Community shows thanks

A HEALESVILLE basketball volunteer and a Mail newspaper journalist are the recipients of this year’s Rotary Pride of Workmanship Award.
Kevin Stanley and Kath Gannaway received their awards at the Rotary Club of Healesville dinner meeting last Thursday at Sanctuary House.
Mr Stanley has devoted 20 years to basketball in Healesville, first as a player, then as a referee, and now as an administrator.
“He has single-handedly driven the Healesville Basketball Association, conducted training schools for referees and raised the standard of sport in the Yarra Valley,” Rotary president Allan Davidson said.
Basketball Victoria and Sports Education Victoria acknowledged Mr Stanley’s work in 2003 but last week’s Rotary award was the first official recognition from the local community.
Journalist Kath Gannaway joined Mountain Views Mail in 1985. She took a five year break to work at Healesville Sanctuary and then came back to lead the editorial team.
“Kath has always attended late night meetings and weekend community events,” Mr Davidson said.
“The philosophy of our local paper and the support it gives to local events has changed little since then.”
Among the guests was founding editor and former owner of the Mountain Views newspaper, Mardi Lambert, who was Kath’s mentor in the early days.
Ms Gannaway’s husband, Bob, and Mr Stanley’s wife, Meg, were with them as they received their awards. Mr Davidson said they could not have achieved so much without the support of their partners.
The annual award recognises employees who show a high standard of work, pride, and ethics in the workplace. Nominations come from employers and the community.