Camperdown's Carole Manifold is Corangamite Shire's 2020 Citizen of the Year.
She was presented with the award at the official celebrations at the Derrinallum P-12 College Stadium on Sunday
Two other major awards were announced as part of the celebrations:
- Young Citizen of the Year – Piper Kenna—Terang
- Community Event of the Year – Colour Terang Festival
Derrinallum P-12 College Principal Caitlyn Fitzgerald delivered the keynote speech.
Three new Australians received citizenship and a free barbeque lunch and entertainment followed the ceremony.
Citizen of the Year Mrs Manifold has beaten breast cancer twice, which gives her great empathy and understanding for her patients in her work as a breast care nurse.
"Once the doctor rings to say 'Carole, you've got another patient,' you just get straight in the car and go to see them: prior to surgery, post-surgery, and through the treatment."
Mrs Manifold has raised $20,000 for Peter's Project cancer clinic in Warrnambool by making Christmas cakes, even while she was undergoing chemotherapy herself.
Ingredients are donated by the community. "I just stir," Mrs Manifold said humbly. "I can't take accolades for this. I just churn them out."
She said the Warrnambool clinic was a big improvement from her time commuting to Geelong and Melbourne for treatment. "It's so much better now. They can get surgery in Camperdown or Warrnambool and get treatment in Warrnambool."
Mrs Manifold's cancers were a result of her carrying the BRCA ("bracker") gene which blood tests revealed two of her five children, both men, also carry.
In 2017 she was invited to share her story with Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
"He said: 'That blood test was costing $3000. I'm now going to make that available on Medicare,'" she recalled. "I'm so pleased my patients can get that test on Medicare."
Young Citizen of the Year Miss Kenna, 9, is being recognised for her outstanding work raising more than $13,000 for cancer treatment and research.
She said the recognition made her feel pretty special. "The original idea was just to cut my hair but then I thought, 'If I'm going to cut my hair, I might as well shave it. It's just hair'."
The appeal, involving a page on the mycause website, raffles and a blind auction, raised $13,242 for breast cancer and leukaemia, both of which had affected Piper's family. Her great-grandfather, Bernie Milroy, died of leukaemia in 2008, aunt Jane Kenna beat leukaemia about 35 years ago, and aunt Leanne Harris had breast cancer.
Piper had a special bond with family friend Symone Moloney who succumbed to breast cancer last year.
"Every time I came to see her when she was first going through chemo she wore a beanie. One day she didn't realise we were coming and didn't have it on. I just said: "You're the same person. You're still beautiful."
The Colour Terang Festival added to the Shire's social and cultural calendar to fill the void left by the Terang Country Music Festival.
It included a colour dash, kite making, markets, live music, art displays, vintage cars, churches, nature play, photography, quilts, roving performers, musicians, a choir and an art installation.
The event was the result of tremendous collaboration between the Terang Progress Association, Lions, Rotary Club, CWA, Nexus Club, Cricket Club, four churches, local artists and business owners.
Terang Progress Association President Ben Dennis, one of the key organisers, said receiving the Community Event Award was "really humbling".
"It took a week or two to get over the imposter syndrome. It's great to recognise the efforts of a lot of people over an extended period of time. It wasn't just us. There were another five or six groups."
Corangamite Shire Mayor Neil Trotter congratulated all of the winners and nominees.
Cr Trotter also congratulated the other 16 individuals and organisers of the four other events that received Australia Day achievement awards.
"We are very fortunate to have such proactive and community-minded people in the shire.
"They are an inspiration to the rest of the Shire when it comes to ensuring a strong culture, social connections and economic opportunities that help build a prosperous nation."
Achievement Awards
- Terry Fidge—Terang
- Pam Bell—Terang
- Steve Poustie—Simpson
- Steve Bloxham—Noorat
- Nick Shady—Skipton
- William (Bill) Shady—Skipton
- Graham Layley—Skipton
- Catherine (Cath) Kavanagh—Skipton
- Faith Chapman—Cobden
- Kathryn Milroy—Camperdown
- Melissa Hoey—Terang
- Ben Dennis—Terang
- Sandy Noonan—Terang
- Liam King—Dixie
- Annabel Lucas—Camperdown
- Ingrid "Bing" Bellman—Cobden
- Corangamite Relay for Life
- Skipton Community Shop
- Friday Night Teas - Skipton Football Netball Club
- Long Lunch in May - Skipton
