By Derek Schlennstedt
Brad Battin has recognised Gembrook resident Melissa Williamson for her outstanding service and commitment to the Gembrook region.
On 1 October – as part of the Gembrook Community awards- Ms Williamson was awarded the Gembrook Local Champion shield.
While the young mum said she was humbled by the award she felt there were others who were equally deserving.
“I feel very warm and bubbly to be nominated, but I really want to recognise all of the people in the community that didn’t get a nomination, and call out to people to really get behind these awards next year and nominate someone. There’s so many people that do good in our community.”
Ms Williamson was integral in organising the So Long Summer event earlier this year, which acted as a fundraiser for the Gembrook kinder.
She has also been a strong advocate of the Kinder Bush kinder program and over the past few months has organised a Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease fun-run.
The fun-run aims to raise awareness and funds for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and has been immensely successful so far, with Mr Battin and the Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan all opting to participate in the event on 27 October.
Moms everywhere can attest that squeezing in exercise-on top of everything else-is a true feat.
So, drawing on her own experiences as a mother, Ms Williamson said she wanted to create a community driven fun-run that mothers with prams, or people in wheelchairs could participate in.
“I just wanted an inclusive environment. I didn’t understand why there wasn’t anything at the bigger events.”
“For me I don’t have any family close by who could watch the kids when I go run, so they come with me pretty much everywhere and this fun-run gives families the opportunity to get active and for families to be active together. I think it’s extremely important for both physical and mental health.”
She told the mail the fun run was dedicated to a close friend who was diagnosed with CJD and passed away in 2013.
“I had a friend in 2013 pass away from CJD,” she said.
“I started working with her years ago and she took me under my wing at a time in my life where i suppose i didn’t have any family or friends. I lost my way a bit and lost my faith in people really.
“Then I met Sandy and she restored my faith in people. She reminded me that there are nice people out there.
“She restored my faith so I want to do that to other people. I want to show other people that there are nice people out there and we can all be nice and help each other.”
