Joan refuses to stand still

By Sarah Schwager
WHEN Pakenham’s Joan Vogels was elected Cardinia Shire’s Citizen of the Year in 2002, she was involved in everything from Pakenham Guides to Probus, to various committee positions.
In the past four years little has changed.
Mrs Vogels, formerly Blackley, laughs when asked how she manages all her activities.
“I am a fairly organised person,” she said.
“I like to keep myself busy.”
Mrs Vogels has been involved with Guides for 45 years, and has been acting district leader for the last 18 months.
She still takes tours with the Pakenham Probus Club, which provides local tours and holidays for retired people.
She is secretary of the Yakkerboo Festival committee.
She also works on Cardinia’s Australia Day committee and the preselection committee for the Australia Day awards.
Mrs Vogels said she loved being involved with the community, Yakkerboo her latest endeavour.
“It’s really a lot of fun. It’s something special to do for the community,” she said.
Mrs Vogels said she had been “absolutely knocked off my feet” when selected as Cardinia’s top citizen.
“It was the most amazing honour, not only to receive but that someone thinks highly enough of you to nominate you,” she said.
“It’s the most humbling experience.”
She said the only thing that had been disappointing was that she had not been given more of a role within the community to go with the Citizen of the Year title. “The Shire gives you the certificate and then forgets you exist,” she said.
She said the sort of people that were awarded the title would be more than willing to take on extra duties.
Mrs Vogels and her husband Lou Vogels, who married early in 2005, have eight children and 19 grandchildren between them.
She said keeping active and having a healthy family was important to staying involved. She said she loved living in Pakenham, and after living in the area since 1987, was there to stay.
“Pakenham is a great place. The people are very caring. It’s the most amazing community to live in.”