CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD
DEAN MAXWELL SUTTON
As the current president of the Glengarry Community Association, Dean Sutton has effectively steered the group through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite being unable to hold face-to-face meetings he has maintained effective communication across the community and worked with other local groups and agencies to facilitate the completion of several projects.
During his time as a member of the Glengarry Community Association Dean has played a significant role in the creation and implementation of the Glengarry and District Community Plan, the re-establishment of "Christmas in the Glen" Community Carols and continues to work across all sectors of the community to plan and implement projects and events.
As a founding member of the Glengarry Events Group, Dean works tirelessly to deliver a wide range of community activities including markets, Christmas celebration, ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services and morning tea.
Dean is a well-respected member of the Glengarry community who constantly works with for the betterment of the community as a whole.
Dean has completed the Gippsland Community Leadership Program and is a founding organiser of the Gippsland Pride Cup and is now working to take the concept nationally and across other sports.
SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD
MARTIN DYT
Martin Dyt has been the president of the Moe and District Historical Society for 21 years and a member since it was established in 1963.
This is a remarkable record for a community leader and demonstrates his commitment to the Society in a variety of ways.
As president he has facilitated growth in membership, involvement and attendance at meetings, carried out work at the Society to maintain the building and its contents, utilised computers to maintain records, organised guest speakers and presided over meetings.
Whenever an issue arises, Martin is always willing and able to deal with the matter, keeping the society active and successful.
Martin is also heavily involved with the Moe Bowls Club and is now into his ninth year as treasurer where his diligent work has transformed the financial situation from ‘struggling’ to strong and stable.
YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD
BRIDIE BRYNE
At 17 years of age Bridie Bryne is an exceptional young woman who embodies community spirit and is an excellent role model for her peers and local youth.
Bridie was selected from thousands of students around the state to be awarded the Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Award Scholarship from the University of Melbourne.
This offers a head start in attending university lectures and events as Bridie aims to secure a place at Melbourne University following high school studies.
Selection criteria for this scholarship included academic achievements, leadership experience and other qualities displayed within the local community, including her efforts as a Morwell and Traralgon Girl Guide over the past decade.
Leaders, parents and her peers describe Bridie as inspirational, confident, kind, helpful and a positive influence on younger members.
Bridie is training to become a Leader of Youth to step into a senior role at the age of 18 to help the next generation of guides.
Through Girl Guides and her membership of the Kurnai College leadership council she has been involved in planning and participation of fundraising activities for the local CFA, Cancer Council, Ronald McDonald House and Wear it Purple Day for LGBTQIA+ awareness.
EVENT OF THE YEAR AWARD
65th LATROBE VALLEY EISTEDDFOD – PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL
The Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod is an annual performing arts festival organised and operated by volunteers from the Latrobe City community. The Eisteddfod has been an annual event on the Gippsland performing arts scene since 1956, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic could not be held in 2020.
For the 65th Eisteddfod in 2021, the organising committee was able to offer performers the opportunity to display their talents via a combination of online events and a limited live event held under COVID Safe protocols.
As a result, the Latrobe Valley Eisteddfod was one of few in Australia able to offer local performers this opportunity.
The eisteddfod encourages a cross section of the community to participate from primary and secondary schools to community choirs, bands, and orchestras. The festival covers the performing arts of choral and vocal singing, instrumental, piano, speech and drama, brass bands, and theatrical dancing.
Feedback from performers, parents and teachers showed great appreciation for the efforts made by the volunteer committee.
COMMUNITY SERVICE OF THE YEAR AWARD
ROTARY CLUB OF TRARALGON CENTRAL. GIVE A DAMN. GIVE A CAN.
Over a period of 28 years the Rotary Club of Traralgon Central in co-ordination with St Vincent de Paul Food Bank, Traralgon, has conducted an annual community collection of canned foods.
The cans are collected from schools, sporting clubs, aged care facilities, scout groups, business houses, individuals, and kerbside donations.
Schools collect more than 80 per cent of the annual total with 13 in total supporting the long-term volunteer project in May 2021.
This year, the club collected a record number of 15,000 plus cans, adding to an estimated total of 230,000 cans of food collected for distribution to needy families throughout the project’s lifespan.
The Rotary Club of Traralgon Central has been active in the town since it was chartered in 1982, helping send students overseas and hosting foreign exchange students in turn.
Young aspiring business citizens have experienced Group Study Exchanges, and the club has been directly involved in overseas building projects.
Rotary is currently supporting the building of a community centre in East Timor, sending containers of school furniture, school supplies and stationery to New Guinea and other destinations.
