By Oliver Lees
With nominations for the 2021 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards now open, a past winner from Kyneton is encouraging others to put the spotlight on their peers.
Jean Hedington received the Council of the Ageing (COTA) Senior Achiever Award in 2019, after more than 55 years of volunteering spanning 18 organisations.
Ms Hedington, who in 1982 was named the Shire of Kyneton’s first Citizen of the Year, said she started to volunteer when her children were young.
“I first joined the Infant Welfare Centre 57 years ago and it just snowballed from there,” Ms Hedington said.
“We didn’t have much in our family growing up and I like helping others.
“We’ve helped a lot of organisations and people less fortunate, there’s so many good people in this community.”
Ms Hedington first moved to Kyneton 79 years ago as a child with her family.
Her community work since includes 26 years of organising the local Salvation Army Red Shield appeal, 45 years chipping in at the Uniting Church op shop and working on the Kyneton Daffodil Festival since its inception.
Ms Hedington and her husband Doug were crowned king and queen of the festival in 2001.
She encouraged others to give back locally and to nominate people doing important work.
“It [volunteering] is good for a lot of people and it’s always helping somebody else,” she said.
The award is recognition for people who have contributed to the welfare of others, people who don’t always get recognised for all the wonderful things they do.”
Nomination for the awards close on Friday, July 9.
For more information, visit: www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/festivalsandawards/seniors-awards
