BEECHWORTH'S Iris Mannik has been recognised for exceptional volunteer work in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours announced on Monday with an Order of Australia Medal for service to the Beechworth community.
Proud to receive such a prestigious award, Iris said she was stunned when advised.
"I'm amazed that someone has valued my work so much to nominate me as there are many other deserving people in our community," a humble Iris said.
Iris has spent countless hours for more than 60 years as a volunteer with the last 34 of those in Beechworth.
"I started volunteering at a youth club when 16 years old and it has been engrained in me from an early age.
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"I think it was instilled in me by my grandmother – a volunteer – who lived next door when I was growing up."
Arriving in Beechworth in 1988 when her youngest of six children was four years old, Iris said her volunteering in the town began as a member of the local primary school committee.
Her more than 25 different volunteer roles across organisations over the years in Beechworth include as Lake Sambell management committee secretary and treasurer, volunteer and friend of the Beechworth Historic Courthouse, organiser for Australia Day celebrations and Beechworth Golden Horseshoes Festival setting up the former Beechworth Chinese Cultural Centre, committee member for the Beechworth 150th year celebrations, as well as Beechworth Servicemen's Memorial Hall, and friends of the Burke Museum among many others.
Iris has been a Lions Club member since 2009 and is currently secretary, and a Beechworth Boomerang Bags member and secretary for the last five years.
She is a Beechworth Tidy Towns' coordinator for Keep Victoria Beautiful (KVB) Tidy Town Sustainability Awards and more than 26 years ago started entries for numerous town and shire projects supported by Indigo Shire Council.
"I've been proud to showcase so many volunteers with their projects across a broad spectrum over the years," the 78–year–old said.
Beechworth won 'Tidy Towns' of the Year in 2009, 2014, 2017, and 2019 as well as being crowned 'National Tidy Towns of Year' in 2010 and 2020 with many category award wins since entries began.
As a Chamber of Commerce member, Iris helped to get the Beechworth Information Centre off the ground.
Being a Lake Sambell committee member for 18 years had also been memorable when the committee and community had worked hard with the United Shire of Beechworth at the time to rehabitat around the lake after the felling of pine trees, as well as many other projects.
"I think Lake Sambell has done well for tourism as well as the community but we set it up for the community as it is a community asset," she said.
"I have to give credit to Anne Wilson too who deserves some of the limelight as she was involved in a lot the different projects too."
The long–time volunteer said she never expects to be rewarded for her work.
"It's something you just do and help where you can to contribute to your community for its benefit, and it has been wonderful to see many projects come to fruition," she said.
"As a volunteer you meet many interesting people and make wonderful friendships too."
Indigo Shire mayor Bernard Gaffney said Iris's volunteer achievements for the town have been amazing with the award well–deserved as she has worked tirelessly for the community's benefit.
"With the help of a committee she really put Beechworth on the map from her Tidy Towns work that showcased the town's volunteers and their projects across Victoria and around Australia that attracted so much tourism for the town," he said.
"Among other recognitions for her volunteer work, Iris as a Lions Club member has also been recognised by the Lions team with awards too.
"Iris has also managed to find federal and state government funding for the Lions Club historic Platelayers cottage renovation project in Harper Avenue."
The project when completed will be a home for small community groups as well as the Lions Club.
Iris received a Victorian Premier Volunteer's Champion Award presented by the Governor of Victoria in 2018, a Beechworth Lions Club appreciation award in 2015, Beechworth Lion of the Year for 2015–16, an Indigo Shire Australia Day Certificate of Achievement Award in 2009 as well as a Keep Australia Beautiful Dame Phyllis Frost Award in 2007.
