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NEWS FROM THE CHAMBERS
2017 SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD - VICTORIA PLAINS SHIRE
PHYLLIS TOMS
The Senior Citizen of the Year Award recognises an individual’s significant contribution to the local community. To be eligible for the award, a
recipient has demonstrated leadership, initiative, and has improved and added value to community life. They have shown inspiring qualities,
and are a role model for the entire community.
Phyllis and her five siblings moved to Mogumber as children in 1951. Her parents, Peter and Nellie were part of the Stolen Generation, and
came to the Moore River Settlement in 1928. She was educated at the Mogumber School and spent her childhood playing in the Reserve with
the other local children.
As an adult, Phyllis has always been there for her community, and will often go out of her way to help people in need. It doesn't matter what
sort of help they need: a car being picked up, someone run to hospital, a garden tap turned off, shopping needing doing or someone to chat to.
Whatever it is, Phyllis is always there.
To make her achievements even more significant is the fact that Phyllis has the full use of only one
arm after having significant damage inflicted to her left arm in a motor vehicle many years ago.
Phyllis has always "been there" with her ready wit and mischievous sense of humour. She is and
always has been the first to offer and deliver support to anyone in trouble.
Over the last 30 plus years she has worked hard and tirelessly in her community, running the local
post office and acting as the head librarian at the local library. She regularly drives the “oldies” to
Moora for shopping, continues to nurse and assist the sick and infirm in our community, and always
delivers plates of food at social events, meetings and community gatherings. She is also currently
the Secretary of the Mogumber Progress Association.
For her caring and thoughtful attitude, and her significant contribution to our community, I am proud
to present the Senior Citizen of the Year Award to Phyllis Toms.
2017 AUSTRALIA DAY COMMUNITY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
GAVIN HALLIGAN
Today your Council has nominated several individuals and groups to receive awards recognising their involvement with the residents of our Shire and Region.
These awards are titled “Australia Day WA Community Citizens of the year awards” and are awarded for “fostering Australian pride & spirit through active
citizenship & outstanding contribution to the community”. We are most fortunate that in so many ways our lives are protected, enhanced, enriched, made safe
and helped by people who for the most part volunteer their time, involvement and passion in so many ways. These people don't look for acknowledgement or
reward, but we all take opportunities like this to show a token of our appreciation. One such special person is GAVIN HALLIGAN.
Gavin has been actively helping others from a time before leaving school. He was involved when his mother Vivienne helped people involved in vehicle acci-
dents. He was called upon for his first Aid skills while in year 12 at school when a bus his sister was in was involved in an accident. Since his return to the
farm he has undertaken more Ambulance training and is a dedicated volunteer.
Gavin has been part of the ambulance team well over 30 years and President of the local group a couple of times. He is regularly seen in his Ambulance role
at the local football matches and other events like the Mogumber Outback Club New Years Eve Rodeo to mention a couple. He has carted me & Kathy my
wife to Moora hospital more than once. Gavin in his ambulance role always projects a calm, collected, knowledgeable & professional manner, which puts
people at ease and they are reassured that the situation, however dire will be ok. Thanks Gavin, you have been there for so many of us.
Gavin's volunteer passion also extends to the Fire Brigade Roles
Like most young farmers Gavin was helping with fire control from early days. He has kept up with training and involvement with the New Norcia Bush Fire
Brigade to the extent that he has now been its Captain for several years. Gavin is also a Fire Control Officer and regularly involved with the Local Emergency
Management Committee a group Victoria Plains Shire shares with Wongan Hills and Ballidu Shires.
A puff of smoke or a text/phone call is all it takes to ensure Gavin is there to organise the team on site to get the fire under control, safely and efficiently, and
he is always one of the last to leave the scene.
Gavin has had health issues of his own and one would think that with his family, farm and business to run & volunteer with St Johns Ambulance and the Fire
Brigade his time would be full up. But he currently is President of a Group Managing the L & S Recreation Centre in the Point Perron Area. Gavin our Victoria
Plains Community thanks you sincerely for the dedication, time, effort and seemingly unending desire and ability to help others. It is with great pride that I
present you this award as our COMMUNITY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR—thanks Gavin from all of us.
Our Shire Council this year had two very deserving nominations for Citizens of the year and I pass you to
Councillor Neville Clarke to present the other award.