Celebrating our outstanding local residents on Australia Day

Published on 27 January 2022

Local residents who have made outstanding contributions to the Macedon Ranges community were recognised at Council’s 2022 Australia Day Award ceremony at the Kyneton Town Hall on Wednesday 26 January.

The 2022 Australia Day awards were the first since Council announced the three new award categories that reflect the themes in the new Community Vision and Council Plan:

The award winners were announced by the Mayor, Cr Jennifer Anderson following a citizenship ceremony in which three local residents became Australian citizens. The keynote address was provided by Australia Day Ambassador Richard Rozen OAM, a holocaust survivor whose war time experiences have been documented in books and adapted for the stage.

Due to current COVID restrictions, the Town Hall event was invitation only.

After more than two decades in academia studying religions and Hellenistic philosophy and completing a doctorate at the University of Oxford, David changed his focus to more contemporary issues such as climate change and sustainability.

In 2008, David and his partner, Sara, moved to a small property in Woodend, transforming it to provide a high degree of food self-sufficiency. In 2014, David and friends started the Woodend Bee-Friendly Society which has become the second largest beekeeping group in Victoria and one of the more active action groups in the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group (MRSG), a non-profit, membership volunteer based organisation promoting sustainable living in the Macedon Ranges. In the past 6 years, David was the treasurer for two years and president in the past four. During this time, MRSG’s membership base grew from 150 to over 500 today. 

The secret behind MRSG’s growth to 500 members and influence has been the development of community action groups comprising dedicated individuals working together in projects, events, and practical activities in key areas such as: beekeeping, farmers’ markets, healthy eating, renewable energy, transport, regenerative farming, sustainable development, recycling and waste reduction, energy-efficient homes and climate change education.

During the pandemic crisis, MRSG’s action groups undertook several projects facilitating solar installations on CFA stations in Malmsbury and Newham, the Woodend Neighbourhood House and Kyneton Caring Community, as well as seeking to improve the energy efficiency of homes of low income families in order to bring comfort and wellbeing benefits to the occupants.

A Macedon Ranges resident of 16 years, Luke lives in Newham with his wife Megan and three daughters. Passionate about the value and power of community, he has been involved in a broad range of organisations, including the Woodend CFA, Newham Landcare and Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group.

Luke founded a campaign to bring respect and recognition to Hanging Rock that included more than 6,000 residents, attracted millions of dollars in funding, saw Victorian Heritage Registration and even a book 'Hanging Rock - A History'. He also founded the community owned not-for-profit Rock & Ranges Brewing Co-operative with the ethos that ‘beer’s better together’. Open to all, the co-op seeks to create social opportunities and build community capacity.

Luke and Megan and two local families took over the Newham General Store during the COVID pandemic to ensure it continued to provide a local resource during lockdowns. It has become a vibrant community hub that showcases the region's local produce. Most recently in partnership with Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Luke has sought to provide a 'sense of place' for local youth with the establishment of Newham Youth Space.

Kyneton District Soccer Club is an inclusive sporting club of 300 players (from children aged 4-8 years old, right through all age groups of junior and senior men’s and women’s teams) that provides an inviting environment for all members of the local community to engage in a recreational activity through training and playing football (soccer). During the COVID pandemic, the club identified the need to remain engaged with its members, supporters and families in relation to restrictions effecting their ability to train and play.

Female players make up 42 percent of the club’s membership, closing in on Football Victoria’s aim of a 50/50 gender split by 2027. The club ran a Go Girls program aimed specifically at young females wishing to try the game without the pressure of committing to competitive competition and is currently working with Sport 4 All toward facilitating an All Abilities Program.

Kyneton District Soccer Club was the first regional Victorian club to receive Football Australia's National Club Development Program 5 Star rating. It has also undertaken a Mental Health program through Sports Focus and the Love Me Love You organisation in conjunction with Monash University to raise awareness in the community of mental health issues that affect so many people.

Kyneton District Soccer Club was awarded Football Victoria's Regional Club of the Year for 2021 for its continual growth of Football (soccer) in Victoria and the programs the club conducts.

Andrew is a hospitality and tourism professional of more than 35 years and following roles in the UK and Australia and time in Asia, he moved to the Macedon Ranges in 2014, purchasing Braeside Mt Macedon Country Retreat.

Andrew understands that a strong and vibrant economy underpins the ongoing success of the Macedon Ranges and recognises the vital role that the visitor economy plays in supporting local businesses, and providing jobs.

Andrew runs Braeside Mt Macedon with a small dedicated team and the support of local food producers, wineries, trades and suppliers, together they have been rewarded with a number 1 in the Macedon Ranges by Trip Advisor for six years, awarded the “Best of the Best Award” in 2021, ranking it in the top five per cent of businesses in Australia, Macedon Ranges Business Excellence Awards for Accommodation, Tourism and Visitor Experience, as well as Business of the Year.

Through his work in the Macedon Ranges Accommodation Association Andrew has helped support the accommodation sector through the global pandemic, keeping members updated and supported in a constantly changing landscape of restrictions, regulations, lock-downs and re-openings.

He is currently the Deputy Chair of Tourism Macedon Ranges and also sits on Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Business and Tourism Communications Group. A member of the Mount Macedon and District Horticultural Society, he is committed to ensuring the heritage of open gardens on Mount Macedon, and that our most prized natural treasure, Hanging Rock, is responsibly managed and maintained for generations to come.