Former Sunbury councillor Ann Potter was taught the gift of giving from her grandparents and spent 20 years giving back to her local community.
On Monday, she was on the receiving end as she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day honours.
“It’s very exciting and I’m shocked really,” Ms Potter said about the award.
“It’s a bit of a surprise. I’ve known since I got an email while I was on a balcony in Bali.
“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition, which I share with the people of Sunbury and Hume.
“This honour belongs to all the volunteers, community groups, and residents I had the pleasure of working with to make our town a better place.
“Whoever nominated me, thank you, it’s an honour and something valuable I will treasure.”
Ms Potter was recognised for her service to local government and to the community of Hume.
She was on Hume council for 20 years and was mayor in 2002-03, along with several terms as deputy mayor..
Ms Potter is a trustee on the Sunbury Cemetery Trust and current deputy chair.
She was a member of the Sunbury Community Festival, volunteer at Sunbury Downs College and previously vice-president at the Sunbury Lions Junior Football Club.
Ms Potter was recognised as a life member of the Australian Labor Party Victoria in 2009,
The former councillor said it was an honour to spend 20 years representing Sunbury and the wider Hume community.
“I am particularly proud of our achievements in delivering the Sunbury Global Learning Centre, upgrading the Sunbury streetscape, and ensuring our local parks and sporting clubs received the investment they needed, including the construction of the John McMahon Reserve.
“My focus was always on ensuring Sunbury grew gracefully – maintaining its ‘village’ feel while providing the modern services our residents deserve.”
Ms Potter joins her grandfather John Wallace in receiving an OAM.
He was recognised in 1979.
“This honour is incredibly special to me because it brings my family’s story full circle, “she said.
“Growing up with his example, I was taught from a young age that we have a responsibility to give back to the place where we live. To follow in his footsteps 47 years later, after my own two decades of service to Sunbury and Hume, is deeply moving.”
As well as being on council, Ms Potter raised two children in Sunbury.
She said she thought they would be proud of her for getting this honour.
“They might look back and say sometimes mum wasn’t there at the time, but she was trying to make the world a better place.”
