Meet Bendigo’s Citizens of the Year

THE City of Greater Bendigo’s 2023 top community awards were revealed on Monday, with Trevor Strauch taking home Citizen of the Year honours.

Meanwhile Young Citizen of the Year was shared between two local young guns for the first time in the award’s history with Amelia Leach-Unmeopa and Mitchell Graham both taking the honour.

Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf was on hand to introduce the award winners at Larni Garingilang at the Bendigo Botanical Gardens.

Cr Metcalf said Mr Strauch had been recognised for his volunteering efforts over many years in the Huntly community.

While Ms Leach-Unmeopa was being celebrated for her work in youth advocacy and promotion of indigenous culture and Mr Graham for his leadership in the Eaglehawk community.

“I am delighted to congratulate Trevor, Amelia and Mitchell on this significant achievement and their contribution to the Greater Bendigo community,” she said.

“The nominations we received for Mitchell and Amelia were so impressive, we had to select them both. All nominees are truly deserving of this local honour.”

“I look forward to Trevor, Amelia and Mitchell using their new platform to inspire others and congratulate them again on being named Citizen and Youth Citizens of the Year.”

Citizen of the Year: Trevor Strauch

Mr Strauch has volunteered in the Huntly community for over 60 years and is a life member of the Huntly Fire Brigade.

He has won the Huntly Fire Fighter of the year award twice, in 2006 and 2018 to go along with his National Emergency Medal and National Fire Service Medal.

In his time as a firefighter Mr Strauch has also helped in flood and fire strike teams across New South Wales and Victoria.

Mr Strauch is a member of the Northern Bendigo Landcare Group, and you can spot him picking up rubbish along roadsides, supporting community tree planting days and building nest boxes.

Cr Metcalf also said Mr Strauch contributes to local community in several other ways.

“Trevor also raises funds for the Huntly CFA, completes regular maintenance on the St Clements Anglican Church and Op Shop, and has been a blood and plasma donor for 52 years,” she said.

This is far from Mr Strauch first award for serving the community having also received a Paul Harris Fellow Rotary Award for his service.

For the Sydney games Mr Strauch also had the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch through Huntly.

Junior Citizen of the Year: Amelia Leach-Unmeopa

Amelia Leach-Unmeopa is an 18-year-old Torres-Strait Islander woman who wants to help inspire other young indigenous woman to achieve their goals.

Ms Leach-Unmeopa is interested in politics and was a member of the 2022 Victorian Youth Congress where she advocated for Indigenous youth and offered feedback on legislation impacting young people.

Cr Metcalf also said Ms Leach-Unmeopa picked up several significant awards and has been awarded for her hard work in 2022.

“Amelia was also recognised for her local leadership and won the Zonta Indigenous Women and Girls Award,” she said.

“She has been offered a place at the National Indigenous Australians Agency based in Canberra, where she hopes to pursue her passion for politics.”

Ms Leach-Unmeopa was a member of the Bendigo Senior Secondary College (BSSC) First Nations Leadership Team where she was instrumental in getting the BSSC to erect an Acknowledgement of Country Sign.

In her role at the National Indigenous Australians Agency Ms Leach-Unmeopa will complete a certificate IV in government.

Junior Citizen of the Year: Mitchell Graham

Mitchell Graham is a 21-year-old Eaglehawk local who has worked up an impressive community resume at such a young age.

Mr Graham is in his third term as president of Empowering Eaglehawk, a youth community group that has raised over $1 million for the Eaglehawk community since its inception in the early 2000s.

He has been instrumental in helping the group better connect with the community via social media and helped the group evolve with the times with more web-based content.

Mr Graham is also the brains behind the This is Eaglehawk promotion and the inaugural Eaglehawk Business Gala Night.

Cr Metcalf said that Mr Graham was a perfect example of getting a younger demographics input into the community as seen with his involvement in local badminton.

“His passion for badminton has led to him coordinating junior training and competition for the Bendigo Eaglehawk Badminton Association,” she said.

“And he attends monthly association meetings. He is a great advocate and example of the power of engaging young people to be part of community groups to offer advice and expertise.”

In his role as part of the Bendigo Eaglehawk Badminton Association Mr Graham helped develop new uniforms and is in charge of their social media accounts.