Tom Parry
MAFFRA’S Australia Day Celebrations took place at Victoria Park on Kent Street.
The event was well-attended, with the Maffra Municipal Band and bush poet Don Dwyer providing entertainment for the crowd.
As part of the festivities, the Rotary Club of Maffra presented two awards recognising the efforts of local volunteers.
The Community Group Award was given to the Maffra Vigilance Society, Inc.
Formed in 1961, the society aims to assist those less fortunate by providing and assisting with the purchase of food vouchers, fuel vouchers and clothing, among a number of items distributed.
The group has been based in the former Legion Hall in Foster Street since 1986, where it currently operates a thrift shop.
Committee members of the society received the award on the day, including secretary and welfare officer Kit Sargent.
“We thought it was wonderful,” Ms Sargent said of the accolade, adding that it was “nice to be recognised”.
She views the prize not only as recognition of the society, but of the volunteers within: “They put in a lot of time, and they’ve got a lot of pride in the shop”.
The Maffra Vigilance Society is presently open from 10am to 3.30pm weekdays, and 9.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
Photo: Sam Crothers
Also recognised on the day were Robert and Barbara Woodhouse, who took home the Quiet Achiever Award, in acknowledgement of their contributions to the Maffra Municipal Band.
Mr and Mrs Woodhouse have been involved “on and off” with the band for three decades, having become permanently involved since retiring seven years ago.
“They were down in numbers, so we could see that…they (needed) a boost of players, and we could probably offer our time to encourage and increase the numbers,” Mr Woodhouse told the Gippsland Times.
Since then, Maffra’s number of players has increased from seven to 80, and now has five different bands that perform under its umbrella – including the newly-established Maffra String Orchestra, and a Ukulele Group.
Mr Woodhouse said that he and his wife were “very appreciative” of the recognition they received.
“We were extremely surprised – it was the last thing we were expecting!” he laughed.
“You don’t do it for the plaques, you just do it because you see something that needs to be done, and you do it.
“But it is lovely to be recognised by the community for doing that.”
Mr Woodhouse added that Maffra Municipal Band is always on the lookout for new members, and strongly encouraged musicians in the community to become involved.
For more information about the and, visit the official Facebook page or www.maffraband.com.au
Photo: Sam Crothers
