Top citizens recognised

HUSBAND and wife team, Brian and Geraldine Davidson, have been recognised as ‘Citizens of the Year’ by the Rotary Club of Wonthaggi.

The award was bestowed upon the couple at the club’s annual Australia Day awards ceremony at the Wonthaggi Union Community Arts Centre last

Wednesday (see breakout story about the couple’s community service).

Several Community Service Awards were handed out, including to Lance and Anne Perryman; Clive and Julie Kilgour; Colin and Pam Willmott; Brendan Horrocks, and Sam Gatto (Heritage).

And the Sports Achievement Award was presented to the Wonthaggi Bowls Club; Trevor Teer accepted the award on behalf of the club.

Brendan Condon was nominated as Australia Day ambassador by the Rotary Club of Wonthaggi, with Brendan providing audience members with an overview of his work at The Cape and through various other sustainable practice businesses, including building the Melbourne Skyfarm.

Community Service Award - Lance and Anne Perryman

Lance and Anne are terrific, community-minded people, explained Rotary Club of Wonthaggi secretary, Nicky Chung.

The principles of fairness, equity and integrity have always been important to Lance and Anne and they clearly understood that there were serious needs out there; people were desperate for support in many ways and they were keen to work with the Anglican Church and the community to address these issues.

“They knew that to be effective this had to be done collectively through the Combined Churches Group and Davey House at the Wonthaggi Hospital and was well supported through the generosity of service clubs like Rotary and Lions and other community groups.

“The Christmas Hamper program has now run for over 15 years and the No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) under the auspices of the Anglican Church has been very supportive of those most in need at desperate times.

“It has helped break the poverty cycle and in all around $150,000 has been provided so far.”

They have also helped out with the regular Community Meals program and dispensing of food and other items through the Food Rescue program, ‘Second Bite’.

Since 2010, Anne has been a Minister in the Anglican Church.

Community Service Award - Clive and Julie Kilgour

Clive and Julie’s contribution to the community has been very impressive and consistent, Rotarian Ray McCurry explained.

Clive was the CEO at the Wonthaggi and District Hospital for more than 24 years.

He has also been a valued board member of the San Remo Community Health Centre. He has been a Justice of the Peace since 1984 and has served as a board member at Moonya.

He currently serves on the board of Rose Lodge Aged Care facility as secretary.

“He has also served on the golf club board, is the current president of the Bass Coast Historical Automobile Club and he has a long membership of the South Gippsland Jersey Breeders Association.”

Julie also has an impressive history of community service.

“She was recently recognised for her 40 years of service as a volunteer at the Wonthaggi and District Hospital/Bass Coast Health, with eight years on the

Ladies Auxiliary and later moving into palliative care support and more recently as a COVID volunteer.

Her interest in gardening lead to many very happy hours with the Garden Club until she was recruited to join the South Gippsland Orchid Society, where she is now a life member.

Community Service Award - Colin and Pam Willmott

Colin and Pam have had a strong connection with the Glen Alvie community, being long-time residents, with the family coming to the district over 102 years ago, explained Rotarian Cr Bruce Kent.

Both were involved with the Glen Alvie Football/Netball Club, and their association with the Recreation Reserve and Community Hall proudly spans over 40 years.

“Colin’s support of the Glen Alvie Fire Brigade has been over 30 years, including the donation of land and active service, another fine commitment.”

Pam has been an active member of the Country Women’s Association for over 25 years.

Both are heavily involved in the South Gippsland Game Fishing Club, serving in several roles; both are proud life members.

“Pam has also served on the board of the Victorian Game Fishing Association and was the first female state president - a great achievement.”

A few years ago, they retired from farming duties and moved to Wonthaggi, joining the Lions Club of Wonthaggi.

They’ve generously opened their home and beautiful garden several times to raise funds for research into Mascular Degeneration, a condition that Colin unfortunately has been dealing with for some time.

Following the terrible bushfires, Colin, supported by several generous local farmers, kicked off the collection of hay through the Need4Feed program and it was transported to where it was most needed.

Community Leadership Award - Brendan Horrocks

Brendan is a popular and highly respected member of VicPolice.

He is a Youth Resource Officer, tasked with engaging with youth and organising resources and programs to support young people across the area.

He has also contributed as a representative on the Bass Coast Shire’s Road Safety Committee, explained Rotarian Leah Montabello.

“Brendan has a long association with the Blue Light Disco – over 30 years.

“Funds from these activities helped set up and support important other programs like the Bike Education Program which has been very successful over the past 15 years or so. Brendan was able to purchase and register new trailers, provide bikes and safety equipment to schools to help with their training programs and teach road safety.”

Around five years ago, he implemented a great program of lawn bowls with primary and secondary students and young people with special needs.

“It has been very popular and successful. He was able to access grants to purchase equipment and was supported by the local bowls club. He is currently working in a new engagement program called Blue Edge which caters for young people in years 7-9, operating twice a week before school, involving some physical education, breakfast and counselling.”

Community Service - Heritage - Sam Gatto

Sam has been interested in history since he was a little boy.

Sam joined the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society some years ago, where he began a search for documents about his family.

In 1953, his father Domenico Gatto and the Italian community staged a play in Wonthaggi and in 1954 it was staged in Melbourne at Melbourne Cathedral Hall. Sam thinks 2000 people attended the play at Cathedral Hall.

“Sam found the article he was seeking, but what got him started on Wonthaggi’s history was John Owens, in 2001, the chairman of the hospital board, asking him to write up the history of Wonthaggi Hospital.

“Sam accepted this big task, and it took nine years work and thousands of hours of research and investigation with much of the information found at the Melbourne State Library.

“From the time he researched the history of Wonthaggi Hospital, the floodgates opened because there was so much history of Wonthaggi to write and rewrite. He was inspired. In all, he has written four books, many essays and speeches and has delivered countless talks, including to schools.

Sam is now working on a history of Wonthaggi through street and place names. He is due to write a short history of Wonthaggi Miner’s Dispensary for the centenary celebrations in November.