a role model for the community.
“Graham has been a very dedicated member of the Cockatoo community for close to four decades, and I truly believe it would not be the township it is today without his hard work and dedication,” Cr Wilmot said.
“He is a resident that many people in the community respect and admire and I feel he is deeply deserving of this recognition.”
Council also announced it would award 44 organisations with 48 grants to the value of just over $450,000 this year as part of the Community Capital Works and Major Equipment Grants program.