Australia Day 2024 awards
Published on 29 January 2024
Residents who have generously contributed their time to communities, while providing help and support to others, have been recognised for the 2024 Loddon Shire Australia Day awards.
This year’s Citizen of the Year has been awarded to Jude Raftis, with Samantha Bewley receiving the Young Citizen of the Year award.
The dedication of local community members has also been recognised through the Ward Citizens of the Year.
Loddon Shire Australia Day 2024 Awardees
Citizen of the Year: Jude Raftis
Young Citizen of the Year: Samantha Bewley
Ward Citizen of the Year:
- Boort: Marjory Potter
- Inglewood: Jany Clutton
- Tarnagulla: James Metelmann
- Terrick: Coral Maxted
- Wedderburn: Margaret Bentley
Loddon Shire Terrick Ward Councillor Dan Straub congratulated all the award winners on behalf of the Mayor, Cr Gavan Holt.
“On behalf of the Mayor I’d like to thank everyone who put forward nominees for this year’s Australia Day awards,” Cr Straub said.
“This year’s award winners have shown amazing dedication to their communities and our Shire overall, and it’s fantastic to see these worthy recipients recognised for their extensive community service.
“I’d like to congratulate all our award recipients, including Citizen of the Year Jude Raftis and our Young Citizen of the Year Samantha Bewley.
“Both of these awardees have contributed enormously to their communities and it’s great they have both been recognised,” Cr Straub added.
Australia Day 2024 will see communities from across the Loddon Shire come together in celebration and recognition.
Community celebrations will take place at:
Boort - Nolen’s Park, starting from 9.15am, followed by morning tea
Bridgewater - Sloans Park, barbeque breakfast from 8am
Eddington - Eddington Hall, barbeque breakfast from 8am
Inglewood - Swimming Pool, starting from 11am
Mitiamo - Recreation Reserve, barbeque breakfast from 8.30am
Newbridge - Newbridge Hall, starting from 11.15am, followed by a light luncheon
Pyramid Hill - Memorial Hall, starting from 5pm followed by a barbeque dinner
Tarnagulla - Soldiers Memorial Park, starting from 5pm followed by a barbeque dinner
Wedderburn - Soldiers Memorial Park, starting from 11.45am, followed by a barbeque lunch
For more information visit https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/Our-Council/Ceremonies/Australia-Day/Australia-Day-2024-Celebrations
*More information about the Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year, as well as the Ward Citizens of the Year is provided on the following pages.
Awardee biographies
Citizen of the Year – Jude Raftis
Jude is an excellent example of the saying if you want something done, ask a busy person.
Born and raised in Wedderburn, Jude has left her mark on many parts of the town, making Wedderburn a better place to live and inspiring many others to improve their community.
She has been a selfless volunteer from a young age. Whenever someone needs a hand, Jude is always there to assist. Additionally, she is a great leader, bringing together people and groups to achieve a positive outcome.
A Life Member of the Wedderburn Netball Club (now Wedderburn Redbacks), Jude provided an invaluable 35 years of service – as a player for an amazing 30 years and coach for 18 years (A Grade through to Under 13s).
At just 17 years old, Jude became President of the club. In the years to come, Jude was President, Secretary and Treasurer, and twice held the position of North Central Netball Association President.
She was instrumental in collaborating information and photos for the club’s history book for its 55-year reunion in 2008 – the first ever for the club.
After joining Wedderburn Lions Club in 2011, Jude immediately became an integral member, becoming President and later Secretary, and has stepped up to be President again in 2023-24.
She has volunteered in many ways with the club – this includes attending working bees, selling raffle tickets and preparing for the Australia Day ceremony. Additionally, Jude organises catering for the Minelab Wedderburn Detector Jamboree, volunteers with Driver Reviver and maintains the garden between the Lions Club room and Mechanics Institute Hall.
Jude has been the Chairperson of the Aged Care Sub Committee for many years, and has been the driving force to establish an aged care facility in Wedderburn, including making representations to State and Federal Governments to help obtain funding for this initiative.
