Joy tinged with sadness as Dookie resident honoured

Mrs Ryan had a 50-year career as a nurse, which started in Melbourne and later moved to management levels of Goulburn Valley Health and aged care facilities in Shepparton.

From 2011 she was chairperson of the Greater Shepparton Positive Ageing Advisory Strategy and the Positive Ageing Action Plan, which is assisting Greater Shepparton City Council in developing an age-friendly community.

Mrs Ryan was also at the forefront of many projects that would improve the Dookie community.

During the past six years Mrs Ryan had been the Dookie and District Development Forum chairperson and in this time she always endeavoured to increase the tourism prospects and economic viability of her town.

Last year she also stepped into the role of president when the position was vacated, and led the forum until the annual general meeting in March.

Mrs Ryan’s daughter Joanne Bowmaker accepted the award on behalf of her mother, who died from COVID-19-related illness, on Saturday, January 22.

Her husband Michael also died from COVID-19-related illness the week earlier.

“It’s a great honour to accept the award,” Mrs Bowmaker said.

“She (Mrs Ryan) was all about achieving her goals, not recognition.

“She would have loved to have received this, but she just thought she was doing her job.”

Mrs Ryan was not the only member of the family to be honoured at Dookie on Australia Day.

Her granddaughter Daisy Bowmaker was named the Dookie Young Citizen of the Year.

Ms Bowmaker grew up in Dookie, playing netball for Dookie Football Netball Club, and enjoying music, playing the piano and singing.

The 21-year-old is currently studying a double degree in midwifery and nursing at university in Melbourne.

“I feel so lucky to have grown up in the town,” she said.

“Every time I meet people, I love telling them about this place.”

Ms Bowmaker said she was surprised, but grateful, to win the award.

She was also pleased to receive the award on the same day her grandmother was named the town’s Senior Citizen of the Year.

“It makes me so happy to have received it on the same day,” she said.

“It’s bittersweet I couldn’t share it in the physical sense, but she (her grandmother) will be looking down with a smile.”

The town’s Citizen of the Year Award was won by Paula Ludeman.

The mother of three was a start-up member and is the current treasurer of Lifestyle Dookie.

She is also the treasurer on the Memorial Hall Committee and Dookie Primary School Council, as well as holding numerous positions on committees across the district.

The Dookie Community Event of the Year award went to ‘Carols on the balcony – the COVID way’ which was run by the Combined Churches.

Faced with COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, the organisation changed up the regular carols by candlelight event so that it could be held in a COVID-safe way, with singers on a balcony and the audience in the Gladstone Hotel car park and CWA Park.

As well as the Australia Day awards, the Dookie festivities included a scone morning tea, and a keynote address by Australia Day ambassador Grant Monks, who grew up in Kyabram.

Mr Monks spoke of being born with kidney disease and how his mother was compatible to give him a kidney.

His father had schizophrenia, and was not compatible and became jealous of his mother being a match and murdered her when he was aged about six, Mr Monks said.

He and his brother grew up being fostered by the family of one of his kindergarten friends, and now Mr Monks works for Kidney Health Australia.

He has an upbeat outlook on life and said he was overwhelmed by compassion and kindness by teachers, his friends and other community members as he was growing up and having kidney dialysis.

“The Australian vibe is you look after your mates and your community,” he said.