General News
28 January, 2022
Carberry “honoured” to be citizen of the year
Apsley resident Rob Carberry is West Wimmera Shire’s Australia Day citizen of the year for 2022.
APSLEY resident Rob Carberry is West Wimmera Shire’s Australia Day citizen of the year for 2022.
Mr Carberry said it was an honour to receive the award for his contributions to his community.
“It’s very humbling and an enormous surprise,” he said.
“I am keen to share this award with people who have been on the different committees with me over the years.”
Mr Carberry has been involved with the football club, golf club, tennis club.
He is involved in the RSL, organising all Anzac Day and Remembrance Day events.
REWARDING: West Wimmera Shire citizen of the year is Rob Cerberry for his many years of contributions to the Apsley and surrounding community. Photo: CONTRIBUTED.He is an Edenhope Hospital board member, Apsley Recreation Reserve committee member, and has been Apsley Progress Association president for more than 20 years.
He is a Justice of the Peace and helped organise many celebrations, concerts, reunions and fundraisers over the years.
Mr Carberry said his volunteering began when he was younger and involved in sport, wanting to keep his local clubs running smoothly.
“Then when we had children I started getting involved in other things like the progress association and the recreation reserve,” he said.
“I wanted to do things that the children would one day use and enjoy.”
Mr Carberry said the best part of his community was the people.
“Seeing them enjoy themselves is very rewarding and pleasing,” he said.
After many years of volunteering, Mr Carberry said he planned to step back in the coming years.
“I’ll probably start backing off and letting some of the younger people come forward and take some leadership,” he said.
Read more: ‘Busier than expected’: Horsham butchers faring well amid national food shortage
Mayor Bruce Meyer said the council had an extremely high calibre of nominations to choose from this year.
“We have so many outstanding people in our communities doing amazing work,” he said.
Cr Meyer said Mr Carberry was a deserving winner of the citizen of the year award.
“He is involved in many sporting clubs and community committees in Apsley,” he said.
“He is described as a pillar of the community, and someone who has a positive rapport with everyone he meets.”
The West Wimmera Shire also awarded senior citizen of the year to Annie Osborn, from Edenhope, the event of the year to Kaniva A and P Society’s Melbourne Cup tour; and community group of the year to Edenhope’s men’s shed.
Ms Osborn is an Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital board member, registered volunteer, and a regular blood donor.
She is the leader of Edenhope Sing Australia, and she is involved with the bowling club, hockey club, Probus club and the lions club.
She also knits beanies for Knit One Give One which distributes beanies to people in need.
The event of the year is the Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour, hosted by the Kaniva A and P Society.
In July, the Victorian Racing Committee brought the Melbourne Cup to Kaniva and for the event, the society organised an afternoon tea and a formal dinner.
The community group of the year is Edenhope Men’s Shed, which provides a creative outlet and a good place to chat for many men in the town.
Cr Meyer said Ms Osborn was a wonderful contributor to the Edenhope community and was always looking for a way to help others.
Read more: Musical evening to delight Jeparit and Watchem
Cr Meyer said all of the winners made enormous contributions to the shire.
“Our shire would not function without the work of all of these tireless volunteers who put so much time and effort into making our communities great,” he said.
“Both our citizen of the year and senior citizen of the year volunteer with many different groups and organisations.
“The Kaniva A & P Society and the Edenhope Men’s Shed also rely heavily on volunteers to run.
“We thank all these people for the amazing work that they do in our shire.”