Let’s hear it for the boys

A tireless community advocate; a jack of all trades; a mental health champion and a generous philanthropist head the list of award winners to be honoured at this Friday’s 2024 Australia Day event in Mount Gambier’s Cave Garden.

Richard Harry, Kevin Douglas, Luke Thomson and Julian Mattay all have extensive resumes that are centred on working with and for the community.

City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said the annual awards recognise individuals and community groups that have made selfless contributions to the community during the past year, and in some cases, over many years.

“This year’s award recipients are some of the unsung heroes within our community who volunteer their time to make Mount Gambier a better place. I thank them for their dedication and assistance to improve the lives of others,” she said.

The City of Mount Gambier Australia Day Breakfast and Citizen of the Year Awards presentation will kick off at 7.30am with breakfast provided by the Lakes Rotary Club of Mount Gambier which is available to purchase for $10 for adults and $7 for children, with all proceeds donated to Foodbank and local anti-domestic violence programs. Attendees are reminded to bring their own crockery and cutlery.

The entertainment also starts at 7:30am with local performers Jani Live, Bell Studio of Highland Dance and the Karen Youth Group of Mount Gambier, Yazidi happy boy and the Noh Lah Hay Karenni church group along with family friendly activities such as face painting, a jumping castle, and wildlife demonstrations by Australian Bush Buddies.

The event will be interpreted on stage in Auslan, the language of the Australian deaf community. In addition, accessible matting will be laid on the lawn, allowing better wheelchair access for attendees.

For those unable to attend the event, the City of Mount Gambier will live stream the proceedings, which can be viewed at facebook.com/cityofmountgambier

AWARD WINNERS:

City of Mount Gambier Citizen of the Year – Richard Harry

Mount Gambier man Richard Harry was a founder of the Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group (LCPCSG) after his own prostate cancer diagnosis in 2010 and more than a decade on he is still campaigning for services and support for cancer patients as front and centre of the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group.

From his own diagnosis to the current, ongoing campaign for radiation treatment in the region, the 79-year-old has been focussed on how the tyranny of distance affects prognosis and how critical family support and treatment close to home can be for a patient fighting cancer.

And Richard doesn’t just identify issues, he rolls up his sleeves and turns his hand to sourcing solutions.

From setting up the Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group, to extensive fundraising to improve services, to lobbying State and Federal Government for equipment and resources, including securing a prostate cancer nurse for the region to his latest efforts to secure radiation treatment services for the Limestone Coast – Richard is a man of action.

Richard said community groups and organisations from throughout the region got behind the group to support its endeavours to provide support to men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“I think we have got an absolutely magic community, we work together, it’s not just our community in Mount Gambier, it’s the whole of the Limestone Coast and I feel so privileged that we live in such a caring area,” Richard said.

And he was humbled to be honoured with the Citizen of the Year gong. “I feel very honoured, but I still feel there are a lot of people out there that do a lot more than me,” he said.

“I am just a cog in the groups that I’ve been involved with, I am just part of it. It takes a lot of people to bring these things together.”

City of Mount Gambier Senior Citizen of the Year – Kevin Douglas

Kevin Douglas has been a well-known personality in the Mount Gambier community for more than 50 years.

Affectionately known as KD to many, the 72-year-old once fronted local classrooms as a teacher, coached local football teams and has been behind the microphone as master of ceremonies at many sporting events and presentations in addition to volunteering his time extensively throughout the community.

Born in the Riverland and raised in Adelaide, Kevin moved to Mount Gambier in 1974 for his first teaching post at Grant High School. His career in education spanned 45 years as a Physical Education (PE), Mathematics and Geography teacher throughout the region, including Allendale East Area School, Millicent High School, Mount Gambier High School and the district office before he retired in 2016.

“It’s not a job that can be taken lightly, because you really are putting down a foundation for a lot of kids,” Kevin said.

Sport has also played a huge role in Kevin’s life, whether it be playing a game of footy for South, West Gambier, Kongorong or Western Border Interleague, or coaching.

“Right from being a youth, my Mum Thelma ensured my brother and I played a lot of sport, and I believe it is so important. It has so much more to offer than potentially getting a kick on Adelaide oval – the responsibility, the organisation, the punctuality, all those social skills that are so important, the teamwork, the friendship, they are all the benefits of playing sport,” he said.

Over several decades, Kevin also volunteered his time to chair panels for local tribunal boards, including soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and football.

After hosting a sports show on local radio 5SE for the best part of a decade in the 90s, Kevin was in demand as a master of ceremonies around the region for various events.

That included presentations and special events on race days at the Mount Gambier Harness Club, trotting evenings at the Mount Gambier Greyhound Club, sports nights and charity fundraisers.

Kevin enjoys using his skills to guide local volunteer organisations to success, including the Mount Gambier Community Christmas Lunch event. From 2020 to 2023 Kevin led the event, which grew to 170 attendees under his guidance and passion for the cause to ensure that everyone involved enjoyed Christmas lunch together, no matter their circumstances.

“Kevin engaged with the whole community to gain support for the event. He has put a structure in place to ensure that it can now continue to run for many years,” Mount Gambier Community Christmas Lunch event organiser Vicki Clark said.

Kevin discovered Sunset Kitchen as a result of his work with the Community Christmas Lunch and now volunteers at the kitchen regularly and is grateful for the contribution and support of generous local businesses throughout Mount Gambier.

“If there is a genuine need, I haven’t found a business, corporation, or individual in Mount Gambier who will say no, they will do what they can,” he said.

