Feb 1 newspaper standard

Rotary club surprise award recipients

YARRAM and District Health Ser vice (YDHS) staff members were named joint winners of the 2022 Rotary Club of Yarram Australia Day Citizen of Year award at the annual Australia Day breakfast in Yarram Memorial Park on Thurs day. Marcus McKenzie played a dual role at the ceremony, firstly representing the Wellington Shire Council in his role as a councillor and then as Rotary Club of Yar ram president. Mr McKenzie told the big crowd attend ing the Rotary Club Citizen of Year award had recognised the services of individual citizens within the community since 1978. “The first winner of this award was the late George Scammell,” he said. “In 2022 our community was two years into a pandemic that 98% of Australians had never experienced,” he said. “When it came to deciding the 2022 Citizen of the Year the Rotary Board were unanimous to the extent that this year’s Citizen of the year is not about one per son’s dedication to the community by a whole organisation’s dedication to this community and surrounds.”

“So, to that end, it gives me great plea sure and honour to announce that this year’s Citizen of the Year is all the workers at YDHS.” Mr McKenzie went on to say that the team of Yarram and District Health Ser vice had shown unwavering dedication and commitment to the health of the local community in and around Yarram over the past three years. “They (YDHS staff) are the true heroes in the COVID-19 response. They have worked tirelessly on the front line as well as behind the scenes, showing up every day, wearing full PPE day in and day out, putting in extra hours, and even isolating themselves from their families and loved ones to give Yarram and District commu nity the best possible care. Mr McKenzie highlighted that this award was awarded to all staff at YDHS. “It was just not the nurses and doctors who deserve the community thanks but all the staff at YDHS,” he said. “It is the medical, nursing, allied health, operation and administrative support staff as well,” he said. YDHS CEO Paul Head accepted the award on behalf of his staff. “I am shocked but extremely honoured to receive this award on behalf of all our team,” Mr Head said. “I am just the figurehead, this is for the team, at YDHS,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the fact that we did not lose one single patient due the pandemic,” he said “Our community should feel safe in the fact we have a great team at YDHS. One staff member who attended the awards presentation described the an nouncement as emotional. “I got very emotional during the award announcement and acceptance speech, it is a wonderful feeling to be recognised and appreciated in this way,” they said. “It is indeed great recognition of the work staff do at YDHS.”

Locals Pauline Handley, Pau McAninly and Chrissie Honey enjoying the Yarram Rotary Club Australia day Breakfast and awards ceremony.

Yarram and District Health Service CEO Paul Head accepts the Citizen of the Year award on behalf of all his staff at YDHS.

Attendees at the Rotary Clubs’ annual Australia Day breakfast enjoy great music by local musicians.

Danny O’BRIEN MP State Member for Gippsland South

SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOBS

(03) 5144 1987 danny.obrien@parliament.vic.gov.au 54B Cunninghame St, Sale VIC 3850 dannyobrienmp.com.au Working for Gippsland South for Regional Victoria nmp dannyobrienmp

Wednesday, February 1, 2023 - THE BRIDGE - Page 3