By KATH GANNAWAY
HODDLES Creek’s Connie Grogan was one of 56 Yarra Valley volunteers recognised in the Casey Community Volunteer Awards on 5 December.
Casey MP Tony Smith hosted the annual event which recognises those who donate time to their community.
He said members of schools, sporting groups, emergency services, environmental groups and support services were acknowledged on the day, some for decades of service to their communities.
Coincidentally, Connie’s award was, in part, for 56 years of service to Hoddles Creek Primary School.
She was nominated by the school which said she was an ‘HCPS icon’.
Her three children and two grandchildren attended the school where she has taught religious education for all those years.
She has mentored as part of the Kids Hope program for many years doing baking, reading and craft, made toffee apples for the fete, is a regular at Twilight Sports and a ‘stand by’ special visitor on grandparents’ day.
Connie’s many years with the Hoddles Creek Red Cross is also legendary with her knitting, cooking and preserving skills helping raise over $100,000 over the years.
And, as if all that ‘sweat’ isn’t enough, Connie has been a blood donor for 50 years.
Upper Yarra Valley Historical Society president Tom O’Meara was also recognised for his commitment to the society, the Upper Yarra Museum and other historical organisations.
Tom is president of the society, the museum and Outer Eastern Historical Society and chairperson of the Heritage Network.
Colleagues who nominated him said, Tom, a former school principal, had introduced many primary schools to the museum to gain a better understanding of their history and their heritage with amazing results.
“Often children return with their parents,” the nomination said.
It spoke of his success in obtaining grants and in driving events such as breakfast on the platform that caters for local business people.
Tom said he was surprised and pleased to receive the award but said he was just one of many people in the community doing all sorts of things for their community.
“This is recognition for the whole team here,” he said.
Other Upper Yarra recipients included Sandra Coulson for volunteer patient transport to residents of Woori Yallock, Wayne De Klijn for work with the Seville Township Group and Seville Recreation Reserve Committee, Diane Johnson for more than 28 years involvement with district Scouting, Theresa Reynolds, Warburton School Council president and Springfest organiser, Nola Sharp for over 25 years’ service to Girls Guides, Inner Wheel of Wandin and Wandin Toastmasters, Gordon and Linda Chapman and Ray and Val Oliver for their involvement with Mont de Lancey Museum over more than two decades, Tony Bickley for his involvement with Warburton Golf Club with maintenance and coaching for local children, Maree Budweg for work as district co-ordinator of Inner Wheel Australia’s national fund-raising for Cord Blood research, Peter Willis for service to Yarra Junction Bowls Club and the Active After-School Communities program and Michael Young, a volunteer with Upper Yarra SES for service to the brigade as duty officer for 10 years and deputy controller for the past eight years.
“All of these groups, in their own small way, are contributing to the community at large, and I think that’s what drives us all,” Mr Smith said.
He said the Yarra Ranges was “blessed” by its volunteers and their sense of community spirit.
“Without our volunteers, our local community would cease to function,” he said.
