Paul Anthony Herbert, of Epping, a noted fund-raiser, is Whittlesea’s citizen of the year. Mayor Mary Lalios recognised the city’s top achievers at an Australia Day awards ceremony on Sunday.
Over 14 years, Mr Herbert has been organising fund-raising activities and donations for the Variety Victoria children’s charity.
Young citizen of the year, Domenic Castagna, also of Epping, has been a tireless volunteer with Victoria Police, a driving force behind the development of a new youth safety website and an organiser of the police Blue Light discos. The senior citizen of the year gong went to Ken Jeffery – also of Epping – while Rhiannon Tracey, of Thomastown, gained the title of ‘access and inclusion citizen of the year title.
Cr Lalios said there had been 30 nominations across the award categories – a big increase on previous years. “It’s wonderful to see the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in our city.”
Mr Jeffery has been a volunteer firefighter with Epping CFA for 37 years and has been master of ceremonies for the ANZAC Day memorial march and dawn service at Epping RSL.
Ms Tracey is a strong advocate for spinal cord injury prevention and awareness in schools, and mentors people undergoing spinal cord injury rehabilitation. She also co-founded The Next Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery and Wellness Facility in Thomastown, due to open this year.
