Rewards for selfless service

SEVENTEEN local volunteers were honoured for their selfless efforts at an Australia Day event in Doveton on Tuesday.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne presented the awards to the volunteers and two community organisations at Autumn Place Reserve.
Mr Byrne said the awards recognised and honoured the spirit and commitment of local volunteers who strengthened communities through their service.
“The people that we honoured with an award demonstrate what it means to be Australian,” he said.
“Their generosity in the large amount of time they give to their community, in a typically understated way, cannot be measured.”
Some of those that received an award on Tuesday included Betty Merrett, who will be celebrating 50 years with the CFA Ladies Auxiliary in Doveton-Hallam, and the late Sister Ann Halpin, who received a posthumous award after she developed drop in centre for isolated women called Wellsprings.
“This commitment from Betty, Sister Ann and the other dedicated volunteers deserved to be recognised by all of us,” Mr Byrne said.
“I congratulate all those receiving a Holt Australia Day Award and thank them for their tireless and selfless efforts in making our community and country a great place to live.”
The recipients of the awards were:
Sister Ann Halpin (Posthumous Award) – Wellsprings for Women
Aida Nyhuis – Berwick Opportunity Shop
Jean Westerman – Doveton Baptist Church
Cranbourne Salvation Army Opportunity Shop
Michelle Sanders – Winepress
Leslie Vincent Hughes – Dandenong Cranbourne RSL
Victor Allan Dennis – Cranbourne Bowling Club
Tom and Maureen Miles – Southern Health
Betty Merrett – Hallam Fire Brigade
Irene Prater – St Andrew’s Uniting Church
Stephanie Polychronakis
Trevor Scott – Our Lady Help of Christians parish
Cranbourne Community Support Services
Master Ru Sun Shih – Yun Yang Temple
Door Mohammad Aschna –Afghan Australian Philanthropic Association
Dale Sheppard
Adolfo Crespin – Doveton Special Soccer School
Paddy Hamill – Cornerstone Contact Centre