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Senior Citizen Of The Year Announced

Gloria Whalan is Latrobe City’s Senior Citizen of the Year, following the announcement of her award at the Senior Citizen week Country Concert held at Kernot Hall on Thursday.

By Latrobe City Council - 9th October 2009 - Back to News

Ms Whalan was recognised for her contribution to the community through her work with the Central Gippsland Aboriginal Health Services, Anglicare Victoria’s foster care program, the Victorian Permanent Care program, and Indigenous Art Gippsland TAFE.

Latrobe City’s deputy mayor, Cr Kellie O’Callaghan, said Ms Whalan is an Indigenous Elder, a dynamic mentor of young people, and increasingly recognised as an artist and writer.

"Ms Whalan arrived in the Latrobe Valley five years ago, and while her success in raising her own six children are testament to her phenomenal parenting skills, she has chosen as a foster carer to take in some of the most challenging and difficult to place kids in the Valley – teenage boys.

"Her outstanding contribution to helping meet the demands of youth homelessness with her foster caring and volunteering make her a most worth recipient of this award," Cr O’Callaghan said.

"Not one to rest on her accomplishments, Ms Whalan in more recent times began formal training in Indigenous art. In that time she has produced numerous pieces of beautiful art and has even held her own exhibition; but it is her willingness to go out of her way to help other Koorie students that impressed those who nominated her for this award," Cr O’Callaghan said.

"Latrobe City received 11 nominations this year for ‘Senior Citizen of the Year’, by far the largest amount ever received.

"The depth, strength and commitment to helping others within the community by those nominated impressed the councillors who assessed the nominations O’Callaghan said.

Each of the other nominees - Elizabeth Minty, Lois Williams, Margaret McMasters, Pat Bartholomuesz, Reginald Selwyn, John Richards, Ines Albanese, Gladys Hall, Patricia Ronalds, and Glenice Beams, were also congratulated on their work and presented with a framed certificate and flowers.

Latrobe City’s coordinator social support, Alison Haber, said the awards ceremony took place in front of the largest attendance ever attracted to the Seniors’ Festival Country Concert.

"Debra Byrne was a real hit with the crowd and more than 600 people attended to hear the former Young Talent Time star perform.

"The attendances at concerts, awards presentation and numerous other events taking place as part of this year’s Seniors’ Festival demonstrate our community truly has been ‘inspired’ to take part in the wealth of activities on offer," Ms Haber said.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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