After 15 years on Wahgunyah Progress Association – two as secretary and 13 as president – local identity Alan Pleitner stepped down as president in July last year.
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Last Sunday, he stepped up on stage at the Australia Day ceremony in Wahgunyah last Sunday to receive Indigo Shire’s 2020 Citizen of the Year.
Indigo Shire Mayor Jenny O’Connor said the award recognises Alan’s role as a catalyst for improvement in his hometown of Wahgunyah.
“I am honoured to announce Alan Pleitner as Indigo Shire’s Citizen of the Year,” she said. “Alan has worked tirelessly on improving Wahgunyah over many years. Thanks to Alan’s vision, Wahgunyah has some wonderful walking and cycling tracks on the edge of town.
“He has also been instrumental in driving the Wahgunyah Railway Land redevelopment project, a priority for the Wahgunyah community. Alan’s dedication to serving his community is evident in his many committee roles – as a member of the Wahgunyah Progress Association, Wahgunyah Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, Wahgunyah Railway Land Development Committee amongst others.
“He is also a hands‐on volunteer, delivering meals on wheels and is heavily involved in the running of the local Anzac Day Service in Wahgunyah.”
The modest top shire award recipient was honoured to receive the award but passed credit onto town’s people.
“It’s more about what we’ve been able to achieve as people working together,” the 76-year-old retired Victorian Police Detective Superintendent told The Free Press.
“Whilst there has been robust discussion at times, we’ve always settled down and worked on what’s best for the town. It’s always been about the betterment of Wahgunyah.”
Wahgunyah Progress Association won Indigo Shire’s 2020 Community Group of the Year.
Rutherglen & District Certificate of Achievement award by Indigo Shire went to Sandra O’Toole.
Other award recipients were:
Indigo Shire’s Young Citizen of the Year, nine year-old Jalani Hemmerling from Beechworth, especially for demonstrating great compassion beyond her years by sending care packages to Australian Defence Force Personnel serving overseas;
Beechworth & District Certificate of Achievement Ian McVea;
Chiltern & District Certificate of Achievement Joan McDonnell;
Barnawartha & District Certificate of Achievement Pauline Fisher;
Kiewa Tangambalanga & District Certificate of Achievement Shelley Lancaster;
Emma George Junior Sporting Scholarship Tiahn Barnard.