Local Heroes & Volunteers

City of Kalamunda resident Mr John Kellock was recognised this week for his long history arranging local, intra-state and inter-state adventures, for members of the Kalamunda Probus Club.

At 90 years young, Mr Kellock has volunteered his time organising fun experiences and tours for community members for over 60 years, on occasion in collaboration with the Swan Districts Probus Club, and in his role as one of the founding members of the WA Caravan Club. Tours over the years have included a Kalbarri Caper, Rottnest Ramble, Cairns Hinterland, Crystal Cavern Lunch Hopscotch, Mystery Tour Hare Krishner Bennet Springs, and local day-trips such as to the Kalamunda History Village and Kalamunda Bowling Club Christmas in July luncheons.

Mayor, Margaret Thomas presented Mr Kellock with a ‘Senior Community Local Hero’ Award Certificate and KalaCash Gift Card while fellow members of the Kalamunda Probus Club watched on, offering their congratulations.

Fellow Probus Club member, Leah Way, reminisced about one such trip, Manjimup Magic, an eight-day experience based at Kinkin Retreat and included a cruise to the mouth of the Donnelly River and the coast, “It was exciting, passing towering cliffs which are in the D'Entrecasteaux National Park. It was wonderful to smell the Southern Ocean.”

Keeping active and involved in the community is so valuable to our mental and physical wellbeing” said Cr Thomas. “We are fortunate to have people like Mr Kellock and the other members of the Probus Club who create so many happy memories and experiences for members of our community, of all generations.”

Mr Kellock was also President of the Kalamunda Probus Club (twice) and a member of Neighbourhood Watch WA.

Image: John Kellock with wife Margaret, Mayor Margaret Thomas JP (left) and Probus Club members

Long-standing member of the Piesse Brook Friends Group and mentor to new (and old) Volunteers, Ken Patterson was awarded one of the City of Kalamunda’s Senior Community Local Hero Award recently.

Ken, who often spends up to four hours a day scouring the bush and eradicating weed species as he finds them, wears a personal locator beacon as safety is always a priority.

“I started out by photographing local wildflowers and noticed all the weed species. It’s been enormously satisfying to see how my time spent removing them has had a positive outcome to the environment,” said Ken Patterson.

Former science teacher, now volunteer member and secretary of the Friends Group, Ken organises planting days, applies for Grants and acts as a general liaison for the Group between the City, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and other environmental organizations. Over the last 13 years he has identified and photographed nearly 500 endemic plant species in the local Hills region.

A copy of Ken’s research An Interactive Guide to the Flora of Kalamunda National Park is available on CD from the Kalamunda Visitor Centre.

Mayor Margaret Thomas JP stated, “Volunteering with one of the City’s 47+ Friends Groups is a great way to learn about native species from our local environmental experts”.

“Our community places a high value on conservation and maintaining our urban forest canopy. Joining a Friends Group provides a direct way individuals can improve the natural spaces near where they live," said Cr Thomas.

“It’s been an enriching experience working with the fine people of the Friends of Piesse Brook,” commented Ken.

Committed football coach and mentor, Dave Feast was presented a City of Kalamunda ‘Local Hero Award’ by the Mayor Margaret Thomas at the Club earlier this week. As Senior Vice President of the Kalamunda Districts Junior Football Club, Dave has been working tirelessly with our youth for a number of years, along with being a team coach and this year taking on the training of the Clubs first all-female teams.

During the COVID-19 crisis, his desire to see our youth have a safe community space to exercise has meant he has been at Kostera Oval every day, after work, to ensure social distancing, encourage exercising and provide hand sanitizer. His dedication to the whole community has meant the oval is well lit each evening as he stays back to turn the lights on and off, extending the time available for contactless physical activities.

Mayor Margaret Thomas said, “We are fortunate to have people like Dave in our community who are passionate about making a difference and freely volunteer their time and skills enriching the lives of so many, especially our youth. We thank him for his selfless contribution to our neighbourhood.”

“We know our families are excited about returning to clubs and sports, as restrictions ease, and we encourage them to personally thank similar unsung heroes who make these types of activities possible.”

“We hope that by sharing what some of these remarkable people are doing we will inspire others to also contribute to our culture of a strong, connected community.”

“Our Local Hero Awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase our community volunteers and to thank them for their community spirit and for the difference they make in so many ways.”

The City of Kalamunda have awarded the Senior Community Local Hero Award for July to Peter Hanson, outgoing and long-term President of Kalamunda & Districts Basketball Association (KDBA).

Peter was nominated for his many years of outstanding service to the Kalamunda sporting community as President of the KDBA. Since joining the committee in the late 1980s, Peter brought the KDBA into the digital age and was pivotal in digitising player registrations and fixtures. He has been president for 11 Years.

Over the years Peter has been an active advocate for numerous upgrades to Ray Owen Reserve, such as the funding for the construction of Courts for the benefit of the community.

Over the years Peter has forged many connections within the community and has played an active role as a mentor and mediator to players and committee members alike.

Mayor Margaret Thomas said “Our volunteers make incredible contributions and I was so proud to be able to present Peter with his award in front of the many players of all ages and abilities that are part of the Kalamunda and District Basketball Association family. Peter efforts in being an active advocate for Ray Owen continue to be recognised by the City as being most comprehensive and has set an example for how future funding can be secured. Last night at the presentation he didn’t miss an opportunity to remind me about the need for the Ray Owen Masterplan implementation to be funded.”

“He is well respected and revered in the community. Please join me in congratulating Peter for his amazing contribution to the community and we all wish him well for the future”.

