Above: Marisa, 3, at the Australia Day celebrations in Pakenham.
By Elizabeth Lillis
A LARGE crowd packed the Cardinia Cultural Centre for the Australia Day Celebrations on Friday morning.
Cardinia Shire mayor Kate Lempriere welcomed more than 500 people who attended the Australia Day Awards ceremony and citizenship ceremony.
Scouts and Guides from across the region raised the flag, and Cr Lempriere led the flagwaving as the Cardinia Civic Concert Band played I am Australian.
In her address, Cr Lempriere acknowledged the traditional owners of the land, noted the different areas of the shire, the diversity of life experience across the Hills, rural areas and growth area of the shire around Pakenham.
The mayor said she believed the shire had a future everyone could look forward to, which was built on mateship and friendship.
Rural townships made a clean sweep of the Cardinia Australia Day Awards with winners in all categories coming from the southern part of the shire.
Max Kneebone of Lang Lang was named Cardinia Citizen of the Year for 2007.
Mr Kneebone retired from the police force in 1973 and moved to Lang Lang with his wife Joan.
After 17 years with the police moving regularly, the Kneebones settled in Lang Lang and haven’t felt the need to move again.
“I think that says something about Lang Lang,” Mr Kneebone said.
“Lang Lang has been very kind to us and I just wanted to give a bit back to the town.”
Mr Kneebone was acknowledged for his gift of a truck to tow the Life Education Van; furnishing a complete consulting room at the Lang Lang Medical Centre and assisting the Anglican Church with painting and donated new carpet.
Mr Kneebone served two terms as the Rotary Club of KooweeupLang Lang, has been to New Guinea twice to support Rotary projects and has received a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship.
He was described by those who nominated him as creating a ‘can do’ atmosphere of pride and optimism for the future in his community.
Lois Gardiner was named the Cardinia Senior Citizen of the Year.
Mrs Gardiner was acknowledged as a diligent, keen helper for many years in the Lang Lang, Kooweerup and Yannathan districts.
She has been the church organist for 52 years, is a foundation member of the Yannathan Ladies Guild, a volunteer for the Lang Lang Care Group, works with Meals on Wheel, and assists people with transportation to medical appointments.
Mrs Gardiner was also acknowledged for welcoming new families into the area.
Accepting her award, Mrs Gardiner said it was a great honour.
“I encourage people to become involved in the community. You get to meet some lovely people the rewards are great,” she said.
Mrs Gardiner said her family always joked that she would die with the phone in her hand talking to someone.
Cr Lempriere noted in announcing Mrs Gardiner’s award that she worked quietly and tirelessly for others, never asking for recognition.
The Young Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Courtney and Rochelle Baker, the Lang Lang siblings acknowledged for their involvement in various activities in the local and regional community.
Mr Baker, 21, is troop leader of the 1st Lang Lang Scouts, having started with the troop as a Cub.
He has helped run two interstate trips for his Scout group and a camp to the Grampians in September.
He volunteers as a teacher’s aid at Lang Lang Primary School while studying Government and Community Services at TAFE.
Mr Baker was also a finalist in the young leaders section of the Tidy Towns state awards.
Miss Baker, 18, was the youngest area coordinator for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal when she took on the task at age 16.
She also coordinated a 75th anniversary dinner for the appeal as well as collecting money in the Lang Lang area.
Miss Baker also turns out for the Lang Lang CFA and is a keen cricketer, playing for Pakenham UpperToomuc.
She was awarded the Frank McDonald Memorial Trophy for the most promising schoolgirl in 200304 by the Victorian Women’s Cricket Association.
Accepting the Young Citizen of the Year award, Miss Baker said she would continue to be involved in her community.
She thanked her parents and her grandmother for their encouragement.
Mr Baker said he was very honoured to receive the award.
“I really encourage other young people to get involved in their community,” he said.
The St Sofia Festival, held in October in Kooweerup, was named Cardinia Community Event of the Year.
Vince Buccheri accepted the award for the festival organising committee.
He said the event, which has run for 34 years, brought together two very different communities to share and celebrate.
Mr Buccheri thanked the many people who had contributed to the festival over the years.
The 2006 festival provided the opportunity for the mayors of Cardinia Shire and Sortino, Italy, to meet and establish a friendship between the two communities.
Australia Day ambassador Denise Drysdale spoke on the Australian spirit and encouraged people to support the volunteers who help out in the community.
Ms Drysdale, while entertaining with her speech, also stressed the importance of being accepting of others.
The Australian citizenship oath was taken by 56 people, who were welcomed by the mayor and presented with certificates by Scouts and Guides.
“Today we have the pleasure of welcoming our new Australia citizens from all over the world to become a part of our nation’s spirit,” Cr Lempriere said.
“As a shire, we look forward to watching them nurture and enrich our already vibrant community.”