On the local front Rotary supports youth programs through Mini United Nations Assembly, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and donates regularly to Rotary Centenary House.
Rotary is a regular presence providing barbecues at Bunnings Traralgon.
CITIZEN CATEGORY
TRENT MCCURDY
Traralgon’s Trent McCurdy has made protecting the Gippsland community against the perils of the COVID-19 pandemic his mission.
After producing a deeply personal radio commercial and social media video highlighting the importance of vaccinating against Covid-19, Trent re-branded radio station 3GG to "3 Double Jabbed" for 24 hours on Friday October first to drive the message home.
Vaccination numbers in the area were low and Trent wanted to find a way to motivate the community. The message was strong, positive and clear and the result was undeniable - it worked.
Trent's original vaccination radio commercial has been played on stations interstate and the video is now screening in cinemas in New South Wales. Broadcasters across the country have worked with Trent on similar "re-brands" to spread the vaccination message.
Trent has lived in Traralgon for more than 20 years and has led many positive local campaigns, including the 2018 Pitch to Quit winner "It's Time".
He has also been involved as co-creator, producer and co-host of local live music television program "Live at Spectrum".
Trent has been an important voice in the community and continues to ensure Gippsland is represented in a positive way.
SENIOR CATEGORY
GEOFF PETERSON
Geoff Peterson has spent more than 30 years volunteering as a swimming coach for the Morwell Swimming Club.
Not one to stagnate, Geoff has transformed his training methods and interactions with the swimming community to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions.
An octogenarian, Geoff has created a Facebook group chat to communicate with swimming families and purchased workout sheets to support young swimmers to maintain strength and conditioning outside the pool.
Geoff is the heart of the Morwell Swimming Club and is constantly learning and developing his swimming knowledge to ensure members of the club have every opportunity to grow and succeed.
Geoff also volunteers at school swimming events to assist teachers with timing or starts. He has been known to drive to Melbourne to support even a single swimmer competing at the MSAC.
Geoff volunteered to help create and run the #Morwell Aquatic Games and continues to be a source of knowledge and inspiration for the community.
YOUNG CITIZEN CATEGORY
DYLAN DAY
Dylan Day is a tremendous contributor to the community as an athlete and administrator.
Taking on the secretary role at the Morwell Cricket Club after a two-year apprenticeship, Dylan was awarded the Best Clubman award for his efficient, reliable and punctual efforts.
He is also a joint Treasurer of the Morwell Eagles Junior Football Club where his younger brother plays and has helped bring the club financial stability.
He plays for Morwell East Football Club and the Morwell Cougars Baseball Club, works at McMillans Accountants in Traralgon and is hugely popular teammates, clients and co-workers.
As secretary of Morwell Cricket Club, he has played a part in the redevelopment of the Morwell Recreation Reserve, managed COVID-19 protocols and general club operations with an unassuming quiet competence.
EVENT CATEGORY
LATROBE VALLEY BADMINTON ASSOCIATION – ANNUAL VETERANS TOURNAMENT
The Latrobe Valley Veterans Badminton Association has been in operation for 40 years, organising teams of all abilities over the age of 35 to compete across Victoria.
The Association hosts an annual tournament that attracts players from across the country, with 2022 set to be the 35th annual event.
LVBA Veterans continues to showcase the accessibility of badminton and facilitates enjoyable, social sport for all abilities and ages.
The Annual Latrobe Valley Veterans Badminton Tournament is a favourite among the Victorian Veterans Badminton community and attracts a full field every year.
The event brings a substantial number of people to the Latrobe Valley for the weekend which includes boosts revenue in accommodation, retail and hospitality.
The tournament is the only remaining event on the annual calendar to host a dinner dance/social event on the Saturday night which is always a sold-out event.
SHOW ME SOME ART FESTIVAL
The Show Me Some Art Festival put Moe and Latrobe City on the map over one action packed weekend.
Steve Bechaz, with a little local assistance, laboriously organised Moe's inaugural "Show Me Some Art" festival over a number of years culminating in its debut at the Botanic Gardens on March 27th and 28th 2021 and in the Moe Town Hall.
Some 50 local, metropolitan, and international artists were engaged to display their talents, with creative murals painted throughout the CBD area and beyond.
It was a magnificent opportunity to display local artists and gardens to visitors and promote the Moe region as a tourism hotspot.
The festival also raised more than $6000 for mental health support services with all profits being donated to Gippsland Lifeline and Beyond Blue.
MY VALLEY, MY HOME VIRTUAL PROJECT (3)
The My Valley, My Home Project created an accessible virtual community choir encouraging participation from singers of all ages, gender and backgrounds.
