Meet the people awarded for making a difference

THEY came from across the Shire but all those invited to the Bannockburn Cultural Centre on 26 January had one thing in common – they were there to be recognised for their service to the Golden Plains community.

From youth to seniors, individuals to groups. Each of them had sought to make where they live a better place,  sometimes over many decades.

“These people are so valuable,” said Golden Plains mayor Cr Helena Kirby.

“There’s hundreds of hours, in some cases, they put into community service and volunteering. To have people who are passionate about looking after their own backyard is fantastic.”

From almost 30 nominees across four categories winners included Citizen of the Year and mental health campaigner Brad McKenzie, Senior of the Year and public space custodian Damian Baker, Young Citizen of the Year Sophie Busuttil and Community Impact Award winner the Smythesdale Cemetery Trust.

Mr McKenzie’s five-year-long involvement with the Black Dog Institute started with a simple question from his daughter back in 2015 – how long would it take to walk from Mildura to Bannockburn?

Thirteen days is the answer, he knows because he walked it.

Since then he’s gone on to become an ambassador for Black Dog, travelling across the country and the world bringing awareness to mental health, all informed by his own challenges.

“I felt it was incumbent on me to do a bit more and speak up for those who were, at that stage, unable to speak for themselves,” he said.

More accustomed to putting the focus on awareness of the cause, Mr McKenzie having his effort acknowledged didn’t sit well with him, but it’s something he had to do.

“Things like this are still really overwhelming,” he said. “It’s not something I’m used to, or I seek, but I know it is important to have a face behind it for other people.”

Supporting better mental health was also at the heart of the Young Citizen of the Year award Sophie Busuttil contribution to the community.

During lockdown the Damascus Collage student began creating pins from clay that she then sold as part a Western Bulldogs Community Foundation Leadership program, ultimately rising over $300 which was donated to Headspace Ballarat.

Yet she wasn’t done there, after receiving $150 prize from her school, she also gave that money to Headspace too.

“They target towards teenagers and they are such great promoters of mental health,” she said. “I figured if I can raise money and also help promote their services that would be incredible.”

Upon receiving her award, Sophie said she surprised by the recognition.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” she said. “I did not expect this at all. To know that people noticed things is really heart-warming.”

For more than two decades Senior of the Year awardee Damian Baker has been looking after 10 hectares of public land he helped create on the north bank of the Leigh River.

About six times a year he mows the grass in the space, a job that takes him about five hours, as well as keeping down weeds and pests.

Mr Baker said that setting up the public open space came out need.

“We realised that where we are, in the Inverleigh area, is the last space along the river that’s open for the public until Ballarat,” he said. “The rest was owned by farmers.

“Yet here was a space on our doorstep that no one saw. No one came down, or saw the wildlife, so we said this is for the public, let’s try and do something about it.”

When it comes to his award, people using the space he helped create is just as important as the wider acknowledgment.

“It’s not something you do to be recognised, it’s something that I appreciate that people can come and enjoy,” he said. “I see mums with prams, walking groups, kids on bikes, that’s fabulous.”

Like most final resting places across Victoria, the working Smythesdale Cemetery is run entirely by volunteers.

The Smythesdale Cemetery Trust does more than just keep the grounds looking nice, for trust treasurer and secretary Rosemary Angus and the small group of custodians, the space is rich in stories of the people who made the district.

“The Smythesdale Cemetery has been there for 161 years. So there’s an enormous amount of local history associated with it,” she said.

“A local cemetery is really important as part of the identity of the area.

Recently the Trust completed a project that involved celebrating pioneering women who have be laid to rest in the space through interpretive signs.

For Ms Angus, the recognition of that work and the other things the Trust does via the Community Impact Award meant people might have a better understanding of the role of her group and others like it.

“A lot of people would have no idea that most cemeteries in Victoria are run by volunteer trusts,” she said.

“It means we can adapt to community needs. You can be far more responsive to your community as a volunteer trust.”