Appreciation award for community pillar

By Sarah Schwager
A PILLAR of the Beaconsfield community, Gwen Neve, has been recognised for her contribution to the community with a Council on the Ageing Victoria Senior Achievers Award.
Mrs Neve was one of 10 Victorians to win the award, with the Victorian Senior of the Year going to 66yearold South Gippsland resident Neil Trease.
Mrs Neve, 75, said she had been very surprised, and embarrassed, when she found out she had been nominated by the local community centre and her family.
The letter came just a couple of days before the presentation at Government House last Friday.
Mrs Neve said it all came about very suddenly.
“It was very exciting after I got over the shock of it all,” she said.
She said her husband, Ralph, who has been in palliative care recovering from the after effects of prostate cancer, had come to the presentation as he ‘wouldn’t have missed it for the world’.
“He was going around telling everyone in the hospital,” she said. “He was just really proud.”
Mrs Neve said it had been really nice to be appreciated by her community.
“It’s just nice having someone say thankyou. You don’t need trophies and things,” she said.
“That’s all you expect. Otherwise you wouldn’t do it.”
Mrs Neve came to Australia with her family from England in 1965 and moved to Beaconsfield in 1966.
Since then she has been involved as a cleaner and child carer at the Beaconsfield Primary School and Beaconsfield Netball Club.
She has also been involved with the Progress Association and the Neighbourhood Centre where she set up and leads the Midway Group for seniors.
Mrs Neve said it had been a fantastic day, with two children and five grandchildren also attending the presentation.
“I was in the toilet when they called my name so that was even more embarrassing,” she laughed.
She said when she came home afterwards her family had laid out the table with food and champagne.
“It was a really good day,” she said. “We are really family orientated here.”
As part of the prize, which included a plaque, Mrs Neve will receive two Vline tickets.