General News
30 January, 2023
Honouring years of community service
"Give back to the community that is kind to you" is the philosophy of long-time Horsham resident Dianne Lewis. Mayor Robyn Gulline presented Mrs Lewis with Horsham Rural City's Citizen of the Year award during a ceremony in Horsham's Sawyer Park on...
"Give back to the community that is kind to you" is the philosophy of long-time Horsham resident Dianne Lewis.
Mayor Robyn Gulline presented Mrs Lewis with Horsham Rural City's Citizen of the Year award during a ceremony in Horsham's Sawyer Park on Australia Day.
Mrs Lewis said that receiving the prestigious award was a humbling experience.
Her community involvement spans many years.
After living in Benalla, her husband Jeff decided to run Merinos, so they bought a farm at Balmoral, south of Horsham.
After his death in 1977 Mrs Lewis moved to Horsham with her four children.
The result of her volunteer work includes a certificate signed by the Governor of Victoria for more than three decades working with Compassionate Friends, a group for parents who have had a child or children die.
It's a labour of love for Mrs Lewis, whose son Julian was electrocuted in 1992.
"When you lose a child, you really need people around you who know how you feel," she said.
"You're lost for a long time after that death. I've been involved in bereavement counselling for many years."
Mrs Lewis also fostered three children – one for nine years.
She has been a member of Horsham Lions Club for six years and helped with barbecues, helped raise $30,000 for training for a guide dog and been involved in other activities including an annual fishing competition.
Mrs Lewis is also manager of Wimmera Base Hospital's Op Shop in Darlot Street.
The shop, run by 24 volunteers up front and six who work out the back, takes about $2000 weekly, which is used to buy life-saving and other equipment for Horsham hospital and its auxiliary hospitals.
A recent purchase was a specialty chair for use by visiting orthopaedic surgeons.
Scouts leader Michael Timms is Horsham's Young Citizen of the Year, in recognition of outstanding leadership qualities and sense of community.
Mr Timms has been an active member of the 4th Horsham Scout Group for more than 12 years.
During this time he has held many leadership roles in Cub Scouts, Scouts and Venturer Scouts, and he is now an active Rover Scout.
Cr Gulline said Mr Timms, at each level of Scouting, had inspired, encouraged and led younger members along their own Scouting journey, and continued to do so.
She said his detailed knowledge of Scouting, both locally and throughout the Wimmera district, meant he was a valuable "resource" for other leaders and parents.
Wimmera River parkrun took out the Community Event of the Year award.
Every Saturday from 8am, participants complete a five-kilometre event open to people of all ages and abilities.
"It has given so many locals a real connection to their community," Cr Gulline said.
"Volunteers fill roles as run directors, timekeepers, barcode scanners and course marshalls, as well as a 'tail walker' whose job is to come last so no one else has to."
Since the initiative's launch in 2018, more than 1800 people have completed 12,518 parkruns covering a total distance of 62,590 kilometres.