MARGARET Whittaker’s sustained influence in so many areas and her tireless efforts to help others were recognised yesterday when she was announced the Albury council’s citizen of the year at the Australia Day celebrations at Noreuil Park.
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She was recognised ahead of four other nominees - Shellie Graham, Danny Phegan, Toni Johnson and Phil Shanahan - and her success was greeted enthusiastically by the large crowd at the idyllic setting on the banks of the Murray River.
Two factors confirmed her commitment and contributions to the community.
Mrs Whittaker, 63, was on duty in a St John’s Ambulance uniform to help out at the gathering and some years ago she taught the young citizen of the year, Johanna Phommachanh, at Xavier High School.
Now she has achieved a unique double having previously been awarded the council’s volunteer of the year in 2010.
She started with St John’s Ambulance 36 years ago in Sydney and played a leading role in founding and managing the service in Albury for the past 30 years.
Mrs Whittaker has taught first aid courses for the past 24 years to more than 4500 people.
Her involvement in the teaching profession spanned 31 years and she is highly regarded in the sporting community as a netball coach, umpire, state selection committee member and state level umpire.
She has given many hours to primary age children with learning difficulties and provides help to school immunisation programs.
Her success in the award was “a big surprise”.
“Thanks very much to everyone,” she said after receiving her award from Mayor Kevin Mack.
Shellie Graham devotes her time to local charities and clubs, Danny Phegan has raised money for cancer research, Toni Johnson is a mentor and role model in Albury’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community and Phil Shanahan has a long involvement in coaching and fostering tennis players.
Johnanna Phommachanh, 24, was recognised for her volunteer work with Lutheran Aged Care, the Upper Murray Care interchange program providing respite for children with disabilities, the RSPCA and Thurgooma Community Centre.
The first thing she did after getting a spare few moments was ring her family to tell them of her success.
Her father was working, her mother at home and she explained: “They are just super busy.”
Barry Young was recognised as the city’s volunteer of the year.
His border secondary school short story and poetry competition is in its 12th year and now has 14 schools involved.
Some of Mr Young’s other commitments are Aged Concern, the Thurgoona Community Centre and the Rotary Club of Albury Hume.
He has lived in Albury the past 18 years and said he is amazed by the amount of giving in the community.
“There are so many people who do things secretly,” he said.
“This is not my award. This is an award to all those organistions that have helped my dreams come true.”
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