Latrobe’s Senior Citizen of the Year Award presentedLatrobe City’s Senior Citizen of the Year award presented to Mary Gilmour of Traralgon. By Latrobe City Council - 21st March 2001 - Back to News Latrobe City’s Senior Citizen of the Year award has been presented to Mary Gilmour of Traralgon. The presentation by former Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Tony Hanning, took place during Sunday’s concert at Victory Park Traralgon, which celebrated the start of Senior Citizens Week.
Councillor Hanning said Mrs Gilmour had a long and distinguished history of service to the Latrobe Community, and had selflessly given her time to numerous community based organisations.
“Mrs Gilmour has dedicated years of voluntary work to the community through her involvement with the Traralgon Uniting Church, formerly St Andrews Presbyterian Church, as an elder for some thirty-five years,” Cr Hanning said.
“She is currently the Convenor of the Pastoral Care Group, a big ministry by any standards, playing a key role as Convenor of the Know Your Bible study groups, the Healing Ministry and the United Church Adult Fellowship Group.
“Hundreds of Latrobe’s adults who grew up in Glengarry will have known Mrs Gilmour as ‘Akela’. She devoted twenty-five years of her life as Cub Leader to the children of the township, and many will look back with gratitude on days when Akela taught them skills they will use for the rest of their lives,” Cr Hanning said.
In congratulating Mrs Gilmour on winning the award and for the years of service she had given to the community, Cr Hanning said that Senior Citizens throughout the City made a vital contribution to the wellbeing of its citizens.
“Senior Citizens bring special skills to community service, and tap into a wealth of often hard-won experience. I am frequently impressed with the energy with which they tackle tasks, the time they are prepared to dedicate to the community, and the patience with which they pursue their objectives,” Cr Hanning said.
“The high standard and sheer number of nominations for this year’s Senior Citizen of the Year Award, reveal that our ageing community cares deeply, not only for their peers, but for the whole community in which they live.
“I congratulate all those who have been nominated and thank them all for their contribution to the betterment of society. Nominators spoke in glowing terms of the nominees who came from all walks of life,” Cr Hanning explained.
“Presentation of the Senior Citizen of the Year Award is a fitting start to Senior Citizen’s Week which grows from strength to strength each year. It is an honour to present this award, and I am personally privileged that the final official function of my term as Mayor is for such an auspicious occasion,” Cr Hanning concluded.
Media Enquiries:
Cr. Brendan Jenkins, Mayor, Latrobe City tel. 0417 374 590
Cr. Tony Hanning, Deputy Mayor, Latrobe City tel. 0417 373 577
Ms. Penny Holloway, Chief Executive Officer, tel. 5173 1401 or 0417 557 103
Jeremy Bein, Public Relations and Communications Officer, tel. 5173 1468
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: latrobecity@gippslander.com

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