ONE man can truly make a difference, as demonstrated by Wangaratta’s citizen of the year.
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James Neary would normally spend Australia Day as the MC of the celebrations at home in Murmungee, but yesterday he made the trip into town to receive the prestigious award.
Mr Neary was described as a “well-known community leader” who has spent countless hours volunteering before he was announced as the winner.
But despite all he has done for the community, he said the award wasn’t about him.
“I was certainly honoured to be thought of so highly and to be given this award,” Mr Neary said.
“This award isn’t about me; if you don’t have a good local community and organisations to get the best outcomes for the community, I would not be standing here today. It’s a combined effort.”
Mr Neary has volunteered for the CFA, Landcare, local halls, cemetery trust, recreation reserves and sporting clubs.
He joined the Bowmans Murmungee Fire Brigade when he was just 16, and this year celebrated his 45th year with the CFA.
He was also recently awarded the National Emergency Medal for the part he played in fighting the Black Saturday fires of 2009.
Now president of the Ovens Valley Victorian Farmers Federation branch and president of the North East Victorian Farmers Federation mixed commodity group, he is a strong advocate for fellow farmers in the area. He also served several terms as a Beechworth Shire councillor.
Mr Neary considered Australia “the best country to be a part of”.
“I’m pretty well Australian, I’m strictly chops, steak, chips and vegies, sausages and hamburgers,” he said.
“I’ll celebrate with a bite to eat here then go back out to the local district and see what is going on at a barbecue out there.”
Meanwhile, 12-year-old Laura Costenaro showed youth was no barrier to leadership when she took out the Wangaratta young citizen of the year award.
The former Whorouly Primary School student recently completed year 6 and said she mostly contributed to the community with fund-raisers.
“I have asthma, so I thought it would be good to raise money for the asthma foundation,” Laura said.
“I also organised fundraisers for the footy club, the Breast Cancer Foundation, World Vision and I did the 40 hour famine where we didn’t go in any building for 40-hours.”
The community event of the year was won by the Zonta Club of Wangaratta for its eighth annual year 11 girls career breakfast.
The club has been operating for 26 years.
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