Community-minded Bunyip resident Sue Beattie is the 2009 winner of the Stan Henwood Award. 33951Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Melissa Grant
SUE Beattie’s heavy involvement with community groups in Bunyip – including its community shop – has seen her become the first female recipient of the prestigious Stan Henwood Award.
Ms Beattie was surprised to receive the accolade, despite having worked tirelessly for various organisations in the town, from its aged-care facility to the Bunyip Football Club over the past 16 years.
“I felt very proud but very humble, but I feel I work with many volunteers who are just as deserving – it’s theirs as much as mine,” she told the Gazette.
“I wasn’t expecting this at all.”
Ms Beattie was instrumental in setting up the Bunyip Community Shop in 2000, after the town’s Red Cross op shop closed.
The 58-year-old can still be found at the community shop today, one of 40 or so volunteers there.
“It’s great to be able to raise funds and to give them back to the community,” she said.
The Bunyip Community Shop has distributed more than $90,000 to local groups and charities. In recent times, it has handed over $10,000 for Bunyip’s auditorium project, $10,000 for Hillview’s aged-care facility and $5000 to the Bunyip fire brigade.
Ms Beattie has been on the board of the Hillview hostel for about five years. She has also been on the board of Bunyip Bendigo Community Bank, a project with which she has been heavily involved since its inception.
After forming a much-needed committee, Ms Beattie was able to bring the Bendigo Bank to the community of Bunyip – an initiative that continues to bring benefits to local residents, including a considerable donation to the construction of the Bunyip auditorium.
Other groups Ms Beattie has been involved with include the Bunyip Red Cross, Bunyip Progress Association, Bunyip Township Committee and the Bunyip medical centre.
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson said Ms Beattie was a deserving recipient of the Stan Henwood Award, an accolade that honours those who have contributed a significant amount of time and effort into their communities.
“She is energetic and forward thinking and the community of Bunyip is very lucky to have her,” Cr Pearson said.
The Stan Henwood Award was established to recognise the commitments of Cardinia Shire’s outstanding citizens.
The award commemorates the lifetime contribution Stan Henwood made to the Tynong community and the Cardinia Shire with his involvement in the Tynong Hall Committee, Tynong Recreation Reserve Committee and the Make A Wish Foundation.
Mr Henwood’s wife Bev and daughter Denise Davidson presented Ms Beattie with the award on 16 July.
