By Jessica Micallef
Woodend’s Lisa Richards was named Macedon Ranges Citizen of the Year for leading the way
in recycling and reducing waste.
Ms Richards, 48, said she was “completely gobsmacked” at her achievement.
“I didn’t expect it at all,” she said. “I feel very passionate about the community and the Macedon Ranges so I’m excited by this.”
Ms Richards has been a part of Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group’s Waste Action Group since October 2018, with an aim at educating residents about smart ways to recycle and produce less waste.
“The recycling crisis had hit … and I personally had started to really get concerned about plastics,” she said. “I came in and reinvigorated the group to see what we could do as a community to tackle some of these really big issues.
“It’s primarily about education but it’s also about trying to come up with solutions.”
Ms Richards has also worked with the council, performing rubbish audits throughout the Macedon Ranges.
“People call me the rubbish lady,” she said. “Poking through rubbish and recycling
from all of the major townships … was so eye-opening.
“It showed me how confused people are and how wasteful we could be.
“It was a fantastic thing to do. All communities should have the opportunity to look at what rubbish they make.
“Look at what is essential to your life and what could be changed or reduced.”
Georgie Garvey-Hawke was named Macedon Ranges Young Citizen of the Year for her work in community engagement with children and adults in the Woodend and Newham community.
She spends her time welcoming new members to the area through community lunches and she assists adults in gaining skills using social media or to communicate on various technology platforms.
The Community Achievement Award was presented to Lloyd Pomroy for his involvement in community groups. He volunteers at RM Begg Aged Care in Kyneton, assisting at meal times and leisure activities.
He is a member of the Newham CFA and is a president of the Woodend Lifestyle Carers Group.
Woodend Neighbourhood House’s R U OK Day Community Lunch was presented the Community Event Award. The lunch is an informal and friendly atmosphere which provides people with the opportunity to make new connections and start conversations among each other.
In Hume, Sunbury’s Tracie Oldham and Sue Buckman were joint winners of Hume Citizen of the Year.
Ms Oldham has spent time advocating and raising awareness about mental health and alleviating the stigma that is often associated with mental illness.
Ms Buckman lost her 19-year-old sun Stephen to cardiac arrest in 2010. Since his death, she has worked towards implementing defibrillators in public areas across the county and she is the co-founder of Defib For Life – an organisation focused on educating communities to access early defibrillation
