Boomers, Gen-Xers and even Millennials are being left in the wake of the forward-thinking and inclusive Generation Z, of which Rochester’s Young Citizen of the Year Georgia Matthews is a wonderful example.
She was the right person at the right time in the Rochester community, particularly for the teenagers that surrounded her during the traumatic events of October last year.
Georgia’s recognition came in a unique award ceremony, which involved the entire Rochester community being recognised as the Community Group of the Year and Citizen of the Year (see the attached article for a more thorough explanation).
Amid the chaos of the town’s flooding, Georgia and her Year 12 class completed their exams while being uprooted from their normal daily surrounds — both in the classroom and at home.
She led a mental health day initiative in her capacity as a Student Representative Council member, having already developed deep relationships in the Rochester community through her work behind at the counter at Rochester Bakery.
The 19-year-old Rochester Secondary College graduate of 2022 was humble, but appreciative, in accepting her community recognition at the Lions Park celebration in Rochester last week.
To further explain the attributes which set Generation Z apart from its predecessors, they are widely considered the most connected, educated and sophisticated generation ever.
The blunt and occasionally politically correct Boomers have well and truly taken a back seat in society, while Generation X (the hard working, yet conservative members of our community) and the multi tasking/ultra cautious Millennials wonder at the accepting nature of the “new breed’’.
For the record members of Generation Z are people born from 1997 to 2015, while Millenials started appearing in 1980 and Gen-Xers from 1965.
From Echuca originally, Georgia has been a part of the Rochester community for six years.
Her graduation last year has left her with her sights set on a Latrobe University course at Bundoora in the health science field.
“I am keen to do someting in the nutrition field,” she said.
Georgia has spent most of her senior education living at Ballandella on a cropping farm, which fortunately avoided any flood damage to its living quarters.
She stood tall amid theRochester Year 12 ranks as she and her classmates travelled to Bendigo to complete their exams.
“We were all a bit up in the air as to how the exams were going to look,” she said.
“I know a lot of kids were stressed, but I think I did the best that I could.”
TOWN WINS TWO AWARDS
Rochester, the town, was recognised with the Rochester Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year awards at the Campaspe Shire Australia Day ceremony last week.
In explaining the reason behind the decision the independent judge said: “2022 was an extremely hard year for all members of the Rochester community. The nominations focused heavily on the incredible floods, which brought out the best in this community and this was apparent by reading the nominations.
“To single out one person as the Citizen of the Year would be a great injustice to those community members who were not nominated.
“During the floods, the community came together and supported each other. Many provided food, shelter, time and essentials to those who lost so much. Farmers brought their own equipment into the town to assist.
“Many businesses used their employees to help with the work necessary after such an occurrence.
“Teachers continue online learning with their students and nurses did their jobs, even without a hospital. Businesses struggled to restart to ensure the community had the basics.
“One person nominated the Rochester township ‘as the residents have all come together as one to firstly prepare for a flood and then to repair after the flood. The community is working as one and should be acknowledged as such.’ That sums up the decision that the residents of Rochester are its citizens of the year.’’
In relation to the Community Group of the year the judge explained: “Based on the work done, being done, and yet to be done, all organisations in Rochester who have worked long hours for weeks on end should be recognised with certificates that their organisation is truly a ‘Community Organisation of the Year’.’’
She leaves the Rochester school community in good hands as younger sister Denvah is similarly community minded.
Already a school captain, her little sister is devoted to the environment and the future.
“My main goal this year was to help students with mental health. It was a really big thing for me to let them know help was available,” Georgia said.
“So many students in primary and high schools are struggling with mental health.
“It was important for them to know they were not alone.”
Six months of planning, including co-ordination with the community and primary schools ended in a major colour run event and promotion of the mental health space.
Georgia was not aware of her nomination until she received a phone call from Heather Watson at the Rochester Bakery to inform her she had been nominated.
“I was blown away, considering I really admire Dimity Pearson (last year’s Campaspe Shire Young Citizen of the Year),” she said.
“She is an incredible person and I have spoked with her about youth programs.”
Sharing in the occasion with Georgia at the Australia Day ceremony were her parents and grandparents, long-time Rochester residents Patricia and Ronald Cowan.
“My parents are also here, along with lot of my customers from the bakery where I have a lot of morning catch-ups,” she said.
Born-and-bred Rochester local government representative, Campaspe Shire councillor Paul Jarman and Australia Day co-ordinator Heather Watson also addressed a large gathering at the early morning event.
Cr Jarman said being elected as a representative for Rochester was quite an honour.
“It is very easy to represent a community that gives a lot more than it takes,” he said.
“Over the last few months we've had a lot happen, but Rochy is not about buildings, it's about the people.
“The good and positive stories outweigh the other things for me. This is a community that has been pushed, but keeps pushing back.
“I live in Echuca, but I call Rochester my home town. I always drive away thinking how good is this place?”
He encouraged people in Rochester to consider becoming a volunteer in some sort of organisation.
“Think about what you can do to help someone else. That is, for me at least, the one thing I would like to see happen in the next six months,” he said.
“That will ensure our groups can get up and running again.”
Finally, in keeping with the fact no individual Citizen of the Year award was being made, Cr Jarman said Rochester was not about individuals, rather the community.
Senior Rochester SES figure Judith Gledhill best summed up the mood of the morning, in accepting two awards recognising the entire community by saying “there is nowhere else I would rather be. These award (Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year) belong to you Rochester”.