Sunday 26.01.2025: AUSTRALIA DAY:
Woodgate Community Hall hosted the Australia Day Breakfast. A delicious barbecue breakfast served by an amazing team of volunteers, followed by guest speaker Lesley Christensen who’s chosen topic was ‘Woodgate, from Ghost town to Boom town”.
Breakfast was followed by the presentation of Community Group of the year award and the Citizen of the year award.
The award for Citizen of the Year went to Wendy Gearside a true ‘quiet achiever’!
(Image: Citizen of the Year: Wendy Gearside receiving the award from Steven Bennett MP with Lesley Christensen, President of the Woodgate Community Events.)
For many years Wendy has been involved with the First Responders Group.
The first Responders provide help for all Woodgate residents and visitors in the case of a medical emergency, a calming professional presence offering assurance that help is on the way.
Due to a tragic accident in 2017 resulting in the loss of the First Responders founder and leader John Bellerby, Wendy made the promise not to let the FR group fold, stepping up to fill the void of leader and organiser she spends many hours scouting for new volunteers and working tirelessly with the Childers Ambulance service to provide training for present and future volunteers.
Wendy has been part of the FR group for 14 years and is still an active responder, along with her dedicated team of fellow volunteers attending call outs 24 hours a day. The Woodgate First Responders have been past recipients of the Community Group of the year. Founder and past organiser the late John Bellerby has been awarded Citizen of the Year.
Now present day organiser and active member Wendy Gearside has been recognised for her tireless dedication to our Communities needs, a worthy recipient of ‘Citizen of the Year’.
The Woodgate Bowls Club, Ladies section has been awarded Community Group of the Year for their work and commitment to The Biggest Morning Tea over a long period of time.
(Image above:Lesley Christensen, Bill Trevor, bowlers Daphne Brettell, Doreen Ensby, Jacquie Rogerson and Tammy A’Beckett.)
From humble beginnings 24 years ago when the morning tea raised $1000 to last year, 2024, when over $10,000 was raised at the event.
Over the 24 years the event has raised over $100,000 for Cancer Research! Ladies (and all our men helpers) you are amazing and so deserving of this award!
Published March 2024