Shoalhaven Superheroes nominated for recognition

The awards are the non-fiction element to the Shoalhaven Superhero Festival which will come to life during the superheroes festival September 27 to October 4.

The winners will be announced  at the Service & Beyond Awards, Star Wars themed Gala Dinner at Bomaderry Bowling Club on Wednesday, September 30.

 RSVP for the dinner by Monday 28 September, phone 44212733.

There are eight Shoalhaven Superhero Awards categories including; business, Eco, health and aged care, youth, community, education, sport and superhero.

Festival organiser David Arakie said the idea of the awards was something he had in mind since the early 2000s.

“People identify with superhero characters no matter what official roles they have in life. We’ve all had our own fictional superhero, but in reality I’ve been very privileged to work in a community of volunteerism,” he said.

To nominate someone, or to catch up with the latest Shoalhaven Superheroes news, go to southcoastregister.com.au and click on the special Shoalhaven Superheroes panel.

In 2015 Charlie (Mangrove Man) Weir turns 86 years young. He was born on the Shoalhaven River at Riversdale and he lived and worked as a commercial fisherman on the river until he retired in the early 1980s. Charlie’s father also fished the river all of his life. 

Over this time Charlie has seen a lot of changes on the river and often spends most of his days on the river, rehabilitating long stretches with mangroves, Cassuarina, phragmites and other plants. Charlie has been involved in trialing and growing mangroves full time on the Shoalhaven River since 1998.

In 2003, Charlie Weir was awarded NSW Individual Landcare Volunteer of the Year for his work pioneering mangrove planting techniques for rehabilitation on the Shoalhaven River. Charlie was also a finalist for the National Landcare Individual Awards in 2004. But, the true value of Charlie’s work has been recognised far and wide with interest in his rehabilitation work coming from all over Australia and beyond.

Charlie is passionate about river rehabilitation, not just because he has spent his life on the Shoalhaven River, but because he patently recognises the vital importance of healthy rivers for all Australians. It is Charlie’s hope that his bank restoration work not only serves to provide others with information that will help with river rehabilitation elsewhere but also to highlight the need for all river users – from the individual angler to the heads of Government at all levels to respect our rivers, to treat them with such regard so as they will continue to be a productive, healthy and sustainable resource for generations to come.

Charlie, together with other volunteers, started Shoalhaven Riverwatch in 1980 to help clean up the Shoalhaven River. Charlie was the president of Riverwatch for many years and was responsible for giving Riverwatch the direction to interact with the community and work with landowners and government authorities in a cooperative manner to obtain funding and services to improve the health of the Shoalhaven River.

Examples of Charlie’s dedication and leadership can be clearly seen along the banks of the Shoalhaven River at Bolong and Numbaa as well as the Nowra Golf Club.

John Creasey is a dedicated volunteer for St John Ambulance and Legacy.

John has served St Johns Ambulance for 9 ½ years. He is currently the records officer, keeping records of duty hours and ancillary duties. He is a supervisor of probationary members, assisting them with gaining experience and confidence with laid down protocols. He is the duty commander at most events.

Over the past two years, John has been a guest speaker at various organisations including Seniors, Lions, Probus and Rotary, often described as the most interesting and informative speaker they have ever had. 

He is heavily involved with recruiting new members.

Through John’s campaigning, St John Ambulance fundraising for new equipment in 2010/2011 raised $50,000.

John has received awards through St John Ambulance for his dedication and commitment.

In 2013-2015, he volunteered at almost every booked event sometimes on both Saturdays and Sundays of the same weekend. Some of these include long hours and evening work.

John Creasey is also a member of Nowra Legacy Group with 26 widows on his list. He has been badge co-ordinator for Nowra Legacy for the past four years. During these four years he has been awarded with raising the most funds. 

He organises selling venues and liaises with ex-service organisations and local navy bases for volunteers. 

He is responsible for controlling rosters for the week. This covers Shoalhaven from Bay and Basin to Berry, Kangaroo Valley and Shoalhaven Heads, formulating better organisation for Badge Week.

John has worked endlessly in the difficult financial situations and throughout the organisation and achieved the best fundraising results for Nowra Legacy ever.

As well as his service to St John Ambulance, John Creasey has volunteered with the following: member Kelso Lions Club for five years; held the positions of treasurer and third and fourth vice-presidents; three years as a volunteer patient at University of Wollongong,  Nowra Campus, Graduate School of Medicine – mainly communication skills training, but some demonstration patient for examination.

He is a regular blood donor with over 120 donations, 70 since 1983.

He collects can ring pulls, which are sent to Vietnam veterans, who send them to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to make prosthetic legs for those who have lost limbs.

I nominate Violet Lord  for her work with the youth of the Shoalhaven. Over the past 60 years she, along with her husband John, has worked tirelessly both with fostering children and running the East Nowra Public School breakfast club. I think many Shoalhaven residents have been positively influenced by Violet and her kindness over the years. 

I truly think she is a superhero as she is now in her 80s and continues to serve others and care for the youth of the Shoalhaven.

Patti has been volunteering at Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre for over 25 years.

Patti has also managed the group called The Entertainers for over 25 years. The group fosters young talent and puts on an annual show.