Kevin said his commitment to lending a hand in the local community stems from finding out the goodwill displayed to his family, when his father was killed in a car accident in 1956, astounded him and he wanted to continue to give back to others where he could.

“That’s my why, you’ve got to do what you can to help other people in need.”

Young Citizen of the Year – Luke Thomson

Luke Thomson had been silently struggling with his mental health for a couple years before he decided to speak to a doctor about it in 2022.

The former Nangwarry football coach was subsequently diagnosed with anxiety and depression and plucked up the courage to talk to some friends about it as a guest on ‘The Richo & Toddy Poddy’ podcast which usually focused on sport.

“I guess people were noticing when I was a bit down and my behaviour was all over the place, and they wanted to know why,” Luke said.

“To be upfront and honest I told a couple of mates about my diagnosis on the podcast, and they were taken aback, and everything really took off from there.

“That little chat between us led to some pretty good opportunities to help raise awareness about mental health and help break the stigma.”

The young father of two started the ‘Let’s Talk’ podcast in 2023 and quickly created a safe space for local people to discuss mental health issues.

“In sharing my story, I have found that more people have opened up. People have come to me and spoken about their own experiences, I have had people that you wouldn’t expect get in touch and it’s really opened up the conversation,” he said.

Luke was part of a local committee that raised more than $50,000 for headspace Mount Gambier through the twilight charity football match ‘switch the headspace’ held at East Gambier Football Club in February 2023 for mental health awareness.

“I think Mount Gambier as a whole is a good community, people really come together especially when it is for the mental health side of things,” he said.

He was also a Swinging with the Stars participant in 2023, raising about $10,000 in funds for the Stand Like Stone Foundation.

In his working life, Luke works at a hotel and supports and mentors youth in his role as a School Services Officer (SSO) at Mount Gambier High School.

“You’re shaping these kids and you get the opportunity to guide them and help them on their way and to move out into the community to find casual jobs, to find an apprenticeship or whatever future they want to explore.”

He is currently studying a certificate four in youth work and hopes to continue to assist young people in the years ahead.

“I think Mount Gambier needs a youth centre, we always hear the kids that are 12 to 18 say that don’t really have that much to do here. We want a centre that brings them all together, whether they are into sports or gaming or whatever it is. Long term I wouldn’t mind being part of a centre that opens up something like that.”

Active Citizenship Award – Julian Mattay

As a child Julian Mattay and his family moved to Australia as refugees from war torn Hungary, Europe and decided to settle in Tasmania. He says Australia offered him many opportunities and now, he pays it forward by volunteering his time to local charities and organisations and donates generously to local causes to return the favour to others.

For this, Julian is the recipient of the City of Mount Gambier Active Citizenship Award.

Mount Gambier has since been Julian’s home for the past 40 years. His position at CSIRO was made redundant in 2006 and he subsequently decided to use his free time to help others.

“I work with the Rotary Club, Sunset Community Kitchen, the Flying Doctor Service Support Group, the Ryder Cheshire Foundation and with the Books in Homes program,” Julian said.

Books in Homes is a charitable foundation that provides books to children living in remote, disadvantaged and low socio-economic circumstances, ensuring crucial early literacy engagement and the development of reading skills required for lifelong achievement.

As a member of the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier, Julian played a crucial role in establishing the Books in Homes program in Mount Gambier in 2015. From June 2019, Rotary decided to stop sponsoring the program and since then, Julian has personally donated more than $16,000 to keep the program running locally in conjunction with the Mount Gambier Library, providing 2504 books to 678 families.

As part of the initiative, each child selects nine new books they would like to have at home, creating a personalised library of their own.

“Reading books takes children away from screens and playing games. They can read the books to their parents and their parents can read books to them, it’s a bit of a bonding exercise as well.”

As part of his work with the Rotary Club of Mount Gambier, Julian coordinated the barbecue fundraiser at the weekly Rotary Community Market.

He continued in this key role for almost 10 years, until the market was closed due to reduced patronage and the impact of COVID.

Julian resigned as a member of the club in 2020, but as a “Friend of Rotary” he often volunteers his time to help with fundraising activities.

Community Event of the Year – Mount Gambier Community Christmas Lunch

In 2009 local man Leigh Marcus hosted the first Mount Gambier Community Christmas Lunch at St Martin’s Lutheran Church Hall with 75 people in attendance.

In the years since, several volunteers including Heidi Bates, Liz Rymill, Kevin Douglas and current organiser Vicki Clark have led and facilitated the Mount Gambier Community Christmas Lunch.

“We have a wonderful group of volunteers who give up their own Christmas celebrations to support those less fortunate each year,” Vicki said.

The lunch is held annually on Christmas Day at City Hall. Attendees are provided with a free, three course Christmas lunch along with entertainment and a gift bag of items donated by local community members and businesses.

“The lunch is provided in an inclusive, safe environment to ensure everyone in our community gets the chance to enjoy a Christmas lunch which they may not have otherwise been able to do. We all know everyone needs a helping hand now and then, and that’s why we do what we do,” Vicki said.

“It’s a very humbling event to be involved with and we are very grateful to have the opportunity to support our community in this way. Christmas is a very hard time for a lot of vulnerable people and if we can take their mind off their woes for a few hours, our job is done.”

In 2023, the lunch was attended by 170 guests, with approximately 30 takeaway meals provided for those who were not comfortable in a group environment.