On Tuesday 20th June, the Rotary Club celebrated the 2016-2017 ‘Unsung Hero’ Community Service Award. Four nominations were submitted. The judges had a very difficult time in selecting the winner of this award as all 4 nominees have made a significant contribution to the community. The winner of this year’s ‘Unsung Hero’ Award goes to Kerry Sansom. Kerry has chosen the Westpac Helicopter as her charity of choice.
Kerry Sansom was nominated by her daughter, Sally Andrews.
Kerry Sansom has lived in the Gloucester district her entire life. Over those years she has been a member of several volunteer organisations. Kerry currently is an active volunteer in the Rural Fire Service, St Paul’s An
glicare Church, Legacy and the Gloucester Art Gallery. A member since 1978, Kerry has held several positions within the Rural Fire Service. As a member of the Gangat Brigade as well as the Catering Brigade, she has volunteered many hours preparing high quality meals to firefighters out on the fire front. Kerry has always been involved with the St Pauls Anglicare Church. Her various roles have rotated throughout the years including a member of the parish council, church pick-ups, op shop volunteer, treasurer of Friends of St Pauls, 15 catering for various events, church warden, mainly music helper and ‘Chit Chat’ organiser. Once a month, Kerry volunteers at the Gloucester Art Gallery. She enjoys a coffee from June’s Place as she greets the locals and travellers that call in to view the exhibitions on display. As a Legatee for approximately 15 years, Kerry visits several legacy widow to see who they are getting on and helps in any way she can.
Leslie Potter is nominated by Peter Hazell (Gloucester PROBUS Club)
Les Potter is a household name in Gloucester. He is well read, well respected, and brings with him mammoth storehouse of information on almost anything! Just ask him any question of interest, in the varied fields of geography, history, business, financial, politics, religion, even cars, planes and all things with engines, he will be able to reach into his mind’s computer, and retrieve many gigabytes of information.
In his 44 years in Gloucester, Les has been associated with Gloucester High School, the Anglican Church and its Men’s Club, the Lions Club and its Youth Exchange Programme, Masonic Lodge, Aero Club, Junior Rugby League, and Gloucester Probus Club.
Les arrived in Gloucester in 1973 as the High School’s Social Science Master and spent the next 18 years in that role. His special and personal association with students brought out the best in them, and to this day many of these students come back to seek him out and discuss issues of interest. During his high school time he established the first student driver training scheme in Gloucester with General Motors Holden and Grahames Garage support and voluntary teacher drivers.
He spent 20 years in Gloucester Lions Clubs in all senior roles including president, secretary and treasurer. He has hosted six overseas students on Lions Youth Exchange, including three Japanese, two New Zealanders and one Canadian.
Les has a deep faith, and has a 44 years association with Gloucester Anglican Church, has been its treasurer, and for many years was president of the Anglican Church Men’s Dinner Group.
He has a 60 year membership of the Masonic Lodge.
Les has had an unrestricted pilot’s license, and had been a president and treasurer of Gloucester Aero Club over a 20 years period.
He is a respected foundation member and a continuing member of Gloucester Probes Club over the past 18 years.
Michael Bowman is nominated by Diana Rosenbaum (Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group)
Since opening his business Bucketts Building Services, Michael Bowman has at his own expenses, filled a fridge with cold drinks and when customers and trade persons ask to purchase a drink, he asks them to put a donation in a tin on his counter to support our group. The Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group supporting all women with cancer. He also has a small vegetable garden and asks for a donation for the produce, again donating the money to the group. His next project is to purchase some firewood and donate the profits to our group.
Michael Bowman is a worthy recipient of this aware as he has generously donated thousands of dollars to the Gloucester Breast Cancer Support Group to enable us, with the generosity of the Service Clubs and other groups, to continue to support women suffering from cancer and their families both financially and emotionally.
Barbara Read nominated by Lorna Tomkinson
Since arriving in Gloucester in 2003, Barbara has been one of the quiet workers. As husband John is legally blind, Barbara drives him to wherever he needs to be. So not only does she ensure his social and emotional wellbeing but puts into the community that she loves as well.
Before Barbara and John came to Gloucester, Barbara’s path was set as one of volunteering. She had been a Brownie Leader for 3 years, a Scout Leader for 10 years and a Venturer for five years with the 3rd Pennant Hills Scout Group. After arriving here, she threw herself into community life joining the Gangat Rural Fire Brigade, CWA and the Gloucester Garden Club.
She has held the Gangat secretary position since May 2004.
She was the Environment Officer for CWA for three years and was also responsible for collecting articles and making up “Mother & Baby” Packs for Papua New Guinea for about 5 years until State Office discontinued the project.
With the Garden Club she was secretary then assistant secretary for several days.
In 2004 Barbara was part of a Rotary RAWCS project in the Solomon Islands, volunteering and assisting people less fortunate that herself and putting something into a country where it was needed.
Also in 2004 Barbara joined Gloucester Patchwork Group where she has held the position of Secretary on and off during the last 13 years – she is still the current Secretary.
2005 saw Barbara join the Quota Club of Gloucester, always an active member she has been on the board for several periods during the past 12 years and is currently the Publicity Officer, a position she has held for the last 3 years.
The Gloucester Show always needs assistance in the kitchen and Barbara stepped up that task for many years on show day. Not only that, she has been and is a Steward for the Handicraft section of the show since 2009.
For three years from 2009, Barbara was Membership Registrar for the fledgling Gloucester District U3A, yet another voluntary position in a voluntary organisation that Barbara took on with enthusiasm; the organisation is now a strong and vibrant part of community life and activity.
Barbara has always loved her garden and her patchwork – she makes quilts for people who have been affected by loss of loved ones, or loss of possessions due to bush fires and floods. She also makes quilts for various Charities and hospitals as fund raising opportunities.
On a personal level, Barbara she made me a beautiful quilt out of the ties of my husband Garth. It was an emotional process to pass the ties over to Barbara that took 10 years. Every three or four years she would give a gently reminder that she could do it for me.
What she has produced is so special beyond words. Surely she is an unsung hero worthy of recognition.