The late Mark Weragoda (1959-2025), who held office as a City of Greater Bendigo councillor representing the Eppalock Ward from 2012 to 2016, has been recognised for his service to the Bendigo community with a posthumous Medal of the Order of Australia.<\/p>\n
A longtime Rotary Club of Bendigo-Sandhurst member and its president from 2000 to 2001, Weragoda sat on a number of committees at various times during his adult life including the Bendigo Military Museum, the Bendigo Airport and the Bendigo Arts and Creative Industries Advisory committees.<\/p>\n
He became a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow in 2005 (for humanitarian and community service) and a Paul Harris Sapphire (for continued service) in 2014.<\/p>\n
He also chaired the Bendigo Business Excellence Awards committee on behalf of Rotary from 2006 to 2007.<\/p>\n
Weragoda is survived by his children and wife Leonie, who said the family is absolutely thrilled by the news.<\/p>\n
“We’re happy, amazed and really proud that he’s getting this award,” she said.<\/p>\n
“He would have been so, so happy and so proud, as we as a family are.”<\/p>\n
Mrs Weragoda said the career signwriter, teacher and classic car buff’s passion for community service was “part of his personality and his upbringing”.<\/p>\n
“He just loved the community and he loved people and wanted to try and help,” she said.<\/p>\n
“He was very passionate about Rotary and helping the club raise funds for different community projects, and as part of that, he went on to leadership roles at district level (Rotary District 9800 and Rotary Goldfields District).”<\/p>\n
Presiding as a councillor during a tumultuous time for the city, Weragoda was the target of personal criticism after the planning permit for the construction of the Bendigo Mosque was endorsed by council in 2014.<\/p>\n
Mrs Weragoda said those things never bothered her husband.<\/p>\n
“He would take things on board, he would do the best he could to help resolve issues,” she said.<\/p>\n
“But, it never worried him – he was a happy, fun loving, easygoing, beautiful person.<\/p>\n
“I’m just sorry that the award is posthumous, it’s very emotional but it’s going to be a lovely thing to happen.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The late Mark Weragoda (1959-2025), who held office as a City of Greater Bendigo councillor representing the Eppalock Ward from 2012 to 2016, has been recognised for his service to the Bendigo community with a posthumous Medal of the Order of Australia. A longtime Rotary Club of Bendigo-Sandhurst member and its president from 2000 to […]<\/p>\n