Campaspe community volunteer awards 2021 announced
Published on 20 May 2021
A Rochester resident in his nineties, an action-oriented youth program and a blue-light-inspired community organisation have been awarded top accolades in the 2021 Campaspe Community Volunteer Awards.
Winners were announced at a special morning tea attended by people nominated for the prestigious awards, hosted by Campaspe Mayor Cr Chrissy Weller on 20 May as part of National Volunteer Week.
“Volunteers make our communities stronger, especially during times of need, crisis or isolation. And the vital role volunteers play in our community has never been more apparent than in the past year as we have all grappled with the myriad impacts of the global pandemic,” Cr Weller said.
“While many of us stayed at home, hundreds of volunteers across the shire continued to deliver essential services, provide care and support to those in need, and create opportunities for people to connect and stay engaged with their community.
“This says so much about the spirit of volunteerism in Campaspe and the selfless character of our people. On behalf of Council and the wider Campaspe community, I thank all the volunteers across the shire for their extraordinary efforts in giving of their time to help others during these challenging times.
“The Campaspe Community Volunteer Awards provide an opportunity to formally acknowledge, thank and celebrate the dedication and achievements of some of our most outstanding volunteers.
“Congratulations to the 2021 Community Volunteer Award winners - Thomas Murphy, winner of the individual category; Lockington Youth Action Group, winner of the Young Person Category; and Kyabram Blue Light, winner of the Organisation Category.”
Thomas Murphy – Winner, Individual Category
According to his nominator, Thomas “is an amazing 94 year old man who has dedicated his life to helping others”.
Thomas has volunteered across a variety of community endeavours over the years, helping his fellow citizens in times of need and bringing joy into people’s lives.
Thomas joined St Vincent De Paul Society in 1994 and served as secretary for more than 20 years. During the drought, he collected food from the Cobram Food Bank which was sorted into hampers and distributed to the local farmers. During the flood, Thomas took on the task of distributing $180,000 of donated money to help people get by until their insurance was settled.
Thomas has volunteered at the Social Support Network via the Rochester and Elmore District Health Service for more than 15 years. Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, he made the morning tea and greeted clients on arrival three mornings a week. He helped organise activities and often jointed the music groups to entertain the clients with his wonderful voice and witty banter.
Thomas helps at the Rochester Food Bank once a week and often takes elderly residents from the village community in which he lives, on social outings, medical appointments and other trips.
Lockington Youth Action Group – Winner, Young Person Category
The Lockington Youth Action Group run by the Lockington Neighbourhood House provides school-aged secondary college students with opportunities for leadership, and to plan and participate in community activities.
Beyond the program, the young members of the group are volunteering their time to assist many local events, worthy causes and fundraising activities. This support has included: helping at Australia Day flag-raising ceremonies; serving meals at a CFA Men’s Health night; assisting with fundraising such as raffles, trivia nights and barbecues; and helping with the Good Choices, Great Life campaign at the Lockington Family Wellbeing Day.
Kyabram Blue Light – Winner, Organisation Category
The dedication and desire to make a positive difference has seen Kyabram Blue Light continue to provide opportunities for young people to get together and engage with each other, despite the COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns of the last year.
Weekly gym challenges and awards helped keep young people and their families healthy and active. And a recent three-day leadership camp attended by 60 young people from across the shire, provided a wonderful opportunity for young people to catch up with friends, and engage with local police officers and teachers in a fun, active and informal environment.
The diverse knowledge and skillset of the large contingent of volunteers on Kyabram Blue Light allows for a broad range of activities and events to be organised for young people, including camps, day trips, the weekly gym program, blue light discoes, pool parties and more. These initiatives have also brought together volunteers from other community organisations such as the SES, CFA, Rotary and Lions, to engage and collaborate for the benefit of Campaspe’s youth.