Council congratulates the Senior Citizen of the Year nominees for the Golden Plains Shire Council Community Awards 2021.
The Golden Plains Shire Council (GPSC) Community Awards 2021 are an opportunity to formally acknowledge extraordinary individuals and community groups who make an outstanding contribution to Golden Plains Shire.
This year, an impressive field of local residents and community groups have been nominated by their fellow community members for awards in four categories: Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Community Impact Award.
Congratulations to the five nominees for the GPSC Senior Citizen of the Year 2021:
Joan Coker
Joan Coker of Haddon is an integral part of the community, as the manager of the Haddon Community Learning Centre (HCLC). Joan works hard to provide opportunities for community members to benefit from the HCLC, organising the classes that run each month and managing the Centre’s social media pages. Joan shares opportunities for all Haddon community members and manages the publication of the local quarterly newsletter, the Woady Herald. Joan also now helps to run the Chat n Chew program, which meets once a month, helping the community connect, create new friendships and provide support. Joan has been vital in securing grants for ongoing projects to ensure the HCLC can better support the Haddon community. Congratulations Joan!
Ruth Georgalis
Ruth Georgalis of Dereel has a strong history of supporting the community. She advocated for the power to be turned on in Dereel, achieving that goal to the great benefit of the town. She was also a strong advocate to have the school bus routes updated to ensure kids in Dereel were collected, supporting children to access education. Ruth remains an advocate for her community and is a well-known storyteller who loves to share both her history and the history of Dereel. She helps to build the community spirit in Dereel and is a much-loved community member. Congratulations Ruth!
Stuart McCallum
Stuart McCallum of Bannockburn has been a long-term protector of the Bannockburn Bush and an advocate of environmental issues. In 2021, Stuart organised a ‘Full Moon’ event at the Bannockburn Bush Reserve, with the aim of drawing people to the bush and creating connection and value in nature. This was a larger undertaking than the 'Yellowgum' festivals he'd coordinated in previous years. While coordinating this important event, which was delayed twice due to COVID-19, Stuart maintained his various volunteer activities, including making presentations at a number of environmental functions. Congratulations Stuart!
Peter Trevaskis
Peter Trevaskis of Inverleigh is a passionate member of the community, dedicating countless hours to the Leigh News, Inverleigh's monthly community newsletter. Peter covers news and events across Inverleigh and Golden Plains Shire, providing the community with valuable local information. He works hard to ensure that the Inverleigh community are informed and connected. Peter is a member of the Inverleigh Progress Association, taking an active role in supporting the Inverleigh Community Plan Survey 2021 and various other projects led by the IPA. He is also involved in the Bannockburn Men’s group, meeting twice a month for a dinner and an outing. Congratulations Peter!
Barry Wemyss
Barry Wemyss of Smythesdale is a generous volunteer and advocate for the Golden Plains’ creative community. He is a leading voice in GPArts Inc and helped drive the development of the new Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy as a member of the Strategy Community Reference Group. Barry was also pivotal in the success of the 2021 Smythesdale Arts and Music Fiesta, bringing the community together after an incredibly challenging year. The Fiesta showcased the talent of established and emerging local artists, with live music, poetry readings, workshops and a visual art exhibition, while also supporting local food vendors and artisans. Congratulations Barry!
The GPSC Community Awards 2021 nominees will be recognised, and the award-winners will be named, at an event on Tuesday 25 January. In line with Council’s COVIDSafe plan, event attendance is limited and by invitation.