By Paul Dunlop
Nar Nar Goon icon Bernie Byrne recently won Cardinia Shire Council’s Stan Henwood Award for outstanding service by an individual. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
BERNIE Byrne has long been regarded as one of the community’s hardest workers.
Now it’s official.
Mr Byrne, wellknown Nar Nar Goon resident and stalwart of many groups and organisations, has won the Stan Henwood Award.
The award, named after another great local figure who died in 2004, is Cardinia Shire Council’s achievement award for outstanding service by an individual.
Officer’s Rob Porter was the inaugural recipient of the Stan Henwood Award last year.
Mr Byrne said he was surprised and thrilled to receive the award, announced at the council’s recent community grants presentation night in Pakenham.
Mr Byrne said his close friendship with Mr Henwood over many years made it even more of an honour.
“Stan and I worked together a fair bit. The Nar Nar Goon and Tynong sewerage bid was the last thing we did together,” Mr Byrne said.
A tireless worker for his beloved ‘Goon’, Mr Byrne said he enjoyed being involved in things.
“One of the first things I did was get roped into shovelling gravel to help build tennis courts at Nar Nar Goon. I was a big strong kid so they got me to help and from then on it’s been my baby,” he said.
“I’ve been involved in just about everything that’s on there. There is a great community spirit in Nar Nar Goon. People stick together and help out.”
Mr Byrne’s Goon ditties are a highlight of the annual Victorian Farmers Federation dinner at Nar Nar Goon and many of the town’s events and achievements continue to bear his stamp.
Cardinia mayor Bill Ronald said Mr Byrne was a great man and a deserving winner of the award.
“He has been in everything. When people talk of Nar Nar Goon the first thing they think of is Bernie Byrne,” Cr Ronald said.
this can be a side bar
YOUNG people often get a bad rap, but they have a loyal fan in Bernie Byrne.
Mr Byrne said he saw plenty to admire about the next generation.
The Nar Nar Goon identity said a couple of local teenagers who were part of a schoolbased volunteer course continued to help him clean up around town long after the 10week program had finished.
“They still come back wanting to help, cleaning up, planting shrubs, picking up rubbish,” Mr Byrne said.
“There is a lot of good in the youth out there. A lot of people run them down but they amaze me,” he said.
