Community
26 November, 2025
Volunteers awarded
MEMBERS of the community were celebrated last week at the Wannon Volunteer Awards held in Colac.
On Friday, November 21, Member for Wannon Dan Tehan proudly hosted the awards, acknowledging the efforts of volunteers across the region.
He was joined by Port Campbell Surf Lifesaving Club’s Susanna Ryan, who was recently named Youth Lifesaver of the Year by Life Saving Victoria.
Susanna joined Mr Tehan in hosting the awards ceremony.
There were 54 recipients of the Volunteer Awards, including Leeanne Whitehead from Timboon and Max Begely from Simpson.
Mr Begely is a founding member of the Simpson Hall committee and has devoted over 50 years to the Simpson community.
He has led countless fundraising efforts to support the growth and prosperity of Simpson, from supporting the local school to local clubs.
Mrs Whitehead was recognised for decades of service to the Timboon community, both in her roles with the Timboon Football Netball Club, the Timboon Recreation Reserve committee and Timboon Action committee.
Her volunteering also extends to parenting groups, kindergartens and school activities.
Mrs Whitehead said she was honoured to receive the award, which wouldn’t have been possible without a great team supporting her.
“Really, I’m just a part of a team – everything I volunteer in, I’m part of a team where everyone helps along the way,” she said.
“I was pretty proud to have received the award.
“A lot of people do a lot of work which is unrecognised, so it’s for everybody.
“It’s to improve the town and that’s what we do it for.”
Looking to the future, Mrs Whitehead is currently working on campaigning for the upgrades of the Timboon netball tennis courts.
“At the moment I’m trying to get the netball tennis courts redone – that is a major project at the minute we’ve got our teeth into which we really need to get done,” she said.
“If anybody out there has any funds that they would like to put forward to it then we’re always happy to have that on board.
“We want to get it completed.”
Read More: local