AFTER giving back to the community for over five decades, Millicent’s Glenise Cull has been named the Wattle Range Council Senior Citizen of the Year.
In the culmination of Seniors Month activities, Ms Cull was officially announced as the recipient of the award after she was nominated by Pauline Ferguson, who praised her valuable contributions over the years.
“I know what she has done over the many, many years and what she is still doing,” Pauline said.
“She’s always been there for me and the other friends we have.
“She’s very special and it is very well deserved.”
Ms Cull moved to Millicent from Mitcham, Melbourne, in 1967 with her husband Bill and four boys Michael, Mark, Matthew and Andrew.
It did not take long for her to became a well-respected member of the community as she joined a number of local committees and organisations.
In 1968, Ms Cull coordinated the Carols by Candlelight in the Park and remained an active member on the committee for the nine years that followed.
She also became involved in the St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School welfare club, Red Cross blood collection, chamber of commerce, Miss South Australia Quest Millicent branch and Blue Light Disco committee.
There was no stopping Glenise as her volunteer work carried on and she was appointed the inaugural president of the Boneham Cottage Home’s evening auxiliary, chairperson of the “year of the child” committee, a member of the Jubilee Trade Train, a volunteer at St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in the learning assist program and their centenary celebrations.
Nowadays, she can still be found lending a helping hand at Boneham Aged Care Services, the Millicent Combined Churches Christmas Appeal fete and the St Vincent De Paul Society.
Despite her 50 years of dedication to a number of community groups and organisations, Ms Cull said she was shocked and surprised to be announced as the senior citizen of the year among an endless list of worthy winners.
“It is a real shock, they sort of had to push me out of the chair to go up,” she said.
“I’m still shaking my head, I did not expect this to happen.
“This town, it just would not get by without all of our volunteers.
“There are so many worthy people who volunteer all the time and have done for years.
“It is what keeps our community going.”
She added she was very thankful to the Millicent community.
“Millicent is a very giving and supportive town, people support each other and as we get older its a great town for us oldies,” she said.
“I am very thankful I am here and I am very thankful I am living here as we are getting older because there is so much here for us.
“A lot of towns do not have places like Hart Court and our medical centre – we are very well cared for here.
“Although all my kids have moved away, we have no intention to.
“People from all walks of life are giving and volunteering, there are a lot of people that we do not even know about that are doing things.
“They just do it and get it done.”
