Citizen and Community Group awards

Applauding the winners – Community Awards 2024

Congratulations to our wonderful City of Glen Eira Community Award winners for 2024. These annual awards highlight the exceptional contributions of groups and individuals to our community life.

Citizen of the Year 2024 – Olive Collingwood. 

Olive is a stalwart Member of U3A Bentleigh. Her contribution for over 20 years has influenced the U3A community, not just as a student participating in courses and activities, but also as a program facilitator and a leading member of the Committee of Management.

Olive joined U3A Bentleigh in 2001, initially as a member of classes before becoming a day coordinator. In her next role as a U3A Tutor’s Aide, she worked almost full-time hours over 15 years. Her expertise as Welfare Coordinator for U3A further distinguishes Olive, including connecting with members who are experiencing challenges, offering support and assistance.

In Olive’s own words, “I just want to feel useful” and she certainly is incredibly useful. Her valuable insights, instincts, and awareness across all areas of the group’s operations contribute to its ongoing success.

Joint runners-up for Citizen of the Year 2024 – Kevin Milstein and Kate Birrell

Kevin’s dream is to encourage community through soccer. He is the full-time volunteer President of Maccabi FC Caulfield. Over his 11 years in the role, Kevin has overseen the expansion and development of club programs to inspire more people of all ages and abilities to become involved in the community through sport. 

Kate is a Glen Eira resident of 27 years and a trader in Glen Huntly Road, working as an artist from her Glen Huntly Road studio. Kate recently showcased her artistic interpretation of the Glen Huntly level crossing removal through social media and street exhibitions, helping people see a different perspective beyond the inconvenience of the works.

Young Citizen of the Year 2024 – joint winners Jared Levy and Jordan Tassone

Jared volunteers as a community emergency responder, demonstrating commitment and dedication to the community including through fundraising. His ability to remain calm under pressure and provide critical aid during emergencies has made a significant positive impact for our community. Jared's capacity to coordinate with various agencies and rally community resources reflects his strong organisational, leadership and managerial skills.

Jordan Tassone studies law and psychology at the Australian National University but his heart remains in Glen Eira. He demonstrated his commitment to improving the lives of others while working at Emmy Monash Aged Care, including revamping and enhancing their roster management system.

Community Group of the Year 2024 – C Care

C Care is a leading front-line community organisation providing over 2,000 meals plus personalised services every week, including nutritious ready-to-eat meals, fresh produce packs, bespoke pantry boxes and friendship programs. Delivering Produce Packs of fresh ingredients allows recipients to cook independently. Pantry Boxes, curated by volunteers, offer a monthly selection of items chosen by recipients.

C Care continues to build social connections with Connection Programs -  pairing isolated community members with friendly volunteers for social visits. Additionally, C Care serves as a community hub for volunteers to come together and make a difference. Volunteering at C Care offers a chance to actively engage in the community, gain valuable insights into food insecurity and social isolation and contribute to positive change.

Joint Runners Up for Community Group of the Year – Bayside Community Emergency Relief and Maccabi Victoria 

Bayside Community Emergency Relief was set up in January 2020 to help with bushfire relief. From there, group members formed a charity to continue their work through COVID-19 and other emergency relief situations. BCER is 100 per cent volunteer run and is estimated to have donated $2 million in goods in its four-year history.

Maccabi Victoria is a community group that offers a wide range of sporting activities to the Glen Eira community. With more than 3,000 members, it provides opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels to participate in various sports, fostering a love for physical activity and healthy competition. Maccabi Victoria’s dedication to inclusivity ensures that a diverse range of individuals can benefit.

Sustainability Award – Love Our Street 3162 (LOS 3162)

Our Sustainability Award recognises individuals, community groups and not-for-profit organisations that demonstrate outstanding achievements in sustainability and climate action. 

Love Our Street 3162 is Glen Eira’s key community champion for climate action, biodiversity protection and restoration and sustainable living. It has held monthly clean-up events since December 2017, collecting 1,700 kilograms of litter from our streets from 49 clean-up events up to December 2023. In over six years, LOS 3162 has picked up and recycled 4,233 glass bottles, plastic bottles, and aluminium cans, and an estimated 85,000

Local Hero Recognition – Rocco Fevola, Hamilton Fryar and Yiani Tsakirakis

Our Local Hero Recognition program recognises individuals who display self-sacrificing acts of courage.

These three 11-year-old boys displayed remarkable bravery and quick thinking in Carnegie on an afternoon in February 2023.

They encountered a resident seeking help for his wife who had fallen at the back of their property. Demonstrating mature judgment, the boys acted quickly to help the injured woman including riding to a nearby house for assistance.

Their actions were crucial in getting medical attention for the woman’s serious injuries. Their response prevented a potentially worse outcome, and we congratulate them.

Good Neighbour Program

Our Good Neighbour Recognition Program recognises people who provide support and build relationships with people who live around them so that they feel safe and connected.

This year we recognised the five Good Neighbours: Shalom Greenwald, Frank Anania, Nikoletta Belechris, and Russell and Wendy Wade

Celebrating volunteers

We also celebrated National Volunteer Week with certificates of appreciation presented by Glen Eira Mayor, Cr Anne-Marie Cade and Councillors to 181 volunteers who have donated an incredible 101,452 total hours of volunteer time to various community causes. Thirty-four community groups in Glen Eira nominated their volunteers for recognition and on behalf of the community, we thank every volunteer for their generosity and care.