Baw Baw celebrates our 2022 Australia Day Award Winners!

Eleven outstanding local individuals and groups have been recognised for their contributions to our community at the 2022 Baw Baw Australia Day Awards Ceremony. 

The annual Baw Baw Australia Day Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday 26 January in the Theatre at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, coinciding with an Australia Day citizenship ceremony. Limited numbers attended the event by invitation to allow the conferees and award winners to celebrate in a COVID safe way.  

The 2022 Australia Day Local Ambassador and guest speaker was Farhat Firdous, the Multicultural Strategic Engagement Coordinator at Latrobe Community Health Services and Member of the Victorian Anti-Racism Taskforce. Farhat spoke of her cultural heritage and provided insight into her journey of becoming an Australian Citizen. 

“I admit that my citizenship ceremony was the first time in my 40+ years of life that I felt a valid person with some sense of entitlements to basic human rights and safety”, she said. “Thanks to my country of choice, I feel safe to ‘have a go’ and participate in the community I consider my home for good.” 

This year, Baw Baw Shire recognised winners in a range of categories: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Group of the Year and a newly introduced category, the Special Recognition Award.  

In addition, six medallions were awarded to outstanding individuals who were nominated for their noteworthy contribution and service to the community. 

All winners were nominated by fellow community members seeking to honour those who give so much to their communities every day. 

“Each year we receive fantastic nominations recognising the local legends who go above and beyond to make Baw Baw Shire the incredible place it is. We were fortunate enough to receive so many amazing nominations this year, which made it even more challenging to choose only a selection of winners. 

I congratulate all our award winners for 2022 and thank them for the selfless contributions they make to our community.

If you know someone who continuously goes above and beyond to make a difference in our community, I encourage you to keep them in mind for the 2023 nominations".

Special Recognition Award - West Gippsland Healthcare Group 

The West Gippsland Healthcare Group were nominated for the pivotal role they continue to play in supporting the local community with response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In mid 2021, WGHG set up a Vaccination Clinic at the Goods Shed in Warragul, a central hub to provide vaccinations to the community of Baw Baw Shire. 

Then another massive undertaking, setting up the COVID testing facility at Lardner Park when the COVID outbreak in Baw Baw commenced. While there had been much contingency planning, the facility was set up in less than 24 hours, testing hundreds of patients per day whilst continuing to care for a surge in patients at the hospital site. 

Special Recognition Award - Olivia’s Place 

Olivia’s Place were nominated for the hard work undertaken across 2021 and the welcoming atmosphere maintained in a trying and divisive world climate. Whether it's checking in on a client over the phone, cleaning a pram to be rehomed, or making the monthly cardboard tip-run, Olivia's Place has created a culture of dedication and family within and beyond the team here in Baw Baw. 

In 2021 the group adapted their service delivery to ensure they remain connected with struggling mothers when face-to-face sessions became restricted. This meant that Family Support workers were able to keep making those important phone calls to check in on clients. 

In the same year, the team were intently working towards a long-standing goal of achieving accreditation as a community organisation with the QIC Health and Community Services Standards 7th Edition. The team received their accreditation in March alongside some very esteemed words of praise from the assessors. 

Australia Day Medallion - Charlotte Smithett 

Charlotte is a year 10 student at Drouin Secondary College.She is a selfless and respectful student and member of the Baw Baw community. Over her schooling she has participated in a large range of extracurricular activities throughout the year, such as swimming, athletics, leadership conferences, VicSRC Executive Advisory Committee and Live4Life.  

Charlotte plays an active role in the community and is always trying to make an impact and positive change in herself and the community around her. Charlotte was awarded Young Citizen of the Year in 2021 and continues to display a strong commitment towards her community. 

Australia Day Medallion - Christopher Behrendorf 

Christopher was nominated for his outstanding work within the Gippsland Umpires Association over the last decade,supporting the young people within the Shire. Christopher is also a board member with the Ellinbank and District Football League and has made a valuable contribution within his role there.    

Christopher also spends time fundraising and volunteering with local charity Hair of the Dog, contributing time and resources from his personal business to help the welfare rescue and rehabilitation of abandoned and mistreated dogs over the last 7 years. 

Australia Day Medallion - Ross Dawson 

Ross was nominated for his role in establishing the Drouin Men’s Coffee Club. Ross' philosophy aimed at providing a forum for men in West Gippsland to share their wit and knowledge to support each other’s physical and mental wellbeing. 

The initiative has since evolved with groups now meeting in Drouin, Warragul, Moe and Yarragon. 10 to 25 men meet on a weekly basis with Ross assuming the responsibility for arranging a suitable venue and communicating details to members.  

