THE Meeniyan community does a pretty good job with, well, just about everything.
Take a look at what the Meeniyan Progress Association, the shire, traders, sports groups, CFA and CWA, the school community and residents have done to increase activity in the town, improve facilities and to take a key role in local tourism.
The magnificent Meeniyan Garlic Festival, coming up on Saturday, February 18, is just one fine example.
They do a very fine job of celebrating the achievements and contributions of local residents too, and on Australia Day, their nomination for the shire’s citizen of the year, Clive Hope, their successful candidate for the South Gippsland Junior Citizen of the Year Award, Kira Waldron, and the nomination for event of the year, the Combined Churches of Meeniyan Carols by Glowlight, had pride of place.
At the last minute, with Eastern Victoria MLC Melina Bath indisposed, Mr Hope stepped up to give the Australia Day address, describing how he found a new home for himself in Australia, after arriving from Surrey in the UK in 1969, initially settling in Melbourne before accidentally discovering Meeniyan in 1974 in serendipitous circumstances.
“I spent a weekend visiting Lakes Entrance and thought I would come home via the coastal, route around the South Gippsland Highway. I’d previously visited ‘Dollar’ in Scotland and decided I’d like to visit the town of Dollar in South Gippsland,” Mr Hope said.
“There wasn’t much there but I stopped off at Meeniyan.”
He ultimately bought a cottage in the town in 1976 and without really looking for it, took a job at a legal practice in Leongatha in 1981.
He said the district could not have been more welcoming and he stayed.
Kira Waldron also spoke, saying she was surprised to receive an award for “just helping out”.
Just helping out includes being a member of the Meeniyan-Stony Creek CFA, Korumburra Gun Club, Korumburra Scouts as a Venturer and more.
“If anyone is doing something for the community, I’m on board,” said Kira.
Jerlinda Truscott and Fenny Schroder were on hand to receive recognition for the Combined Churches of Meeniyan’s Carols by Glowlight event.
Tarnya Wilson and her band played the music including excellent renditions of ‘I still call Australia home’ and ‘We are Australian’, followed by the Meeniyan-Stony Creek CFA and Meeniyan CWA’s breakfast muffins.