The funds raised go to local community groups, over $30,000 over the years.

She prepares for this over six months of the year.

In her spare time she volunteers at the schools and church, playing music and organising concerts. She woks on the tax help desk from July to October and has done that for at least 10 years.

Patti has developed the centre's newsletter and continues to put out bi-monthly editions as well as offering her services as a Justice of the Peace each week.

Patti finds time to help her family and friends and she visits her sister in the retirement village each week.

I wish to nominate Jan Gilmour as a Shoalhaven Superhero ‘Service and Beyond’ Volunteer for an award.

Jan came to the Shoalhaven with her navy husband and first daughter in 1995 and settled into the naval base HMAS Creswell where Jan initiated a mothers' group for families with children under the age of one.

The group met weekly at Banksia House at HMAS Cresswell. Guest speakers were invited weekly and covered topics on providing education on parenting, women’s issues and topics of interest.

1998: Jan wrote a successful submission which provided Banksia House with a grant to create sun safe outdoor play area and equipment, landscaped gardens, furniture, educational library and toys.

1999: Jan was recognised for this contribution to naval families from the Commanding Officer of HMAS Creswell with a commendation, an award usually reserved for serving navy personnel.

Over the next few years Jan was a parent helper at Jervis Bay School.

2002: Jan joined the Terara Public School and Lyrebird Pre-school P&C. Jan also attended many school assemblies, taught scripture, baked for the monthly canteen, fetes and country fairs. 

2004: Jan facilitated weekly after-school children classes teaching virtues, led a youth group which supports disadvantaged people, participated in Clean Up Australia Day and helped members develop life skills.

Jan also taught scripture at Berry, Illaroo, and Cambewarra public schools each week. Jan also helped facilitate a stall for an anti-poverty event at Jaycee Park East Nowra and the Nowra Lions Kid Fun Day, Nowra Show and other events.

2007: Jan returned to work as a reservist in the Royal Australian Navy. She still continues her volunteer work with after school classes in East Nowra.

Jan is a wonderful role model to her now growing family of five young women aged 15 to 20 and 16-year-old son. Jan displays her positive lifestyle qualities by keeping physically fit through yoga, walking, swimming, bike riding, and canoeing. Jan lives a virtuous life, supported by her spiritual beliefs.

Tony Weston's volunteering work includes Culburra Beach and Districts Senior Citizens Association; RSL; Legacy; the Culburra Beach Progress Association; Meals on Wheels; computer classes; and community markets.

Tony donates his time and effort as an active member of the executive for various organisations within his community of Culburra Beach.

He seems to have an indefatigable propensity to serve the people of his community regardless of the commitment he requires to achieve the outcomes.

Over the years, Tony has served as president or vice-president, director or manager, co-ordinator or provider, secretary or editor, booking officer or teacher. He has met all expectations of his recipients.

These roles relate to organisations such as Culburra Senior Citizens, the Progress Association, Meals on Wheels, community markets, Legacy, RSL, North Shoalhaven Food Co-op, and the Stamp Club.

All these organisations provide and facilitate for Tony's people a freely given level of entertainment, education and edification.

Tony appears to be one of our community's superheroes, achieving a level of service and beyond.   

Sticks is the treasurer of the Bomaderry Australian Rules Football Club.

He looks after all the Clubs Sponsorship & Fundraising,  organises most of the functions, stocks and runs the canteen for the seniors and Juniors. 

He chases up the players each week for both grades, the Club registrar, writes Tiger Talk for the South Coast Register and keeps everyone notified about what’s happening.

He is also the club's licensee. He looks after and orders all the equipment (shorts, socks, jumpers, hoodies, footballs etc).

He rarely misses training and is usually the first at the ground and one of the last to leave .

He takes the pasta over every Thursday night and helps dish it out.  

He has won the Clubman of the Year excluding times, excluding himself from receiving it ever again.

He received life membership in 1985, had the bar named after him in 1990 and was made a Club Legend in 2011.

He is also a Life Member of the league. He played representative footy for about 10 years and has been the representative team manager and a selector for the last seven or so years.

A few years ago Simon created a free service run through a local church called ARK, which stands for Acts of Random Kindness.

ARK is a group of volunteers headed up by Simon who help anybody in the community in need with things like odd jobs, yard work, cleaning, painting, building, etc..

Simon co-ordinates the whole team of volunteers, mobilising people with the skills needed for people who are elderly, disabled or who can't afford to do the work themselves.

Simon is always willing to put his hand up to help others and maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

He is generous and caring and goes out of his way to help others - often people he doesn't know or has only just met.

He would never go after recognition for himself and would probably be a bit embarrassed to be singled out. But he really has a servant heart and he and the work of the whole ARK team deserve to be honoured.  

Tracy Reece over the past year has been an advocate for parents who have a child impacted by the drug ice. 

Tracy has spoken to newspapers, radio and at public forums about the challenges she has faced having a son who is addicted to ice. This includes the impact it has on her and her family.

Tracy is a superhero because she has been brave to publicly speak about the impact ice has had on her family. She has brought the struggles of having a child impacted by the drug ice into the open in an effort to educate the community about the devastating impact ice is having in our community.

She spoke at both ice forums which ran in the local community about her situation and was extremely brave.