Her horticultural skills have seen Jude lead and participate in transforming several gardens in the area. This includes design and landscaping of the Wedderburn Community Centre gardens, native planting at Hard Hill Tourist Reserve, and RSL Memorial Garden renovation and upgrade.
As President of the Wedderburn Cemetery Trust, Jude has been instrumental in maintaining the garden, coordinating installation of seats and helping attract new volunteers.
A talented artist, Jude voluntarily created a beautiful mosaic for the Wedderburn Cemetery for family and friends to enjoy when visiting their loved ones.
During her time as Wedderburn Community House Coordinator Jude also started the very successful annual Wedderburn Garden Expo.
She is involved in the monthly Tastes of Loddon and supports and encourages Loddon Shire growers and artisans to be part of the monthly Farmers Market.
Jude contributed many voluntary hours to the Birds Eye View Project, attending meetings, workshops and providing great ideas to help the project come to fruition. She further added to the project by creating her own mosaic masterpiece.
An active member of the RSL, Jude makes herself available for working bees and other duties such as catering and cleaning – always supporting and encouraging others. She spent a term as Appeals Officer, which raises funds for Veterans’ wellbeing.
Young Citizen of the Year – Samantha Bewley
Struggling with her own disabilities, Samantha (Sam) knows first-hand the challenges people with additional needs face every day – particularly in a remote area of Victoria.
She appreciates the simple things such as companionship, connections, and feeling like you are being listened to and valued as a person – rather than people looking at what you can no longer do for yourself.
Schooling for Sam in mainstream education was difficult – and she choose to further her schooling in a supported educational setting in Bendigo. This provided an additional challenge with travel at early hours to get to Bendigo, then returning later in the afternoon. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic and required home schooling provided further challenges.
With the support of some fantastic teachers, Sam completed Year 12 and after initially trying hairdressing, she sought employment as a support worker.
Having commenced as a support worker in April 2023, Sam has strived to change lives for the better, supporting clients on a regular basis while undertaking training to help further her career.
Sam’s support worker role involved client outings and shopping, assistance with school routines, attendance at appointments, and supporting clients with respite and short-term accommodation stays.
Sam has learned the various aspects of providing care and the behind-the-scenes business side of what is involved in this industry and with her disability lens on, Sam offers alternate ways of supporting clients.
Ward Citizen of the Year
Boort – Marjory Potter
Marj, as she is fondly known, has been a tireless worker within the Boort community over many years and is very passionate about helping and serving her community.
A founding member of the Boort Amity Club from 1976, Marj has held many positions in the club including President.
She has been a member of the Boort Agricultural and Pastoral Society (Boort A&P Society) for at least 40 years, and is heavily involved in its running, including organising the annual debutante ball for many years. This involves organising the ball, making the flower girl dresses and bouquets, setting up the hall and decorating the stage.
Marj also shared the Boort A&P Society Show Secretary position for many years, and was awarded a life membership.
She has volunteered at the Boort Resource and Information Centre (BRIC) since its formation and is on the committee. Marj helps with catering, where needed, to raise money for BRIC as well as for events.
Marj also caters for annual tennis tournaments, and has been a member of the Boort Memorial Hall committee.
In recognition of her dedication for the past 30 years, Marj became a life member of the Boort Netball Club. When finals are in Boort, Marj still does the scoring and attends all northern district meetings and conferences of the district finals.
Marj can often be seen in the main street of Boort selling raffle tickets for the many organisations of which she is involved.
Inglewood – Jany Clutton
Having resided there for the past eight years, Jany has embraced Bridgewater and taken on numerous roles within the community – helping it to be the happy and inclusive community it is today.
One of the first to put her hand up to offer help to anyone who needs it, one of Jany’s most valuable and appreciated volunteering efforts was during the October 2022 floods. This included organising/coordinating catering for Blaze Aid volunteers, working with many officials and volunteers to source and prepare meals for volunteers, including to take with them when working on affected properties.
