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NEWS FROM THE CHAMBERS
2017 AUSTRALIA DAY CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD - VICTORIA PLAINS SHIRE
BRIAN THOMAS MCGILL
The Citizen of the Year Award celebrates and acknowledges an individual’s contribution to their local community. It recognises the
recipient’s leadership in community issues, and the way they have brought about a positive change to their community.
Brian McGill has lived in Bolgart for most of his life, leaving school in 1958 to work with his parents and brothers on the family
farm. He was elected President of the Bolgart Football Club in 1966 when he was 22 years old, and held the position for two
years and he was made a life member of the Club in 1972.
During his time as a member of the Football Club, Brian took responsibility for running the bar at the Toodyay Agricultural Show,
which was one of the Club’s main annual fund raisers. This resulted in a long association with the show, and continued even after
the Football Club’s members no longer looked after the bar.
Brian is also the President of the Bolgart Sports Club, and is a part of the team which has been working hard to refurbish and re-
furnish the club’s old facility. For the past six years he has given a free lease of his 60 acre property for the Bowls and Sports Club
to crop to raise funds, which has helped keep them viable.
Along with his generous donation of land, Brian has also contributed many years as a volunteer greenkeeper, looking after the
lawns at the Bolgart Bowls Club before the new synthetic surface was installed. He still spends many hours there during the
bowls season, emptying bins, marking greens and generally making sure that the members have an excellent green to play on.
Brian has also taken an active role in the Volunteer Bushfire Brigade since its inception over 20 years ago. Brian takes the fire
truck out to fire incidents, keeps the equipment in good order, and assists with repairs and maintenance as required. His volunteer
work ensures the truck is kept ready for when it may be needed. He is also Second
Lieutenant in the Brigade. Along with his work in the Bushfire Brigade, Brian also spent 6
years as an ambulance volunteer driver and attendant for the Bolgart St. Johns
Ambulance group, only resigning a few years ago when a knee replacement made it
difficult for him to physically volunteer.
In October 1996, Brian was made a Justice of the Peace, and continues to make himself
available to help both local residents and others from nearby localities by witnessing
documents. When required he also swears in new Councillors. This is also the second
year he has served as President of the Wheatbelt Association of Justices.
Brian has spent his entire life working to selflessly improve, not only his community, but
the lives of everyone within it. It is for his altruistic and community minded attitude, and in
recognition of his significant contribution to our local community, that I am proud to
present the award for Citizen of the Year to Brian McGill.
2017 YOUTH CITIZEN OF THE YEAR—VICTORIA PLAINS
CHANEL DUGGAN
At the council meeting to finalise the preparations for this day, we had no idea of the numbers to cater for - somewhere between
20 & 80, & it looks like 80 is close to the number here. It's really great to see such a good turnout from across the shire.
When I heard that Chanel had been nominated for the Youth Citizen of the Year for the Shire, I was not surprised.
I first met Chanel when I called in to Yerecoin Traders to fuel up my water cart.
She was very cheerful & friendly & asked how my day had been, what was I doing, where was I going and I was starting to
wonder if she was writing a book!!! She was at the time, doing work experience at the Traders.
I was to discover that Chanel always has this friendly demeanour and is a very popular member
of the community.
She is an active member of the Yerecoin Tennis Club, is currently the treasurer, & always ready
to lend a hand if something need attention, or there's a little chore to be done.
She enjoys playing tennis as well & has won a few trophies on competition days at the club.
Chanel has also been liaising with our Community Development Officer, Jaime and enjoys
helping & working with Youth in our Community sector in local towns.
I'm very pleased to be the presenter of the Shires Youth Citizen of the Year to Chanel Duggan, &
congratulate her on the award.