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Grant Australia Day winners announced

Posted on December 17, 2009, 9:09am

A tireless Tarpeena volunteer and a man who has served a number of roles in the community have been named as joint winners of the Grant District Council Australia Day Citizen Award.

In a ceremony at the council chambers this week, Merle Judd and Robin Bilney expressed surprise over their prestigious win.

“To accept this award I feel so humbled and honoured,” Ms Judd said.

“I did not know anything of this until a received a letter — what a shock.”

“I have always tried to help people and communities most of my life.”

Ms Judd has had a long involvement in the community since moving to Tarpeena in 1963.

She has been awarded life membership of the Tarpeena school, coached the junior netball and tennis and was awarded life membership of the Tarpeena Tennis Club.

Ms Judd has also helped older people move into their next stage of life and regularly arranges outings for senior citizens.

She worked with the town’s progress association to arrange the 25th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires and was heavily involved in organising the Tarpeena Memorial Hall 50th anniversary celebrations.

Meanwhile, Mr Bilney also expressed his surprise over his much-deserved accolade.

“I also didn’t know anything about this and when I got the letter I thought ‘what the heck, what is this about’,” Mr Bilney said.

“I feel very humbled and I have really enjoyed the things I have done in the community and I have seen great benefit.”

Mr Bilney said the Life Education Van, which he helped raise money for, was still travelling around the district “teaching kids the rights from wrongs”.

A committed community volunteer, he has also raised significant finances with the gym committee at Allendale Eat Area School to assist in school physical education.

He also joined the Port MacDonnell and District Maritime Museum in 1987 and held a variety of roles on that group.

Mr Bilney also did a stint as a councillor with the former District Council of Port MacDonnell for six years and held the position of deputy chair for three years.

As a member of council, he played a significant role in the changing the rate system from site to capital value.

Mr Bilney also coached softball, has been involved in organising Anzac Day and assists in raising money for Legacy.

He has been involved with the Port MacDonnell Offshore Angling Club for 10 years and is the official weigh master.

Mayor Don Pegler praised the winners and those nominated for their community involvement.

He said the awards aimed to honour citizens and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the community.

Meanwhile, the Young Citizen Award will go to a group of male students from Tenison Woods College who work in Port MacDonnell every Thursday on local environmental and town improvement projects.

The boys, as part of the Outdoor Classroom, have cleared overgrowth at local parks, repaired damaged parts of the playground, removed weeds and dead plants as well as trimmed trees at the town’s entrance.

Other duties have included cleaning up the beach, weeding the Uniting Church garden and working with the Department of Environment and Heritage on various environmental projects.

In other awards announced, the Admella 150 Festival — held in August to commemorate the wreck of the SS Admella — was named the community event of the year.

The awards will be officially presented to recipients at the Australia Day celebrations at Tarpeena.

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