“Our communities are changed forever by the people who work so hard and are such incredible forces for good in our region,” he said.
“I thank and congratulate each and every one for their amazing accomplishments.”
Ian and Margaret Taylor are Stawell, South and Central wards’ citizens of the year for 2021.
Mr Taylor publishes a weekly newsletter for Stawell Uniting Church, keeps the church’s directory up to date and maintains and repairs the watering system for a memorial rose garden.
He produces weekly filmed church services to keep the congregation connected, was a serving member of Callawadda fire brigade for 43 years and a member of Stawell Lions Club for 29 years.
Mrs Taylor is a church elder, supporting people and ensuring the overall wellbeing of the church, including running and attending meetings and other leadership duties.
She works closely with aged residents at
Stawell Regional Health and Eventide Homes and has also been involved in the Girl Guides movement for decades.
Together, the Taylors spend between 30 and 40 hours a week volunteering.
Stawell Rotary Club’s youngest-ever president Taia Hayter is young citizen of the year. Taia has participated in a Rotary Youth Exchange program and is Stawell FReeZA group secretary.
Kerry Wilson won a ‘local hero’ award after launching ‘Car park Karaoke’ during COVID-19 lockdown, singing to residents from car parks at Eventide Homes and MacPherson Smith Residential Care, accompanied by line dancers.
Stawell Regional Health Y-Zetts Shopping Spree, a 2020 COVID project, is community event of the year.
The event raised money for Stawell Regional Health despite challenges presented by the pandemic.
The municipality also welcomed a new Australian citizen, Patrick Grimson, at the ceremony at Cato Park.
Kara Kara winners
Troy Hendy was among award winners at a ceremony at St Arnaud yesterday morning.
Mr Hendy was part of the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners convoy involved in delivering fodder to drought-affected farmers in Queensland from 2016 to 2019.
In 2019, he privately gifted two truckloads of food and drink from IGA Victoria, delivering them to a drought-stricken farmer in Queensland.
In 2018, Mr Hendy gifted 84 pallets of hot cross buns to Queensland and in 2009, organised and transported goods to Black Saturday evacuees at Alexandra, Victoria.
Young citizen of the year Callum Edwards is a projectionist-usher at St Arnaud Community Cinema and under-15 assistant coach for St
Arnaud Hockey Club.
Callum is a food services assistant at East Wimmera Health Service, helping older members of the St Arnaud community.
In 2020 he was a St Arnaud Secondary College student council representative and a house vice-captain.
An active member of St Arnaud RSL since 1994, Gordon Wright is senior citizen of the year.
He has been part of St Arnaud Uncle Bob’s Club since 1979 and a town brass band member for 20 years.
St Arnaud Young Farmers’ Bendigo Bank Harvest Festival is the ward’s event of the year.
The entire January 27, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
The entire January 27, 2021 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!
