Picture: BROOKE LITTLEWOOD
“THE world needs more people like you in it.”
This was one of many comments Southend man George Osis received after he donated $250,000 to the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) in August 2017.
Mr Osis, 68, is a modest and humble man who has immersed himself in the coastal community where he lives and enjoys life with his beloved Jack Russell pup Jacky.
However, his volunteer work and charitable donations have not gone unrecognised as the retired fisherman was announced as this year’s Wattle Range Council Australia Day citizen of the year for Kintore Ward.
Mr Osis’ generosity knows no bounds and he has devoted almost 50 years service to Southend’s Country Fire Service (CFS), holding the rank as captain until last year.
He has also dressed up as Father Christmas for children across the region, as part of the annual toy run charity.
Growing up as a “fisherman’s son,” Mr Osis lived in between Millicent – where he was schooled – and Southend.
When he was 16 he followed in his father’s footsteps and became a deckhand for local fisherman Jeff Ellis.
Mr Osis worked as a “deckie” alongside “a few different fellas” until 1974 when he purchased his own boat.
He said fishing was in his blood and both his parents had strong ties within the fishing community.
“Mum was a real good fisher woman,” he said.
“She could catch fish out of a bucket of water she was that bloody good.
“Mum and dad were both involved in fishing and things just went from there for me.
“In 1974, after eight years of working for Bob Dickson, I got my own boat.
“I think the hardest part about that was building up the courage to tell poor old Bob.
“He must have known something was not right with me because one day we were working on the boat and he said to me, George what’s wrong?
“You’re holding something back.
“I did not like lying to Bob because he was like a father to me so I said well I do not like to tell you this Bob, but I brought my own boat.
“He just said back to me yeah I knew that a long time ago.”
Around the same time Mr Osis purchased his own boat he joined the Southend Fisherman’s Association and the town’s CFS.
Despite medical conditions, he still volunteers with the brigade, but after four decades serving as captain he decided to pass on the reigns and last year changed his status to senior fireman.
Mr Osis said he first decided to join the CFS after two separate, accidental fire-related incidents, which occurred in his home and at the hand’s of his father.
“We were living in Millicent while Dad was building a new house in Southend,” he said.
“He threw a cardboard box on the fireplace and we were living in one of those old forestry men’s quarters.
“Anyway, Dad threw the big television box on the fire and a flame came out, caught Hessian alight and burnt the whole lot.
“It did not burn the whole house, but it put a hell of a fright up me.
“Another time he had these old lanterns.
“He had to light them with a little wad and pump them up- they ran on kerosene.
“Anyway, that flame came up and out of the top and frightened the hell out of me too.
“I suppose things just went from there.
“The brigade started in Southend and I decided to join.”
Throughout Mr Osis’ volunteer work with the service he has responded to a number of incidents ranging from the devastating Ash Wednesday fires, road accidents, roofs getting blown off a few houses and searches.
“It’s just something that has to be done and a bloke gets in and does it,” Mr Osis said.
“When I was brigade captain I never used to tell the fellas to do things I would ask them.
“If someone did not feel like doing it I would often do it myself.
“Volunteering with the CFS has given me a sense of helping the community.”
In August 2017 Mr Osis stunned the RFDS after he presented them with a $250,000 donation.
He said he wanted to give back to the aero medical organisation that saved his life.
“I had to use the flying doctors service a few times so I wanted to support and give back to them,” he said.
“Besides myself a few of my friends and relatives have needed the service.
“It is a worthy cause and I think it is important in the country because it is saving lives.”
Mr Osis said he was surprised to be nominated as the prestigious Australia Day citizen of the year and will accept his award Saturday morning at Beachport’s Australia Day breakfast ceremony.
“I was a bit shocked when I got the phone call saying I had won.
“You do not do these kind of things for awards.”
