Volunteers are community heroes
Emma Ballingall
by
Despite moving to the region just three years ago, Warragul resident Krista Mountford has made her mark with 12 fundraisers raising over $65,000 for various charity endeavours.
Her passion for helping others resulted in Krista named Baw Baw Shire Australia Day Citizen of the Year on Wednesday.
The official awards and citizenship ceremony at the West Gippsland Arts Centre in front of a small crowd of invited guests also saw Trafalgar High School graduate Alan Valenzuela awarded Young Citizen of the Year and Baw Baw Soup Kitchen awarded Community Organisation of the Year.
Six Australia Day Medallion recipients were Charlotte Smithett of Drouin, Christopher Behrendorff of Warragul, Ross Dawson of Warragul, Erika Wassenberg of Drouin, Jodie Mace of Erica and Ron Mether of Willow Grove.
Two special recognition awards, a new category, were given to West Gippsland Healthcare Group for its pivotal role during the COVID pandemic and Olivia’s Place for its innovation in helping local families.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Michael Leaney said it was a wonderful occasion to honour the outstanding people in the community “who go above and beyond to make our shire a better place”.
Cr Leaney conducted a citizenship ceremony for four people from four countries – United States, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and Iran.
He welcomed new citizens Sachin Sant Kumar, John Edward Malins, Anuj Sajan Ranasinghe and Mohammadreza Tajaly into the Baw Baw community.
“Our Australian values unite us and welcoming migrants from across the world makes us stronger,” he said.
The ceremony began with Heather Hood performing a Welcome to Country, Warragul Scout Group assisting in the flag raising and Warragul Municipal Band performing.
Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said Australia Day could be contentious but it was important to remember we are all Australian.
He urged reflection of the past, which includes things we’re not proud, as we move forward as one.
He also noted the Baw Baw community and its efforts over the pandemic, stating “we have great people to live life with”.
“I’ve seen our community so strong and together, and supportive of each other”.
Australia Day Local Ambassador Farhat Firdous told her story of becoming an Australian citizen in 2020 after spending her youth in India and Pakistan.
Farhat travelled to Australia on a university scholarship in 2007, returned to Pakistan in 2009 and then returned to Australia on a second scholarship in 2013 when she made Baw Baw Shire her home.
“It was the first time in my life I felt safe and at home; I found a community I’d like to call my own.”
“I’m a very proud Australian today and I want every Australian to celebrate our country and diversity, new or old.”
Krista Mountford – Citizen of the Year
Over the past six years, Krista’s events have raised over $65,000 for GERF, ovarian and breast cancer as well as 400 Christmas hampers for Baw Baw Food Relief through a Reverse Advent Calendar.
She played a key role with Baw Baw Soup
Kitchen, is an active member of the Ellinbank Primary School community and, in 2019, started local group “Gippsland Wellness Women”.
“The award comes as an incredible surprise and I’m very thankful for this honour,” Krista said.
Krista juggles all this whilst being a mum to two young sons, Riley and Connor, wife to Andrew, full-time study and casual work.
Alan Valenzuela – Young Citizen of the Year
Alan, a recent graduate from Trafalgar High School, was recognised for his support of music events and volunteering his time “always with a smile and can-do attitude”.
The Trafalgar resident recently moved to Melbourne to study a bachelor of arts at Melbourne University but will regularly return to continue “Make Noise Initiative”. He co-founded the new program aimed at supporting local original artists to make the leap into the music industry,’
Growing up as a multicultural youth, Alan said he found the early stages of high school difficult and “I didn’t think I would be here today”.
Working with a production company in Melbourne in between writing and recording his own music, Alan credited the school for showing what can be done with a bit of hard work and initiative and his parents and brother for teaching him to always find a way of giving back.
Baw Baw Soup Kitchen – Community Group of the Year
This 13-week pilot program gathering more than 100 volunteers from various groups to provide warm meals to residents in Warragul and Drouin plans to continue into 2022 with more permanent locations.
Accepting the award, Jan Davidson from Baw Baw Food Relief said it was lovely to see groups work together for one common goal, “to feed the need in our community”.
The new program was delivered after several groups met in March 2021 to discuss how best to serve increased demands in a growing shire. Baw Baw Food Relief, The Crossing, Frankie’s Community Kitchen, Warragul Community House, Drouin, Warragul and District Apex Club, Warragul Lions Club and local police worked together to deliver warm soup, quiches and other food to the homeless and needy in Queen St, Warragul and Civic Park, Drouin over some very cold nights.
Medallion Awards
Charlotte Smithett of Drouin is described as a selfless year 10 student at Drouin Secondary College who always tries for positive change in the community and takes on extracurricular activities in swimming, athletics, leadership conferences and Live4Life.
Christopher Behrendorff of Warragul who is a volunteer with Gippsland Umpires Association and Aus Hair of the Dog Rescue.
Ross Dawson of Warragul who is a Lions International and Rotary International delegate and well as founder of Warragul Men’s Coffee Group which has now expanded to Yarragon, Drouin and Moe.
Erika Wassenberg of Drouin who is a Drouin Lions Club member and volunteers at Longwarry to provide lunches for school students.
Jodie Mace of Erica who runs a local café and is heavily involved in the local community as well as raising $20,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Ron Mether of Willow Grove received the award for 40 years of service to the Willow Grove Recreation Reserve Committee of Management as well as many other community contributions.
Special Recognition Awards
West Gippsland Healthcare Group
Acting CEO Trish O’Kelly said the award went to all the staff, from cleaners to doctors, for their support and efforts over the past two years in the COVID response.
In mid-2021, the group set up a vaccination clinic at The Goods Shed in Warragul before setting up a COVID testing facility at Lardner Park in less than 24 hours. A range of staff were deployed to Lardner Park to give the opportunity for residents to be tested in their own cars, with a record 638 people tested in just one day.
Olivia’s Place
The leading pregnancy and early parenting charity faced a year of great need, innovation and big projects.
The organisation adapted service delivery to remain connected with struggling mothers whilst achieving a long-standing goal of accreditation as a community organisation with the QIC Health and Community Services Standards.
Board president Lauri Stewart labelled it an honour, thanking the amazing staff and army of volunteers as well as clients and community.