The monthly Local Hero Award is a celebration of the people within our community who are passionate about making a difference, freely volunteering to help and protect our community. There are three categories up for nomination: Local Hero of the Month, Senior Community Member and Young Local Hero. Winners are picked monthly and winners are awarded with a $50 gift voucher as a small token of appreciation.

Local Hero Awards run monthly and the City accepts nominations throughout the year. Community members are invited to nominate online at engage.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/local-heros

The monthly awards culminate at the Annual Thank a Volunteer Ceremony, at which the Local Hero of the Year Awards will be presented.

For more information please contact the City of Kalamunda on 9257 9999, email enquiries@kalamunda.wa.gov.au or visit kalamunda.wa.gov.au

Three residents have been awarded the monthly Local Hero Award for May for their outstanding contribution to both the community and the environment.

The City of Kalamunda in partnership with Bendigo Bank, run the Local Hero of the Month Award with a deserving nominee selected each month. The award is a celebration of people within our community who are passionate about making a difference, freely volunteering to help and protect our community. There are three categories: Local Hero of the Month, Senior Community Member and Young Local Hero.

Joy McGilvray has been awarded Local Hero of the Month for her dedication towards the community and the environment. In 2011, Joy started up the Friends of Jorgensen Park Group after noticing the park becoming overcome with weeds, and has served as a community representative on the Kalamunda Environmental Arts Committee (KEAC), and the interjurisdictional National Malleefowl Recovery Team.

Wendy Whearem was awarded the category of Senior Community Member and is the coordinator of the Friends of Woodlupine Living Stream and regularly maintains the integrity of the environment in Wattle Grove through the collection of litter and undertaking weed control and planting.

Georgia Holt received the Young Local Hero Award for her dedication in keeping Woodlupine Brook litter free, and demonstrated her commitment to advocating on environmental issues when she was successful in requesting the City to install a bin in the area to help reduce litter at her first deputation to Council in April 2019.

Mayor John Giardina said “The Local Hero Award is our way to saying thank you to those who continue to give so much back to our community”.

“All three winners have demonstrated that their commitment to the community and environment is above and beyond. Having people like Joy, Wendy and Georgia in our community is so valuable and their work in the environment and conservation space should be recognised”.

The monthly awards will culminate at the Annual Thank a Volunteer Ceremony, at which the Local Hero of the Year Award will be presented.

Local Heros run monthly with nominations accepted throughout the year. Community members are invited to nominate online at engage.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/local-heros, or obtain a hard copy of the nomination form the City Administration Office or from your local Library.

Nominate your Local Hero today

Three City of Kalamunda locals who have made extraordinary contributions to the community were last week recognised at the City’s annual Thank a Volunteer Day. Celia Cheffins, Damien Lee and Tobias Bailye were presented with $500 by Mayor John Giardina, each taking home the title of Local Hero of the Year for their age group.

Mayor John Giardina said, “This year the City introduced a new program called Local Heroes. The City of Kalamunda, in partnership with the Forrestfield and High Wycombe Community Bank Branches of the Bendigo Bank have been announcing monthly winners in our three categories this financial year.”

“It gives me great pleasure to recognise our three overall winners, Celia, Damien and Tobias. Their acts of good will, commitment and generosity have made our community a better place to live and belong. Whilst they may not consider themselves as heroes, they certainly are in our eyes.”

Senior local hero, Celia Cheffins, has been the driving force behind the Zig Zag Festival for over a decade. The Festival is highly regarded, drawing thousands of attendees each year for an inclusive and family-friendly day. As a volunteer, much of Celia’s work requires full-time focus with her efforts also including the Zig Zag Community Arts Inc. which host a range of activities throughout the year.

Recipient of the overall Community Local Hero, Damien Lee, is recognised for his extraordinary effort in saving the life of an 18-month old child. On an ordinary walk with his dog, Damien spotted the child lying in the water and immediately jumped in to save her, commencing CPR. Doctors reported that if he had stepped in just 30 seconds later, the child would have suffered brain damage.

Young Local Hero, Tobias Bailye, used his initiative to host a bake sale, where he gathered customer feedback on how to improve the community. Tobias donated the funds to the City of Kalamunda so that he could see the ideas gathered from his customers come to fruition.

Mayor John Giardina expressed his gratitude to the recipients, and extended thanks to all 2018 Local Hero Award winners and community members for their contributions.

“All of our nominees throughout the year deserve recognition and reward. We are so thankful to have them as active members within our community. Volunteering creates connected communities and connected communities are happier, healthier and safer. Your contributions are truly valued, and really do make our community a better place.”

Due to its success, the City of Kalamunda’s Local Heroes program is set to continue in 2019.
Residents are encouraged to share their local heroes today.

Mayor John Giardina said, “We’re excited to shine a light on all of our unsung heroes. Their contributions help to build a connected, happy and healthy community and that’s exactly the kind of place we want our City to be. On behalf of the City of Kalamunda, I would like to thank each of our winners for their outstanding contributions to the community.”

Aleisha Woodman was one of the recipients to take home a prize for July as the winner of the Young Local Hero award, nominated for her work as a volunteer with Foodbank and getting her school community involved in the process.

The July Local Hero award was taken out by two worthy recipients; Damien Lee and Kody Tan.

Damien is recognised for his courageous efforts in saving an eighteen month old baby from drowning during an incident in Forrestfield.

Kody received numerous nominations from the community who were eager to acknowledge his work with the not for profit group, Friend’s Day out - a social gathering for adults with disabilities that has been operating since 2003.

The Senior Local Hero award for July went to Audrey Boon, a member of the Kanyana Wildlife Centre Team who dedicates many hours to the centre and teaching the public about Australian Wildlife.

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