Shona Davie is the former president of SunFest Sunbury and a recent recipient of Hume’s Resident of the Month Award. She spoke with Oliver Lees.
What is your connection to Sunbury and the Macedon Ranges?
I have lived in Sunbury for almost 20 years and have met some of the most amazing people living and working here.
When I first joined the SunFest committee over 10 years ago, I became aware of Sunbury SES and spent a few years asking myself, ‘could I?’, and now I say, ‘yes, yes I can’. Through Sunbury SES I got involved in the Sunbury Blue Light and now Uncle Bob’s Club charity too.
What drives you to volunteer so much of your time to community organisations and events?
My drive is many things, my family and my children for one. To show them kindness and compassion, to show them a path in this challenging world we live in. To help those who are unable to help themselves and to keep those I can safe. I’m a better me for having so many believe in me and I love to pass this back down the line by showing and believing in others.
How does it feel to be recognised by Hume council for your service to the community?
I am very grateful for the recognition, because I’m really an ordinary person, I love chocolate and lazy days in my pyjamas, and I don’t know how to take a compliment. I don’t see myself as amazing or anything special, I just love to give back to the community that has supported me.
I’m amazed by what councillor Jarrod Bell has achieved for the community. To have someone I look up to bestow upon me such an honour is very humbling and I will do my best to continue to live up to it.
Do you have any events coming up that people should know about, or any way that people can get involved?
The SunFest committee is in the process of planning SunFest 2022. We are hoping to have our event on the third weekend of March. So keep an eye on social media and keep your fingers crossed for a COVID-19 free event so we can help to bring Sunbury back to life and give back to our community that has been so badly affected through all of this.
If you have ever thought of getting involved in your community, now is a great time to do so. The world is going to need extra hands to get it up and running again so give back where you can and bring a smile to those around you.
