Brian Moffatt is many things, a paramedic with Ambulance Victoria, an emergency responder for the GoodSAM app, a CFA volunteer, a life-saving hero and now Mitchell Shire Citizen of the Year.
The Pyalong resident was presented with his award during the council’s Australia Day celebrations at Chittick Park in Seymour on Thursday, January 26.
“I really like helping people,” he said after receiving his award.
“Whether it's at work or not. I think that’s one of the most noble things you can do, just to help other people without any expectation of anything in return.
“It’s very humbling to see so many people here today.”
It was one of Mr Moffatt’s life-saving efforts that earnt him his nomination for citizen of the year after he responded to an emergency alarm on the GoodSAM app to help a man who had gone into cardiac arrest less than a kilometre away from his home.
That man was Lloyd Robinson. His son Matthew was frantically trying to save his dad with CPR. Mr Moffatt’s assistance was vital in Mr Robinson’s survival.
“Brian’s a very humble person. He was a bit upset from what we heard that he was getting it,” Mr Robinson said.
“I think it was well deserved.”
Mr Robinson’s partner Deb Blitz nominated Mr Moffatt.
“No-one in the community is more deserving, we think,” she said.
Beyond his direct, life-saving interventions, Mr Moffatt also realised that having a defibrillator locked away in the CFA station limited its capacity to help in circumstances like Mr Robinson’s.
So he instigated a community fundraiser to purchase and install a defibrillator in town so it could be accessed during emergencies, and then set about training residents so they knew how to use it.
Mitchell Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year for 2023 is Ethan Liddy.
The 13-year-old Hidden Valley resident raises money for Buy a Bale, which supports struggling farmers.
He earns money for putting out neighbours’ bins and then donates it to Buy a Bale.
So far Ethan has raised $4000, but his overall goal is to raise $5700, the cost of a semi-trailer load of hay, but he’s unlikely to stop there.
“I’ll keep going,” he said.
“Once I get to the $5700 I’ll just keep going and see if I can times it by two.”
Ethan’s efforts are helped along by his parents agreeing to match his fundraising.