By ANEEKA SIMONIS
WHEN Kooweerup’s Geoff Stokes made his way through Government House, he never knew he would be leaving with his greatest honour to date.
Presented with the state’s Healthy and Active Living Award, Mr Stokes was blown away to be one of 14 Victorians recognised at the 2014 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday 2 October.
“I was absolutely amazed … there are plenty of other people in the area that do a lot more than I do,” said the Secretary of the Kooweerup Township Committee.
“I can’t quite come to terms with it yet.”
Mr Stokes was nominated by the Kooweerup Regional Health Service for his outstanding, modest dedication to the community.
“Geoff has been involved with our Men’s Shed since the early days and helped to set up and establish our Broadband for Seniors program, taking classes in the shed on Friday mornings to assist Seniors to get connected,” said Health Promotion Manager Aileen Thoms.
“He is a great role model and very inspirational.”
Member for Bass Ken Smith said Geoff was known as an approachable, practical, supportive and humorous person.
“He is a great community organiser for local events, including his RSL sub-branch work to ensure that Anzac and Remembrance Day ceremonies proceed without a hitch,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Stokes said he was pleased to share the moment with close friends and family.
“We were allowed to take 10 guests so I took family – my son, grandson, granddaughter and wife, two people from the township committee and two from the RSL,” he said.
Minister for Ageing David Davis presented Mr Stokes with the award and said the day was an important way to make a formal acknowledgement for the important work he and other award-winners did to improve the quality of life for people in the area.
The ceremony came days before the 2014 Victorian Seniors Festival was kicked off on Sunday 5 October.