Ross provides a focus for up to 50 men who come together every week, and the fact that few miss without good cause is testament to the value of his work. 

Australia Day Medallion - Erika Wassenberg 

Erika was nominated for her time and passion spent towards giving back to the Baw Baw Shire community. She has just stepped down from the role of Drouin Lions Club president, after serving for 3 years. During her time at the club, membership has increased significantly and continues to increase to this day. 

Erika is an active Lions Club member and can often be seen raising funds at Bunnings BBQs and other local events. Erika also volunteers at the food relief centre, making sandwiches for disadvantaged school children. She also dedicates time and work towards supporting others who are experiencing grief. She is modest about her achievements and is much loved by those who know her.  

Australia Day Medallion - Jodie Mace 

Jodie was nominated for her enthusiasm and contribution towards her local community in the Mountain Rivers Region of the Shire. Jodie is always putting people first and supporting the many local groups over the past 15 years. 

Jodie dedicates several hours supporting local groups with their fundraising efforts, donating cakes and scones and general event organisation to assist the group wherever possible. She is always going above and beyond of what is required.   

Jodie has also played an active role assisting with a number of community groups and organisations including: King of the Mountain annual wood chop, SES World’s Greatest Shave, Erica Community Facilities Committee of Management, Annual Monaro Car Day, Australian Red Cross Centenary – helping with a display of uniforms, badges and trophies over the years as, well as serving food at Community BBQs and Christmas gatherings.  

Australia Day Medallion - Ron Mether 

Ron is at the heart of the Willow Grove Recreation Reserve. Having been a member of the committee since 1981, he has helped helped build the football rooms, amongst many other projects.  

In recent years Ron has maintained the recreation lawns on a regular basis and cleans the all abilities facilities in town. Ron has also played a key role in the in the grant application and building process for the newly established playground and tennis/netball rooms. 

Ron is currently an active voluntary member of the local Landcare group and Community Hall Committee, he regularly mows the primary school grounds, and has been the Master of Ceremonies at the Hill End Australia Day Service the last few years.   

Community Group of the Year - Baw Baw Soup Kitchen 

Baw Baw Food Relief has been operating in the Baw Baw Shire for the past 19½ years and have 950 families registered for assistance providing access to wholesome food each year. 

The team were nominated for their 13week pilot program, The Soup Kitchen. In March 2021 several groups and associations met to discuss how best the group can serve the growing demands of the population growth in the Shire. The group consisting of Baw Baw Food Relief – Warragul, The Crossing Food Relief – Drouin, Frankie’s Community Kitchen, Warragul Community House, Apex Club of Drouin and the Lions Club of Warragul. 

Throughout the program, over 100 people came together from each group to warm up soups, quiches and other delicious foods to provide for residents. The pilot was a success with plans to continue the program into 2022. 

Young Citizen of the Year - Alan Valenzuela 

Alan is a great support of music events and is the first person to put up his hand to volunteer his time as a presenter, performer or host or even a humble stagehand –  always with a smile and can-do attitude. 

Alan writes and records his own music and through networking with other musicians and industry professionals at every opportunity. Alan is passionate about his music and about learning and developing new techniques and skills to help develop his knowledge and creativity and this is evident in the music he is creating. 

Alan is an informal leader in the school community and is always supporting his peers in projects and provides a voice to student ideas to the school and teachers. 

Citizen of the Year - Krista Mountford 

Krista was nominated for the huge impact she continues to have within the community. Krista has organised 12 charity events over the past 6 years and has raised over $65,000 for charities including GERF- Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund, Ovarian Cancer Australia and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Together with Baw Baw Food Relief, Krista organised the Reverse Advent Calendar event, where over 400 Christmas hampers made by community members, businesses and organisations, and provided to those in need. She has also played a key role in the organisation and delivery of the Baw Baw Soup Kitchen. 

Krista is an active member of her son's school, Ellinbank Primary School. She is a member of the School Council and on the Sustainability/Grounds Committee and Fundraising Committee, raising funds to transform the school gardens. 

In 2019 Krista began a local group called Gippsland Wellness Women as a way to connect local women to meet up for walks, catch ups and support to local women –particularly in the last two years throughout the pandemic. 

Krista does all of this whilst also being a hands-on Mum to two young sons, Riley and Connor, and loving wife to Andrew. She is also studying full time at TAFE Gippsland, in a Certificate IV in Leisure and Health and working casually Fairview Village as part of their Lifestyle Team.