Dedicated volunteers recognised by Shepparton’s Australia Day Awards

“I never expected to be standing up here ... I’m lost for words,” he said.

For more than 15 years Mr Healey has undertaken the self-appointed and unpaid role of groundsman-in-chief for Congupna’s school, Congupna General Store and the town’s football and netball club.

He gladly tackles maintenance issues for those communities, and also tends to a nearby walking track as gardener — to the benefit of everyone who crosses that path.

“You don’t do things to come up and get awards, you do things because you want to do it,” Mr Healey said.

He is a dedicated volunteer on a number of community groups, including the Shepparton Showgrounds advisory committee and the GV Motor Vehicle Drivers Club.

Mr Healey recently volunteered to help with the auction of assets of the local public high schools, as they transition to Greater Shepparton Secondary College.

He listed, collected and organised all of the items to go under the hammer.

Mr Healey said he had no clue who nominated him, and he would keep up his community work as long as he was able.

Recent Greater Shepparton Secondary College graduate Georgie Waser took out two titles — Greater Shepparton Young Citizen of the Year and Shepparton Young Citizen of the Year.

“I’m so pleased and proud to be part of this community,” she said.

Accepting both awards was Ms Waser’s proudest achievement, she said, placing ahead of representing Australia in karate at the Asia-Oceania Championships in 2015 and the World Cup in 2017.

Ms Waser is a keen volunteer, a regular blood donor, a frequent participant at the Shepparton parkrun, and a Goulburn Valley Orchestra violinist.

In 2021 she was GSSC vice-captain and volunteered with the school’s junior strings group.

William ‘Bill’ Brown was awarded the title of Shepparton Senior Citizen of the Year for his decades of volunteering.

Mr Brown is a Vietnam veteran, and before he joined the army he worked for Victorian Railways.

“Deep inside I’m still a railway man, it never goes away,” he said.

Mr Brown said he and his wife only planned on spending a year in Shepparton with their young family. But 51 years later, he’s still here.

He was involved with Mooroopna Football Netball Club for more than 25 years, is a large supporter of Shepparton International Village, Shepparton RSL Sub-branch and Australian Botanic Gardens in Kialla.

Mr Brown also volunteers at Greater Shepparton Visitor Information Centre, where he has been involved for more than 30 years.

“If you don’t work in your community, why are you here?” he said.

Mathew Boyle and Ashlie Napolitano won the Shepparton Community Service Award in absentia, for their work establishing The Hunter Boyle Children’s Swim Pilot Program in May 2021 following the tragic death of their son, Hunter, who drowned in 2020.

Mr Boyle and Ms Napolitano aim to expand the program to other regional areas during the coming year.

City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe congratulated all Australia Day Award recipients.

“We are very lucky to have so many individuals who continue to make meaningful and profound impacts in Greater Shepparton,” Cr O’Keeffe said.

After a challenging year, Cr O’Keeffe encouraged the community to keep its cups “half-full”.

“Let’s do what we can to really push forward ... as a community we’re certainly showing our resilience, our strength, our care, and our compassion is incredible.”

Cr O’Keeffe thanked everyone who took the time to submit a nomination to recognise their fellow citizens.