Giving back in their own backyard City of Mount Gambier honours volunteers at Australia Day event

Mount Gambier Senior Citizen of the Year Allen Woodham OAM channelled his inner John F. Kennedy Jr as he paraphrased the former US president at the end of his acceptance speech on Australia Day, applying JFK’s famous inaugural address to challenge everyone to give back to their community.

“Ask not what your city can do for you but rather ask what can I do for my city – if you do that I think your life will change considerably.”

Sage advice from a man who has spent seven decades dedicating himself to community service, mainly through his involvement in the brass band movement.

Allen was joined by Citizen of the Year Graham Carter OAM, Young Citizen of the Year Zane Serdarovic, Community Event of the Year representatives from the Fantasy Medieval Fair and Active Citizenship award winners, the RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band at Mount Gambier’s Cave Garden breakfast event to commemorate Australia Day last week.

WHAT THE KEY OFFICIALS HAD TO SAY:

Clare Scriven (South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development)

“I always feel it is a privilege to speak on Australia Day – it brings us all together to celebrate what we love about our nation. To celebrate the land, the lifestyle, our diversity, our mateship, our resilience, the sense of a fair go and the freedom we enjoy. Most people do wonderful things in our community without expecting any recognition. They are role models for so many people in our community.”

Tony Pasin (Member for Barker - delivered by Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM)

“We reflect on what it means to be Australian, we acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of every person to this land. We all share a stake in our future, all have a responsibility to each other, we all have something to celebrate. We are a nation of freedom and opportunity, even in tough times. We should be proud of who we are and what we have achieved together – to work hard, to contribute to the community, a sense of mateship, of belonging, of prosperity.”

Lynette Martin OAM (City of Mount Gambier Mayor)

“Australia day allows us to reflect on what it means to be Australian. We have the privilege of living in one of the world’s great countries. We can reflect on our past, celebrate the present and look to the future. It is the unsung heroes of our community that make our city a much better place.”

WHAT THE AWARD WINNERS HAD TO SAY:

2023 Citizen of the Year Graham Carter OAM (awarded in 2022)

“I feel very humbled, blessed and honoured at the same time. I’m totally honoured to be able to work for the community and to take part in many other organisations within the community not just Lions. I have worked with many community members and I really owe part of this to them also, people who work together towards a common goal – the community of Mount Gambier and its betterment. Mount Gambier has great facilities, assets and potential and we need to bear in mind they can always be improved. I want to give a great shout out to the people that are Mount Gambier’s unsung heroes, who give their time and money, volunteering and supporting community causes and events. We need to ask ‘how do we support them? We need to recognise their efforts. If you know people who have given a great service and are an unsung hero, recognise them and nominate them (for an Australia Day award).”

Graham’s long journey of community contribution has focussed on humanitarian service and building better communities for the benefit of all. Graham (pictured bwloe left with City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM) is a remarkable member of our community who has contributed distinguished service of the highest order in civic, agricultural, emergency services and community service organisations. His wise, calm, facilitating approach, combined with great inner strength and seemingly endless capacity for work, has made an outstanding contribution to the many voluntary and business organisations with which he has been associated for over 60 years.

2023 Young Citizen of the Year –Zane Serdarovic

“I got involved in Riding for the Disabled (RDA) because I had my own horses and I wanted to do something to give back to the community. I enjoy being around horses and through the RDA I could give back to the community and help disabled people. It is not just a way to give back to the community, it has also been a great way to make new friends.”

Zane is the President of Mount Gambier’s Riding for the Disabled Centre and does incredible work day in and day out with the centre’s members. Zane (pictured below right) has done a fantastic job in providing the best possible service he can to the RDA clients and strives for change.

Recently Zane organised an awards night for the centre with medals and certificates as a way for everyone to feel valued and appreciated. Zane makes every person who walks into the centre feel welcome, and when asked why he volunteers, Zane said, “the kids, their smiles and how much they love it, it honestly just makes it worth it every time.”

2023 Senior Citizen of the Year Allen Woodham OAM (awarded in 2012)

“The Brass Band movement is a way of life and I’ve been 70 years in that movement. Very, very blessed to live in Mount Gambier – one of the most fantastic cities in one of the most fantastic countries in the world. This is an award I will treasure. If you have a passion follow that passion and see where it takes you.”

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Allen (picturd top right) has contributed to the life and advancement of Mount Gambier for many decades. He has worked with the Salvation Army, Mount Gambier City Band, Lions Club, Local Brass Band, and Christmas Parade Advisory Group. Allen is currently the treasurer of the Mount Gambier Lions Club and has had previous terms in this role and as President of the Club whilst also serving in his third term as President of the Mount Gambier City Band. 2023 Community Event of the Year – Fantasy Medieval Fair (Committee members pictured below - Tammy Flier - Event Management; Talie TeakleEvent Organiser & Luke StewartEntertainment Coordinator)

“Our committee worked tirelessly behind the scenes and the great business community helped us try some of the crazy stuff we did to provide an alternative, family event in the immersive atmosphere we created. We truly loved putting on the event.”

The inaugural Fantasy Medieval Festival was awarded Community Event of the Year for creating a fantastic community atmosphere, with plenty on offer for the whole family. A dedicated team of volunteers ran the festival, which generated significant visitation to Mount Gambier, a terrific accomplishment in its first year. 2023 Active Citizenship – RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band

“We thank the City of Mount Gambier for the recognition with this award.”

The RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band ((pictured right with City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM) can trace its history back to 1895. During this time, it has supported the Mount Gambier and district communities primarily free of charge with a myriad of musical support and has represented Mount Gambier overseas. Along with the music the band provides to the city, the RSL Blue Lake Highland Pipe Band provides tuition and instruments free of charge to community members, introducing young people to the pipe band fraternity.

AWARD WINNER PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANK MONGER

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