Anne, courthouse and youth win
ANNE McIntyre of Venus Bay was named the citizen of the year at South Gippsland Shire Council’s Australia Day awards ceremony last Wednesday.
Around 140 people attended the event in Leongatha Memorial Hall.
The award for community event of the year was granted to the Leongatha Courthouse Centenary and youth community contribution winners were Ashley Heath, Eleanor McKenzie and Sam Wilson.
Mayor Cr James Fawcett thanked all nominees for giving their time and skills to their communities.
“We appreciate your outstanding contributions to our shire and the people who live here,” he said.
“You make a difference to our lives, you strengthen our local communities and you are role models for others.”
Celebrating with Mrs McIntyre were her husband Ian McIntyre, the Venus Bay and District Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), friends and two granddaughters.
The award recognises Mrs McIntyre’s tremendous work in the community.
She and her husband have fostered more than 100 children through Anglicare.
She also volunteers with CERT and was one of the founders of the Venus Bay branch, is a figurehead in the Venus Bay Angling Club and has organised the last 10 Venus Bay Christmas street parties.
Mrs McIntyre moved from Scotland to Australia nearly 50 years ago and has lived in Venus Bay for 13 years.
Practical and humble, Mrs McIntyre was back in CERT uniform the day after the awards.
“She’s in blue again,” Mr McIntyre said.
“It’s just another day.”
Mrs Intyre was honoured to be nominated, but was quick to share the glory.
“All this stuff that I do, I couldn’t do it without my husband in the background,” she said.
Mr McIntyre described his wife as “dedicated to whatever she does – whether it be CERT or the fishing club or to children and the household – except ironing!”
The other nominees for citizen of the year were John Cocking, who is heavily involved in the Meeniyan community, Meeniyan Progress Association and Meeniyan Bowls Club; David Grylls of Welshpool, who is in the CFA, the Recreation Reserve Committee and many other organisations; Peter Lee of Agnes who contributes to the Toora Progress Association, volunteers with children and performs many other community-minded acts; and Kevin Slater of Leongatha, who contributes to his community in countless ways by spreading good cheer to children and the elderly and with music.
The community event winner, Leongatha Courthouse Centenary, was prepared and staged by the Courthouse S86 Committee, the same committee that runs South Gippsland Shire Brass Band.
For its centenary, the grand old courthouse building hosted 20 separate events to highlight its significant role in the history of law, justice and policing in South Gippsland.
The other nominees for community event of the year were Leongatha ANZAC Day; Carols by Glowlight, Meeniyan; Fish Creek Tea Cosy Festival; Great Victorian Bike Ride, Mirboo North; and Loch Village Food and Wine Festival.
The three winners for youth community contribution were Ashley Heath, 24, of Leongatha, for his service through the Navy and his voluntary contribution to the RSL; Eleanor McKenzie, 15, for charity and extracurricular activities; and Sam Wilson, 18, of Meeniyan, for student leadership and sporting contributions.
All nominees in this section receive awards.
Proud crew: Anne McIntyre of Venus Bay (centre) was named South Gippsland Shire Council’s citizen of the year at a ceremony in Leongatha last Wednesday.
She is with her fellow Venus Bay and District Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) team members, from left, Debbie Shinagl, Brenda Hyett, Bev Franklin, Anne McIntyre, Helen Ohia, Peter Prysten, Ian McIntyre, Ronald Willman, Wendy Don, Tom Ohia and Jenny Hibbit with two of Anne’s young supporters.
Short URL: /?p=9798
Posted by Sarah Vella on Jan 29 2014. Filed under Community, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
