Dozens of Dookie residents gathered at the town’s picturesque CWA Gardens on Thursday to celebrate the achievements of two of their own.
Suzie Hall was named Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day Ceremony — which was co-hosted by Dookie’s CWA and Lions Club branches — and Joy Sims was crowned Senior Citizen of the Year.
Ms Hall, who has lived in Dookie for 17 years, was surprised at the honour bestowed upon her.
“There are so many other people in this community who do so much more work, in my eyes, because I don’t think that I do anything special,” she said.
“People don’t want to clean the toilets; oh well, I’ll go clean the toilets.
“The pleasure of helping somebody (inspires me to volunteer). You treat others as you want to be treated, so therefore you help somebody and then you need help, you’re going to get that help back, it all goes around that way.
“I became a single parent probably 14 years ago and the community always rallies around you. I remember when we first moved in here the first thing we got was a hot meal from next door after unpacking all of our boxes. That was (the moment) where I said right, I’m here, I love it, and if this is what people are all about then why not stay?
“I’d like to thank my mother for giving me my morals and making me grow up to be the person I am.”
Ms Hall fills various volunteer roles, including with the Dookie Agricultural Show, Lifestyle Dookie and as a member of the Lifestyle Dookie Ball sub-committee.
“They had trouble (finding) a secretary of the football club so they approached me and I said okay, I’ll do it for a couple of years,” she said.
“The agricultural show I’ve been with for eight years and I absolutely love it.”
Ms Sims has always had a strong sense of community spirit, and rose to the challenge of keeping members of the local Uniting Church connected throughout the lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It was to keep all of our church members in contact, I’d write to them every week with a bit of a message and a chat because we couldn’t get together,” she said.
“It was very important to try and keep that community connected to one another.”
Ms Sims is also a regular helper and integral member of Lifestyle Dookie and the Dookie Lions Club — but the entire community has been assisted by her over the journey, no matter how big or small the need.
“Very proud and humbled, I’m not sure I’m well-deserving of this — it did (come as a big surprise),” she said.
“I am very passionate about Dookie, it’s the most delightful place to live, I’ve made so many wonderful friends since I’ve been here.
“I don’t know why anyone wants to live in Shepparton when they can live in Dookie.
“The community is so supportive, whatever (event) you happen to be having on they’re behind it all the way, it’s never hard to organise anything in this town.”
Australia Day award recipients — Dookie
Citizen of the Year — Suzie Hall
Senior Citizen of the Year — Joy Sims