It featured online rehearsals and workshops culminating in a virtual performance during the challenging COVID-19 situation promoting connection, engagement, positive mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Through the singing workshops, the choir members learned My Valley, My Home, a song composed by Jonathon Welch AM, which was inspired by the thoughts and messages gathered in workshops and conversations with members of the Latrobe City community.
The song represents their love of living in the region, along with its trials, tribulations and transitions.
The final video included individual recordings, beautiful footage of the region and captured snapshots of identities singing along to the chorus - an anthem for the Latrobe Valley.
Students from Morwell Central Primary School and Lifeline Gippsland worked with the project team in the development of lyrics and song composition.
A highlight of the event was the inclusion of an Auslan interpreter to assist people living with a hearing impairment to participate.
More than 270 people were involved and the music video has been viewed over 20,000 times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpgcON4hhfk
COMMUNITY SERVICE CATEGORY
PATRICIA COX
Pat Cox has been a volunteer at the Morwell Returned and Services League Auxiliary for 29 years selling badges for ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day.
She has been involved in all aspects of fundraising with the Auxiliary over the years including selling raffle tickets on Friday nights, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day, Christmas, Easter, various other functions and attending fashion parades, morning teas and cent auctions.
Pat served the Auxiliary as Senior Vice President for a number of years and as President from 1996 to 2006, receiving a Certificate of Appreciation, Silver Star, and Auxiliary Life Membership in recognition along the way.
She has held the permit for Auxiliary bingo on a Monday afternoon for many years and Tuesday night for three years.
MATT AND MERRIN DENNIS
Matt and Merrin Dennis have kept the community connected during the first year of the pandemic by organising a host of initiatives, often at their own expense, through their business - the Yinnar General Store.
They have hosted a local community teddy bear hunt and a food bank situated at the front of the General Store.
Matt and Merrin make and delivered essential supply packs for local elderly residents and offered a free food and essentials bank within the general store.
During the Christmas in Yinnar in 2020 Matt and Merrin provided a cut-out display in the front of the shop so families could have their photos taken as Santa and his Elves.
They also ran a colouring competition for local children.
NEIL FITZCLARENCE
Neil Fitzclarence has dedicated the past 25 years of his non-working life to the role of Commanding Officer of 426 Squadron Australian Air Force Cadets.
426 Squadron is a youth development organisation located in Traralgon that caters for between 15 to 70 young men and women between 13 and 20 years of age with weekly activities, camps and exercises, school holiday programs and special events.
Through the role Neil has made, supervised, and enabled nearly all activities of the squadron and many contributions to the community, including:
- Leading the Squadron on ANZAC Day parades.
- Committing to annual ANZAC Day Appeals, raising valuable funds for local veterans.
- Leading the Squadron in the Freedom of Entry to Latrobe City in 2000.
- Supporting local Red Cross unity with supply of camp bedding and equipment during local natural disasters.
- Ensuring many weekend-based community activities such as "Rally in the Valley", Latrobe Valley Aero Club open days and Lions Club Flag Raising Ceremonies in Victory Park could be undertaken for more than 20 years.
Neil also supported the Traralgon City Band including as a crew member when they attended events in France.
FIONA LOCK
This is her passion, which is clearly shown by her dedication and commitment to those she works with and helps. Fiona is someone who puts those in need first, even when she has been unwell herself. She has volunteered with Latrobe City community groups such as the Moe Development Group and local aged care facilities for more than 20 years.
Always there to help anyone who was in need, Fiona has a ‘nothing is too hard’ attitude and has been known to go above and beyond, providing not only her time generously, but regularly offering assistance at her own financial cost.
LYNNE 0’CALLAGHAN
Lynne O’Callaghan has volunteered for the Auxiliary for more than 13 years selling badges for ANZAC day and Remembrance Day as well as raffle tickets on Friday nights, Mothers’ day, Fathers’ day, Easter, Christmas and other fundraising functions at the RSL.
Lynne organises craft days and makes decorations and table centres for ANZAC day, area meetings and functions at the RSL as well as Auxiliary sale items.
Lynne also collects items for ward 17 at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and visits elderly members in their homes, nursing homes and hospital.
Lynne has held a number of important positions including: Auxiliary Senior Vice President (2014 – 2019), Auxiliary President (2020 – 2021), Women's Council Junior Delegate (2013 – 2014), Women's Council Senior delegate (2015) and Women's Council Vice President (2016 – 2021).
Lynne has received the Auxiliary Silver Star (2018) and Certificate of Merit with Gold badge.