Unsung Hero Award 2011 - entries close soon
Help us to recognise the work of the most-admired community volunteer in your area: nominate them for the friends Unsung Hero Award.
Many people work tirelessly for their community and make enormous contributions on local issues. Communities in rural and remote areas are much the richer for their contribution, yet often we don’t know who these people are. For this reason we call them Unsung Heroes - local people who work hard and expect little reward.
The 2011 Unsung Hero Award round is open until 5pm Friday 11 February 2011 and the winner will be announced at the 11th National Rural Health Conference. It will be an opportunity for us to remember all such local heroes, while focusing on one or two in particular.
The nomination form and further information is available on the friends page of the Alliance website.
2009 Unsung Heroes
Lynette Clyde was recognised for her services to the remote community of Lock, on the Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia where she went 40 years ago as the wife of the local policeman after completing her nursing training. With the help of the Country Women’s Association a medical centre was built which attracted two GPs. Lynette served there for 30 years until moving to Port Pirie six years ago. Today she continues to serve the community by baking bread for the disadvantaged, practising pet therapy by taking her dog to nursing homes, and reading to the elderly and infirm.
‘Uncle’ Col Walker is an elder for the Yorta Yorta Nations People in Bahmah in Victoria. Uncle Col was nominated by 6 different groups and has been recognised for work among Koori people, where he works in a voluntary capacity with the Koorie Courts at Shepparton District Courts with the victims and perpetrators of crime to promote healing, and encourages Aboriginal people to find alternative pathways by reconnecting to their local communities and cultures. He also worked to establish the Batja Men’s Group and helps run its cultural program that assists Indigenous men reconnect to their culture and community.
Peter Sergeant has been recognised for his work developing sustainable models of ‘Men’s Sheds’ for use in country and rural communities including Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait. Men’s Sheds are recognised as a means of delivering medical help and assistance to men suffering isolation, loneliness, mental health issues and providing respite to carers.
Highly Commended
Marj Fraser from Thorpdale in Victoria runs the local newsagency and has actively pursued and initiated many projects aimed at improving health from the local dead ball to the Thorpdale potato festival. She has also contributed voluntary work at the hospital, local council and her biggest morning tea event raised over $20,000 for cancer research. She also single handedly writes and distributes the local community newsletter.
Garry Orvad runs the Mud Hut Motel in Coober Pedy. Garry set up a local football team for young children, the Coober Pedy Saints, and runs teams with local communities (only about 300km away) including all the sponsorship for jerseys, drinks, trophies etc. Garry also secured Government funding for 22 children to allow road trips up to the pit lands. He also established a football academy at the local school in 2009.
