Shire’s Australia Day ambassadors announced

GANDEL Philanthropy chief executive officer Vedran Drakulic and kidney health champion Grant Monks will be the official ambassadors at the Surf Coast Shire’s official Australia Day events.

Mr Drakulic will speak at a community gathering in Anglesea and Mr Monks at a Torquay event, both reflecting on what Australia Day means to them.

Their presentations will be followed by naming of the shire’s Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year.

Mr Drakulic arrived in Australia in 1995 as a refugee from conflict in Bosnia and is now chief executive officer of Gandel Philanthropy, one of Australia’s biggest family philanthropic organisations.

Gandel distributes about $15 million in grants each year in areas including arts and culture, education, health and medical research, Jewish identity and leadership, youth at risk and indigenous programs.

He was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his service to community through charitable organisations and has been an Australia Day ambassador since 2009.

Mr Monks has lived with significant health issues and family tragedy but remains a beacon of hope for Australians.

He has spent 15 hours a week on dialysis for 17 years and has undergone kidney transplants and many health setbacks but remains unwaveringly positive.

Mr Monks is a mentor for Kidney Health Australia and multiple chronic illness peer support groups, volunteers time to support youth offenders and is an ambassador for the Alannah and Madeline Foundation.

Members of Anglesea and Torquay Lions clubs are partnering with the Surf Coast Shire in running the free events.

The Anglesea breakfast will be beside the Anglesea River near the visitor information centre from 8am, with formalities starting at 8.45am.

The Torquay event will start at 10am in Taylor Park near the rotunda and include a citizenship ceremony.