CFA member and netball umpire Deborah Azzopardi has taken out Whittlesea’s Citizen of the Year award in recognition of her work in both roles spanning across more than 20 years.
Ms Azzopardi said her daughter nominated her for the community award without her knowing.
“The fact that I made the finalist was one thing, but the best part for me was that I was a winner anyway, because my daughter thought enough of me to nominate me,” she said.
Born in the United Kingdom, Ms Azzopardi cites her 88-year-old mother, who still volunteers with St Vincent de Paul, as a big influence on her own volunteer work.
“It was driven into us even as children when we came to Australia that we need to contribute back to the community in one way or another,” she said.
She recalls a moment as a young girl back home where she watched a reporter interview firefighters who were battling a large blaze.
“I remember watching that and thinking, one day I want to do what they’re doing and put back into the community.”
Ms Azzopardi is coming up to 20 years service for her work at the CFA, she said that over the years one of the biggest changes she has seen in the CFA is in the mental health space.
“The CFA is looking after the mental health of their members and their members’ families,” she said.
“It took black Saturday to implement these changes, as the CFA lost a lot of members due to mental health illness. We must never let this happen again.
“I went on to be trained, and continue to train as a peer to members exposed to traumatic events and offer mental health first aid.”
Ms Azzopardi says that in both her roles as a CFA volunteer and netball umpire, it is the feeling of team spirit that she loves.
“I enjoy being able to pass on my knowledge to new CFA recruits, helping others in their time of need, the mateship with other CFA members and the camaraderie at the brigade.
Ms Azzopardi spent 30 years playing netball across many of Melbourne’s northern venues before becoming a local netball umpire. She currently umpires at the YMCA in Epping where she previously trained and coached their junior netball team.
“Netball also encompasses the camaraderie with other umpires, helping other players to develop into the best netballer they can be, and also the social side is awesome.
Ms Azzopardi is Epping CFA’s community safety officer giving home fire safety advice for new residents moving into the area. She encourages everyone to get involved in their community as they may need to call on their neighbours for help one day.
“We all have to live together, at the end of the day,” she said.
“I’d love to think that everybody in the community retreat has a family that they can fall back on.”
