Cockatoo’s top two

By Tania Martin
DARLENE Elder and Jairen Bennettes’ selfless acts of kindness were recognised yesterday as part of Cockatoo’s Australia Day celebrations.
The pair where shocked by the accolades.
Ms Elder, 47, has been named the town’s 2010 Citizen of the Year for her continued service to local youngsters.
She has been teaching at the Bailey Road Kindergarten for the past 26 years and has also served on the primary school council and pitched in at the United Netball Club of Cockatoo.
Ms Elder was shocked by the award, saying there were many others in the tight-knit community who deserved to be recognised.
“In a small town there are a lot of people who work hard on various committees and community groups … there are a lot to choose from,” she said.
Ms Elder not only teaches kindergarten but is always on hand for people who just need someone to talk to.
“If you live in a small community, that is what you do … you need to be available for people,” she said.
Ms Elder said it was important for people to get involved in the communities they lived and worked in.
“Once you have children and they’re out there in the community, if you want them to get the most out of every opportunity you have to put your hand up and help out … that’s how everything gets done,” she said.
Jairen was named Humanitarian of the Year after giving up school and putting his life on hold to help care for Cockatoo’s former RSL president Bob Simonds.
The former Digger died in September at the age of 86.
Jairen had moved in with his beloved ‘uncle’ five months earlier to help care for him.
Simonds was an honorary grandfather to the 16-year-old but everyone called him ‘uncle’.
Jairen said he was surprised and honoured by the award.
“I was just looking after my uncle,” he said.
The award also has an extra special meaning as Bob was awarded the town’s Senior Citizen of the Year in 2007.
“I feel privileged to have it … I don’t think I deserve it in a way but it’s an honour to have it,” Jairen said.
Jairen said he was just repaying the years of kindness that Bob had shown him.
“He brought me up and I have always worked for him since I was about eight,” he said.
“I just did whatever I could to help him but in the end I guess it was his time.”
Jairen spent his days looking after Bob, cooking for him, doing the grocery shopping and making sure his clothes were ready for when the nurse came around to bathe him.
The pair was presented the awards as part of an Australia Day breakfast which was followed by an impromptu game of cricket.