Community & Vocational Awards

Community & Vocational Awards 2007

           The unsung heroes of our community are recognised

The Community Service and Pride of Workmanship Awards dinner was held on March 14th and was an occasion for our club to recognise people in the community who have contributed mightily, but who have received little or no recognition.  The night was organised by the Community Service Director, Anne Prescott,
and the Vocational Service Director, Max Lake.

Those gaining awards were:

Geoffrey Lee was nominated for a Community Service Award by Janet Grundy. His citation says: This Community Service Award is to recognise Geoffrey Lee, whose voluntary work over more than 35 years has assisted and supported young people facing disadvantages. His achievements are remarkable because
they were made on his own initiative, with no formal support structure, and prompted entirely without any expectation of personal reward. Where he saw a need, he was moved instinctively to offer a solution.
Geoffrey came to Australia to escape a harsh life in Communist China, arriving here at the age of twelve with few material possessions. His first achievement while so young was to support himself to complete his schooling. Ever since then he has had a heart-felt appreciation of the importance of education.
As a small business owner Geoffrey showed many of the young people who worked for him how to operate a business and, if their language skills were poor, encouraged them to read, read, read. He perceived that reading held the key to the foundation of success at school and that motivation and encouragement were
essential to get children reading. Most of the children he encountered were from disadvantaged backgrounds, and he knew from his own experience the importance of reading to help improve the chances of opening up life opportunities.
Hundreds of children have benefited from Geoffrey’s inspirational mentoring and supportive care. An outstanding example is Bilel Jideh, son of Lebanese immigrants living in Western Sydney, who acknowledges that Geoffrey’s sustained support over several years assisted him to rise from being next to bottom of the
class in year 9 to become dux of his school, before progressing to an honours degree in medical science and eventually post-graduate medicine. The work of motivating young people continues. Geoffrey makes time to visit schools to deliver his message of encouragement to both parents and young people. Among those of which Geoffrey and his wife Theresia can be most proud, are their daughters: Jessica who is a junior resident doctor at Concord Hospital, and Frieda, who is an Arts/Law student at Macquarie University. They too, actively support a range of community causes, and have tended to be natural role models and mentors for many of the young people in Geoffrey’s circle. Geoffrey is also active in the wider community. He belongs to one of the major political parties and has stood for office on his local council. He has been a committee member for over three years of Goon Yee Tong, a Chinese community group, 800 strong, which provides support for others who have come to Australia from villages in Geoffrey’s home district of Donguang,
China. The services provided range from scholarships for the young to support for the elderly and Festivals such as New Year along the way. In this community Geoffrey is also renowned for his natural flair as a matchmaker, and it is possible that he could even gain recognition for this in Wahroonga! Geoffrey Lee, along with those he nurtured, is a shining example, said one letter writer to the Sydney Morning Herald, of what happens when one personreaches out and the other grabs on hard.
 

Evelyn Lavender was nominated by Anne Prescott for a Community Service Award. Her citation reads: Evelyn is one of those quiet achievers who just seems to get things done. She has worked for Meals on Wheels for over 22 years. St John’s Anglican Church has an OP Shop each month and Evelyn volunteers her time to help run it. She is an integral part of the church community – when needed she visits people in Lady Gowrie Nursing home and Roden Cutler Hostel in order that the residents can take Communion. Evelyn also is a member of the Mothers’ Union. As part of that organisation, Evelyn takes flowers from her garden to the stall on Town Hall station for Mothers’ Union. For more than 16 years, Hornsby Girls’ High School Old Girls Union has benefited from Evelyn’s skills as Treasurer on the Committee. She also represents the Old Girls’ Union on the finance committee of the school.  At various times, Evelyn has been the President and Secretary of the Rosemary Club of Chatswood Legacy, and is the social convenor organising trips for the Rosemary Ladies. These aren’t quick trips into the city or up to the Hunter – last year at this time she took several of them to Lord Howe Island. Each year she also prepares large quantities of rosemary from her garden for ANZAC Day. Each week for more than 16 years Evelyn has visited Turramurra Primary to help the infants students with their reading. Both teachers and students benefit from her help in the classroom. Lest you think Evelyn has lots of spare time on her hands, she has a great vegetable garden, she plays tennis each week, and she helps supervise the School Certificate and Higher School Certificate examinations at Hornsby Girls
and the special consideration students at the University of Technology, Sydney. The students find her to be a very kind and helpful person.

 Dr Amanda Paul, of the Ku-ring-gai Veterinary Hospital, was nominated for a Pride of Workmanship Award by David and Rosemary Maclean. Her citation reads: Amanda has far exceeded the normal veterinary care which is routinely provided. As our pet has suffered many serious ailments, and we have often
been very anxious about her, Amanda has made herself available out of hours, both at nights and weekends.
She has followed up requests by both telephone and email. When our dog has been boarding at the vets, Amanda has supervised both her care and her medication. It is through her care that our dog, and many other pets, have enjoyed a quality of life beyond what is normally to be expected. Amanda is always cheerful and willing to walk the extra mile with interest, compassion, and the animal’s best welfare at heart. This citation was endorsed by Dr Angus Ross and Dr Peter Coote, partners in Ku- ring-gai Veterinary Hospital, who noted that they were thrilled that Amanda had been nominated and happily endorsed and supported her nomination. Apart from her veterinary work, Amanda is an active member of the Rural Fire Brigade, and was
involved in the recent fires at Asquith and Bobbin Head.
 

Nerolie Gate, of the Sydney Adventist Hospital, was nominated by Jim and Gill Mein for a Pride of Workmanship Award.. Her citation reads: The Cancer Support Centre/Jacaranda Lodge is a community service provided by the SAN. It provides information, education, support counselling and accommodation for those in the community living with, or affected by, cancer. Services are largely free and open to all. Nerolie Gate commenced working as the secretary of the Centre shortly after it was established in 1993. Having completed a graduate diploma in Individual, couple and family counselling, Nerolie posesses a unique combination of office management and counselling skills. Nerolie has been the face of the Cancer Support Centre for many cancer patients and carers who have telephoned, dropped in at a time of crisis or attended one of the many programmes run by the centre. She provides telephone and face to face support whilst maintaining a sense of calm as she carries out her administrative duties and coordinates the Centre’s team of volunteers.

Paul Lockley was the recipient of The Apprentice of the Year Award.  Paul, 19, a second-year
apprentice with Phil McCarroll VW at Hornsby. There was not a formal citation for him, but his employers said “he loves cars – in fact he’s a car nut”. He loves computer games, rifle shooting. “He is quick and thorough, and shines among his peers.