Congratulations to all the nominees for Citizen of the Year

Lija Matthews – Wimbledon Heights. Nominated by Emily van der Walt

Since the tragic death of her best friend Samantha Fraser in July 2018, Lija has dedicated herself to ensuring no more women become victims of domestic violence.
Lija has ensured even though Sam is no longer here, her voice is still heard.

The ‘Change for Sam’ initiative was created by a group of community members and family violence service providers following Sam’s death. It includes representatives from a broad range of local community service organisations, local businesses and most importantly, it partners with community members and Sam’s family and friends.

It is driven by the community, with the aim of preventing family violence, particularly against women and children in the Bass Coast area and to coordinate current services and resources to better respond to incidents of family violence – something Sam cared about deeply.

Lija has put hundreds of hours into developing the resources in support of the initiative. As part of ‘Change for Sam’, Lija has initiated kindness cards to be distributed among the community and has also just finished working on a project to personally write to children over Christmas.

Lija has worked closely with Jan Child from Bass Coast Health, Bass Coast Shire Council and local police and is part of the Orange Door community.

Everett O'Keeffe – North Wonthaggi. Nominated by Theresita Plumb

As a pharmacist, Everett worked hard to keep the community safe and COVID-19 free. When hand sanitizers became unavailable throughout the country, he worked day and night to manufacture them from scratch with the aim to protect the community and to keep businesses running.

Through the Wonthaggi Amcal Pharmacy Facebook page, Everett provided the community with valuable information and advice. He put together Covid business packages and distributed them to local businesses and provided them with advice on how to protect their staff and run their business with the necessary hygiene requirements.

He introduced a vaccination facility within the pharmacy to increase herd immunity against the influenza virus. Outside of business hours he delivered medication to the elderly and high-risk patients and donated masks as well as eggs from his farm to a local church for distribution to the most vulnerable in our community.

This year has been an extremely stressful year for everyone across the globe, Everett did his best to provide his staff members with a safe and happy environment to work in.

Everett has been with the CFA for 10 years and is ranked 4th Lieutenant and is always on call when needed. He is also a life member of the local soccer club.

Dave Sutton – Inverloch. Nominated by Linda Pettit

For years, Dave has been the dependable figurehead of the South Gippsland Conservation Society, during which time he has developed relationships with communities and agencies, advocating for studies to be undertaken on the erosion along our shoreline and environmental protection action.

In response to coastal erosion along Inverloch beach, Dave was instrumental in the Society receiving a grant for the Inverloch Coastal Resilience Project. This project provided science-based evidence that assisted in attracting funding of $750,000 from the State Government, to undertake a Local Coastal Hazard Assessment and Regional Strategic Partnership studies, that will inform future planning as sea levels rise and climate change impacts our communities.

Dave has volunteered well beyond his role with the Society to 'save' the Inverloch Surf Life Saving Club, our coastline and community assets. Dave is an inspirational role model, always leading with his ‘boots-on-the-ground’, including undertaking shoreline reconnaissance, laser level survey and drone monitoring following storm events.

Dave is a life member of the Society, a member of the Community Advisory Group for the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and a past Board Member of the Gippsland wide Energy Innovation Co-operative.

Karen Treppo – Cowes. Nominated by Kathryn Anderson

Karen is dedicated to the welfare of children, families and her community. As director of the Phillip Island Early Learning Centre, inclusion and safety for all children and families is her priority and she aims to help achieve this for all.

Karen oversees an amazing early childhood service, and continuously seeks ways to improve services and supports for her clients and community. She has set up programs to assist children and families, including a sustainable clothing rack, where parents can donate children’s clothes and can take clothes as needed. She created the ELC community pantry, where all families can pick up items they need or desire. She also provides food vouchers and gives them out to those in crisis and need.

Karen keeps ‘share the dignity bags’ in her cupboard for women in need and when she feels a mother may need a safety plan, or is at risk, she seeks consent to engage other services to work together for positive outcomes.

Karen seeks grants to improve services at the Centre, and does a lot of this in her own time, without expecting recognition.

She volunteers her time to the Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre Pantry program and Monday night Uniting Church community dinners.

Mark Underwood – Cape Woolamai. Nominated by Pharrah Underwood

As a graphic designer by day, Mark wanted to find a way to give back to his community.

Around 12 months ago, he started a side passion project called ‘Local Clothing’. With three young kids, he found it difficult to get involved with the community so came up with this idea to contribute.
He runs ‘Local Clothing’ – a clothing company – after hours, when the kids are in bed and donates 10 per cent of the turnover to a different community group every month. The public is invited to nominate Bass Coast-based groups or organisations.

In the past 12 months, Mark has donated $4,837 to local organisations, including the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Phillip Island CFA, The National Surfing Reserve, Change For Sam, the Phillip Island Football and Netball Club, Phillip Island Landcare, Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre (PICAL), Cowes Primary School, the Phillip Island SES, Bass Coast Health and the Penguin Foundation.

Local Clothing is based on Mark’s passion to give back to the community and his efforts to get that cheque as big as possible at the end of every month for local community groups.

Karen Walters – Inverloch. Nominated by Jan Martin

For the last seven years, Karen has volunteered as Convenor of the Red Cross Patient Transport Inverloch Service.

In that role, she has made a significant, positive difference to hundreds of vulnerable residents in Bass Coast, many of whom have been undergoing life-saving treatment and have not had any other means to get to their medical appointments.

She organises transport to local, regional and metropolitan hospitals for people needing cancer treatment, surgery and various specialist appointments. Karen shows genuine compassion and care to those people, who are often at their most fragile and vulnerable, providing them with the reassurance of a reliable and caring transport service.

Her volunteer role is multi-faceted. As well as organising transport for clients, Karen co-ordinates a team of up to 15 volunteer drivers at any given time. She has done this for the last seven years.
During the bushfire emergency in Gippsland in January 2020, Karen organised transport for airlifted bushfire victims from Mallacoota, to emergency accommodation. In addition, she facilitated a local trauma toy donation for children affected by the bushfires with an overwhelming local response.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Karen has adapted the transport service to ensure that critical services continue safely.