By Molly Taylor
THE Mount Gambier community has honoured several outstanding residents during City Council’s annual Australia Day breakfast.
Taking the stage at Tuesday’s ceremony at Cave Gardens, joint citizen of the year Dulcie Hoggan received the honour, with the late Pamela Moulden also recognised.
Both women received the accolade for their statewide advocacy for a lymphoedema compression garment subsidy after developing the debilitating condition in their arms during treatment for breast cancer.
Accepting the award on behalf of his wife, an emotional Ian Moulden thanked the community and said Ms Moulden would have been humbled.
“Australia Day means a great deal to my kids and myself and being Australian is something we are all proud of,” Mr Moulden said.
“When Pam and Dulcie made out to make the garments more accessible to everybody suffering this horrible disease, never in their wildest dreams did they imagine they would be receiving such a privileged award.
“Winning this award has given our family a legacy which we can pass on.”
Accepting her certificate, young citizen of the year Faith Monger thanked Ross Parkinson OAM for the nomination, as well as all various community groups she had worked along side.
“…thank you for your (community volunteers) continued contribution to our fantastic community and for the positive environment you create,” Ms Monger said.
“I have enjoyed every moment of volunteering over the years with a very diverse group of service communities.
“Lastly, I would like to leave you with a phrase I have been taught to live by, ‘find a way, don’t find an excuse’.”
The city’s senior citizen of the year, 78 year old Alan Warden, was acknowledged for dedicating 34 years as a scout leader in Mount Gambier and Millicent, as well as acting as a long-standing senior mentor.
“You don’t do this sort of thing for these awards, you do it because you want to,” he said.
The recipient of this year’s inaugural active citizenship award was Nel Jans, who volunteers 40 hours each week as The South East Junction coordinator.
Ms Jans, who immigrated to Australia from the Netherlands in 2008 and made Mount Gambier home, said non-Australians worked hard to feel at home.
“One way of doing so is to contribute to the community one comes to live in,” she said.
“This award acknowledges the effort non-Australians make to be part of the community.”
Mount Gambier Recycled Runway was the receiver of this year’s Mount Gambier community event of the year and also claimed the South Australian honour.
Event manager Leanne Dunn said it was the involvement by the community for the community which made Mount Gambier wonderful.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin said she was amazed by the volunteers efforts in the Mount Gambier and surrounding region.
“I believe if it were not for the services clubs and organisations, along with individuals, Mount Gambier would not continue to thrive,” she said.
“I feel like this Australia Day will be particularly poignant as we reflect on our values, resilience and what we stand for and acknowledge our rich heritage stems from the contributions made by us all.”
