Australia Day is a great opportunity to celebrate those who’ve made outstanding contributions to our communities.
And this year there was no shortage of Yarra Ranges award-winners acknowledged on the local and national stage.
Their contributions were varied but all made a difference worth celebrating, and we’ve got stories on each of them.
Former Mayor Len Cox was among several Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recipients in the shire.
The Patch’s Raoul Picot, Gruyere’s Pat Bigham and former Yarra Ranges Citizen of the Year Doseena Fergie were the other local names to receive the honour.
Gruyere’s Richard Gower was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
Yarra Ranges Council presented a slew of its own awards at the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall on 26 January, including naming Chum Creek’s Lesley Porter as Citizen of the Year.
Lilydale students Amelie, Keely and Jean-Pascal shared the Young Citizen of the Year title, and Mount Evelyn’s Robyn Speering was named Environmentalist of the Year.
The Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Monbulk’s Trevor Ricketts, the Ian De La Rue Award for Community Leadership to Warburton’s Suyin Chan, and the Community Group of the Year to Plastic Bag Free Groups in Healesville, Warburton and the Dandenong Ranges.
Belgrave-based Platypus Ambassadors shared the Ken McIntosh Memorial Award for Young Environmental Achiever of the year.
Certificates of Recognition went to Betty Crittenden from Montrose, Belinda Grooby from Monbulk, Jasper from Sassafras, Badger Creek Community Planning Group, Patrick Boucher and Belgrave’s Emma Taylor.
“One of the many wonderful things about the Yarra Ranges is that we have so many people, in a variety of groups, who volunteer their time, care and effort to help others,” Yarra Ranges Mayor Tony Stevenson said.
“These people have come from different backgrounds and experiences, but they all have the same
overarching aim – to make the Yarra Ranges the best it can be, for all that make it their home, whether they’re people, plant, bird or animal.
“I encourage everyone in the Yarra Ranges to not wait until a particular time of year and thank the people around them who are making a real difference and adding to our communities, no matter how big or small their efforts may be.”
Prior to the awards ceremony, the council hosted a citizenship ceremony.
Forty people were officially welcomed to the country as Australian citizens from 19 countries including Malaysia, India, China, Spain, the Philippines, Vietnam, Poland, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
“Becoming an Australian citizen is a big step for someone to make, and I’m proud to see that these people, from all over the world, choose to live in the Yarra Ranges and join us as Australian citizens,” Cr Stevenson said.
“Our community is diverse, passionate and vibrant, and I and my fellow councillors are proud to officially welcome these people into our community.”
