Casey’s nonresident of the year Lisa Benn, Senior Citizen of the Year Beryl Maddern, Citizen of the Year Robyn Garbutt, Reverend Paul Creasey accepting the Community Event of the Year awarded to the Cranbourne Car Show, Casey mayor Kevin Bradford, Community Event winner Greg Kaye and Young Citizen of the Year Shannon Barnes.By Rebecca Fraser
A MUCHloved Guide leader, a quiet young achiever, a highly respected art teacher and a dedicated volunteer have been recognised for their tireless contribution to the Casey community.
Presented on Australia Day, the annual Citizens of the Year and Community Event of the Year Awards brought Cranbourne North resident Robyn Garbutt the award as the City of Casey’s Citizen of the Year.
Narre Warren student Shannon Barnes was named Young Citizen of the Year from a list of 10 nominees and Cranbourne grandmother Beryl Maddern was named Casey’s Senior Citizen of the Year.
Berwick Secondary College art teacher and Drouin resident Lisa Benn was named the city’s Nonresident of the Year and the Cranbourne Car and Bike Show 2005 was named Community Event of the Year from a list of eight entries.
Ten Casey students were also presented with the annual City of Casey Australia Day Study Tour Awards.
Mrs Garbutt said this was one of the first times in her life that she had found herself speechless and she was tremendously honoured by the award.
Mrs Garbutt has been a volunteer with the Cranbourne Guides for more than 20 years, organising activities for girls in Casey and helping Guides Victoria to run camps that support environmental sustainability.
She also instigated the establishment of Campbell (Cranbourne) Trefoil Guild, which undertakes practical works that contribute to charities, and is a member of the Red Cross, Cancer Council, Craig Nursing Home and Phillip Island Nature Reserve.
Young Citizen of the Year Shannon Barnes was nominated by her teacher and Casey councillor Wayne Smith in recognition of her contribution to the broader community while studying at Eumemmerring College Fountain Gate Campus.
Ms Barnes is known as a quiet achiever and allrounder and has been treasurer of her school representative council, a peer support leader and mediator and a college representative and speaker at ceremonies including Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and school assemblies.
Cr Smith said Ms Barnes had a caring attitude towards society and was communityminded.
Casey’s Senior Citizen of the Year Beryl Maddern said she had enjoyed every single minute of her past 50 years as a volunteer and had made some lovely friends and met some beautiful people along the way.
At last Thursday’s official ceremony she was described as a dedicated volunteer at many levels and a charitable and familyoriented person.
The Cranbourne resident is an active member of the Anglican Church and volunteers for the Tooradin Anglican Church’s bazaar and has made hampers for various causes for more than five decades.
Last year the Cranbourne resident made 100 Christmas cakes and the former leader of the Tooradin Scouts is now also a mentor for young volunteers.
Nonresident of the Year Lisa Benn said she was totally overwhelmed and deeply honoured by the award.
Ms Benn’s work within the wider community was described as inspirational and she was recognised for being active in the college community and for her environmental projects and work as a teacher and artist.
In 2003 the volunteer environment coordinator formulated the environment committee at the college and initiated the Waste Wise Program under which the college became Waste Wise Accredited within six months and a 2005 finalist in the Proud Schools Award.
Ms Benn introduced recycling at the college, saving $10,000 a year, and obtained a City of Casey Conservation and Initiative Grant for a water tank and plants.