Every day for weeks Jany made sure there was plenty to eat – ringing locals to help with a supply of slices and cakes, and organising a large freezer and fridge to store food at the Recreation Reserve. She also delivered meals to locals in need of support during this unsettled time.
Known as Bridgewater’s Raffle Queen – Jany has put together numerous raffles for events and fundraisers, including the annual Easter raffle for the Good Friday Appeal.
She is on the committee for Bridgewater’s Anzac Day commemorations and helps with the annual Australia Day breakfast. Jany is also on the Bridgewater Twilight Social Bowls Club committee, and volunteered for many years at the former Bridgewater op shop.
Additionally, she is on the committee for the annual Bridgewater Triathlon, which raises money for the Bridgewater Football Netball Club, and for the past three years has coordinated the football canteen during home games – a very big job.
Jany is also a reliable volunteer for Bridgewater’s annual Active Farmers Run for Resilience, of which part of the event is held in memory of Inglewood’s Lesley Morrison.
Tarnagulla – James “Jim” Metelmann
James – or Jim as he is known by – has been a very active member in all organisations he has been involved with, both currently and in the past.
After joining Newbridge CFA in November 1977, Jim’s dedication to the CFA included Lieutenant for 24 years and Captain for 12 years.
He has been on the Newbridge Cemetery Trust committee for 20 years, as well as Secretary of the Newbridge Public Hall Committee for many years – including his current role as Booking Officer.
Jim was a member of Newbridge Recreation Reserve committee for many years, and also played football for the Newbridge Football Club.
Additionally, Jim played tennis for the Newbridge Tennis Club, and was an official of the club.
He was previously on the Newbridge Primary School Council while his children were at the school until its closure.
Furthermore, Jim is always willing to come along and bring equipment to any working bee, which in turn, benefits the community.
Terrick – Coral Maxted
A very caring and kind person, Coral will always have the kettle on and a freshly-made biscuit if you call in for a chat.
A busy and a productive person, Coral always puts her hand up to help – this includes as Secretary/Treasurer at St. John’s Anglican Church, Bears Lagoon for 20-plus years.
She is a member of Calivil Bowling Club and Calivil United Football Netball Club, and has been Secretary of the Jarklin Hall since 2013.
She played tennis for Calivil North for many years before joining Calivil Bowls Club, played golf at Jarklin (winning many championships) and was President and captain of that club until it closed around 2013.
Coral then joined the Calivil Golf Club, and after its closure, became a member of the Mitiamo Golf Club, and helps out at tournaments and working bees.
A valuable member of the Calivil Bowling Club, Coral has been club champion 10 times and is currently President – a role she has held intermittently for seven years. She helps organise the tournaments and is always first to arrive and last to leave a working bee.
Coral was on the board of the Bendigo District Bowls Association for four years and is a Life Member of the Calivil United Football Netball Club.
She coached B Grade at Calivil United Football Netball Club in 1990 and the Calivil Juniors from 1983 to 1997, and was Manager of B Grade in 2021. Coral was also on the Calivil United Netball Committee for five years.
If Coral isn’t over helping at the netball courts – she is helping in the canteen. Additionally,
Coral helps on the family farm at Jarklin.
Wedderburn – Margaret Bentley
A stalwart at Wedderburn’s Coach House Gallery and Museum, Margaret was integral in helping set up the gallery when it moved to the town’s old general store and museum.
She arranges exhibitions at the Coach House held by local artists, and is an artist in her own right. Margaret has also encouraged other local artists to explore their potential and elevate their skills.
As someone who likes to help keep the streets of Wedderburn clean and tidy, Margaret walks the streets of the town every morning and picks up any rubbish.
A very private person who quietly goes about her day; Margaret is also an active member of the Wedderburn Indoor Bias Bowls, and over the years, has held office bearer positions on the committee.