By Jed Lanyon
Kilsyth resident Mike O’Meara received the Ian De La Rue Award for Community Leadership by Yarra Ranges Council.
Mr O’Meara has spent years working to improve his community and the lives of returned service people. He has worked on the board of Vasey RSL Care, Carry on Victoria, as well as chair of the Sir Edward Dunlop Mediacl Research Foundation and was Deputy Commissioner of Victoria of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
“It’s great to be recognised. I must compliment council on the way they do this. They are a council that does support the community people. There are so many great people living around the Yarra Ranges.
“To receive an award is something very special for me. It’s one of those cliches, you don’t play football to win the Brownlow Medal, but it’s nice if you can win one. It’s lovely to be recognised, but it’s also recognising the community effort and that’s the important part.”
All of Mr O’Meara’s work has resulted in an honorary life membership from the RSL for exceptional work with veterans, a Kevin Heinze Community Award from the Rotary Club of Montrose for service to the community – particularly young people and adult community sport, community involvement and the support of local veterans’ groups and individuals.
Mr O’Meara has served on committees for Parade College, Yarra Ranges Council, as President of the Kilsyth Senior Football Club and as a founding chair of the Kilsyth Community Action Group.
“We do a lot of work in the community as part of a township network. We consider issues that are facing us and advise council on what the residents are thinking. Residents wanted a local festival, so we run an annual Kilsyth festival now. It’s growing and has been very successful.
“The big one is trying to improve the amenity of the Kilsyth shopping centre. We’ve got no identity and people feel like Kilsyth is a drive through place along Mt Dandenong Road on their way to somewhere else.
“We’re trying to develop a heart of the area so people can identify that they’re in Kilsyth. And the key to that is the shopping centre.”
