Role model is top volunteer

|

Role model is top volunteer

ARTHUR Phillips is Wonthaggi’s citizen of the year.

He was named by the town’s Rotary Club during the Australia Day ceremony on Saturday.

Described as “an outstanding and highly respected citizen,” Arthur has been a role model to those in the Wonthaggi and Cape Paterson communities.

Together with his wife, Nancye, family and friends, Arthur worked to save the Cape Paterson Life Saving Club from folding, serving as its president for 10 years to 1996. He is a life member and co-founder of the Cape Aquathon which raises money for the club.

He also helped form the Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association, is a trainer with juniors at the Wonthaggi Power Football Netball Club, has been a tour guide at the State Coal Mine, helps at the Bass Coast Summer Agricultural Show, works with Wonthaggi Woodcrafters and was an inaugural committee member of the town’s men’s shed.

Four people received community service awards: Ian Sullivan, Marg and Jim McCulley and Fred Heesh.

The business excellence award went to Wrench’s Footwear and Bass Coast Shire Council events coordinator, Frank Angarane, was presented with the employee excellence award.

Ian Sullivan was described as a quiet achiever with an outstanding reputation as a golfer and hard working club member. He began his working life at the State Coal Mine, later becoming a trade teacher at Wonthaggi Technical School.

He helped the mine’s friends’ group restore the mine’s community hall and other projects such as seating, planter boxes and post and rail fencing. He’s at the mine most days.

“Dynamic husband and wife team”, Marg and Jim McCulley, have worked hard behind the scenes in a number of organisations including schools, football and tennis clubs, the garden and orchid clubs and meals on wheels. They have done “magnificent work” at the Wonthaggi Cemetery and volunteer at the State Coal Mine where Marg’s help in establishing the paths and garden near the barbecue and kitchen area is affectionately referred to as McCulley Gully.

Fred Heesh and his leadership, energy and knowledge have been part of the Wonthaggi community for 40 years. He has been a welcome addition to schools, sporting and social clubs and the Wonthaggi Citizens’ Band where he has been a tireless worker and is a life member.

Known for his love of music, he has spent decades giving free music lessons and lots of encouragement to many young people. He has also contributed to school productions and Wonthaggi Theatre Group performances.

Wrench’s Footwear business excellence award acknowledges the store’s longevity, integrity and commitment to good customer service. It is over 100 years old.

Harry Wrench started the boot making business in around 1910, to service men working in the mines. He had learnt his skills from his father and passed on the knowledge to his own son, Gordon, who took over when Harry retired.

Gordon trained a young apprentice called Brian Lindsay who, with his wife, Dorothy, took over and modernised the store. Brian’s son, Carl, now runs Wrench’s Footwear.

Frank Angarane is regarded as a leader in the field of local government event management. Practical, with a care for the local community and environment, he has won the regard of his colleagues and emergency services organisations.

His career began at the Shire of Korumburra in 1977, continued with the Shire of Bass which became part of Bass Coast Shire following forced mergers in 1994. He became the special events coordinator in 2002, overseeing increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.

Frank also has an outstanding record of community service, playing a lead role in the success of the Dalyston Football Netball Club.

Short URL: /?p=6312

Posted by on Jan 30 2013. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Share your love
Facebook
Twitter

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *