Pam fuelled by community spirit

Horsham councillor Pam Clarke remembers one of her first endeavours to give back to her community – she was 10 and had organised a neighbourhood concert to help raise money for an elderly resident.

“I think we ended up making three pounds and went knocking on their door to give it to them,” she said.

“But when you have the opportunity to help, you make yourself available.”

Born and raised in Horsham, Cr Clarke believes her early sense of community spirit was the product of living in a generous and volunteer-centric community.

And it was her awareness of how much Horsham residents were willing to give that made the honour of receiving an Order of Australia Medal on Sunday so humbling.

“There are a lot of people doing enormous amounts for the community in the background who are really our unsung heroes,” she said.

“And there are many people who have done a lot more than I ever have, so it is such an honour for me to have this recognition. I’m very humbled.”

Many of Horsham’s residents would know Cr Clarke for her two terms as Horsham’s mayor, as well as many years as a councillor.

But while a portion of her community work has been through her roles in local government, she has also volunteered in many other areas.

She is a member of Rotary Club of Horsham East, former chair of the Aboriginal Reconciliation Advisory Committee, spent eight years on Uniting Wimmera’s board and has had crucial roles in developing employment services.

Cr Clarke said her love for Horsham and desire to make it the best place she could fuelled her heavy involvement.

“I’m passionate about Horsham. I think it’s a brilliant community,” she said.

“And that’s what I want for people to think of it as. I want people to think of it as a community to raise a family, live and work.

“They did a survey a couple of years ago and Horsham was one of the top communities for volunteering, and it’s that spirit in Horsham that is really wonderful.”

Cr Clarke said her proudest achievement was seeing community projects she had been involved in come to fruition and thrive.

She said this included Horsham Aquatic Centre and Horsham Town Hall redevelopment, as well as helping with Kalkee Road Children’s and Community Hub.

“I think those really big projects – and to see them become so successful – are really my proudest achievements,” she said.

“I was a new councillor when the aquatic centre was being discussed, and formed part of the discussion of where it would go. I also chaired the fundraising committee, which helped raise $640,000 for it.

“But projects like that, I didn’t do on my own and couldn’t have achieved them on my own. And I think that’s important – you can’t do anything in life without people around you and being part of what you do.

“I have been privileged to have had some really amazing people support me.”