A young pastry chef who lost her job due to the pandemic, then baked 800 morning teas to keep her community connected, has been named Indigo Shire's young citizen of the year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Genevieve Love, 20, was nominated by a fellow Stanley local after her efforts in March and April.
"I did a certificate three in patisserie after school, and I was working in Yack doing high teas and stuff in one of their cafes," she said.
"And then, once COVID hit, it was like, well, things have to shut down.
"And my family can only eat so much cake ... so I asked the Stanley committee if I could use their hall and if people would be willing to come and get some free cake.
"I'd cook something new each week, and I'd post on the community page to tell them to come pick it up, or do deliveries."
Ms Love, who was one of the last students who attended Stanley Primary School before it shut in 2012, cooked morning teas for 11 weeks and it was a highlight for many isolated residents.
"It was hard for a lot of them," she said.
"We had quite a few school kids ride their bikes down and then go back to their virtual school day.
"A lot of people wanted to drop off food items; if I got a bag of lemons, I could do something with that."
The community morning teas reluctantly came to an end in June, with Ms Love being offered a new job at Jim Jam Foods.
"I got to know them through the morning teas ... and they told me about a position they had," she said.
"We make nearly 80 kilograms of jam at a time."
Ms Love said she was grateful for the award and felt lucky to have regained employment so quickly, with three of her close friends losing work.
"People are very happy that they can be out and about again," she said.
"It feels weird getting this award, because it was something that I thought I got more out of than they did."
The same altruism has seen Barnawartha resident Pauline Fisher named citizen of the year.
Mayor Jenny O'Connor said the award recognised her significant contribution to helping those less fortunate.
"Pauline's dedication to helping her community is to be admired," she said.
"Thanks to Pauline, over $50,000 has been raised over the years through the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea.
"She co-ordinates the Barnawartha Australia Day breakfast each year as well as the Anzac Day breakfast, fundraises for the Barnawartha Hall and the Local Barnawartha Church."
Ms Fisher also organised a "Doors Day" at Barnawartha to show visitors Barnawartha's history and to promote the town.
The Rutherglen Anglican Opportunity Shop volunteer also raised guide dogs for 12 years and has helped the Rutherglen Show.
"I was so surprised to be recognised in this way," Ms Fisher said.
"It is so important to me to help anyone less fortunate, so this award doesn't mean I've finished helping my community yet."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Cr O'Connor said the two women were very deserving.
"After the year it has been, I think it's incredibly important that we acknowledge ... just how much their hard work means to us all," she said.