Honours for volunteers’ uplifting efforts

Pillars of Mid West and Gascoyne communities were recognised on Australia Day with local honours for their tireless volunteer work.

Four Coorow and Green Head residents received honours, with Carol Forrest and Rex Heal named Green Head’s 2021 citizens of the year.

Ms Forrest had recently registered the town to be a dementia-friendly town with Dementia Australia.

Shire of Coorow deputy chief executive officer Myra Henry said Ms Forrest, the president of the Green Head Community Association and Golf Club, was always willing to give her time to activities and had been instrumental in bringing awareness of dementia to the community.

She said Mr Heal was also an active community member, having been involved with the Green Head Men’s Shed for over nine years.

He was always willing to participate in fundraising events and had raised money for various charities including the Royal Flying Doctor Service, St John Ambulance and Rural Fire services. Jan Muller was awarded Citizen of the Year Award for Coorow for her tireless work with the Coorow Heritage Group. Finally, Sue Heal was recognised as Green Head’s Senior Citizen of the Year.

Ms Henry said for many years Ms Heal had sewn and delivered multiple garments for various organisations and individuals.

Yesterday, the Shire of Morawa announced Ray Tynan as Auspire Community Citizen of the Year and the Morawa Gold Club as the winner of its Auspire Active Citizenship Award for a group or event. The golf club was recognised for organising last year’s Victoria District championships, which brought people safely to town for a positive event amid a global pandemic.

The Shire of Cue presented Doug and Wendy Lawson with its Active Citizen award for their many years of caring for injured and orphaned native wildlife, while the Cue Senior Citizens volunteer group were honoured for operating the Cuerosity Op Shop, which raised funds to support disadvantaged residents.