By Mikayla van Loon
The act of volunteering for many individuals is about giving back and doing something bigger than themselves.
That was what led two recipients of a Casey Community and Volunteer Award to their volunteering decades ago.
As just two of 52 residents across the Yarra Ranges to be recognised by Casey MP Aaron Violi, Nick Lundh and Gary O’Regan share similar stories of wanting to help young people thrive.
Mr Lundh began volunteering as a 15-year-old teaching karate at the Montrose Town Hall in 1984 which has evolved over the years to see him now being an integral part of the Lilydale Community Youth Club.
“This is an important venture for me as I like to give back to the community and I see it as paying it forward,” he said.
“When I was young just like the youth of today there were many challenges that I had to face and I found Boxing and Martial Arts really helped me. In particular to self discipline, control, motivation and other great life lessons such as you must risk failure for success.”
While some young people come from troubled backgrounds, Mr Lundh said for the most part he has “great faith in today’s young people that they will make the world a better place”.
The Youth Club’s aim is to get young people fit, healthy and disciplined, while training them to be community minded.
Bringing all demographics together from police officers, to ex-criminals, men, women and children, Mr Lundh said that was the power of the club.
“We have different races, men, women and children all mixing together with no false pretences working in unity and friendship. As the saying goes, the world would be a better place if it was more like a boxing gym,” he said.
The development and the outcomes, Mr Lundh said, was the most rewarding part, seeing people he’d trained 20 or 30 years ago become leaders in their own right.
“The most rewarding aspect is to see young people transform into highly competent, great community minded and contributing citizens.”
Mr O’Regan’s contribution via Mooroolbark’s Boys’ Brigade (BB) has had a similar impact and tows a similar line of outcome, seeing young men go out into the world as leaders with compassion.
Having started with the Brigade himself as a young man, Mr O’Regan said in his early 20s he “felt in my heart a leading and desire to volunteer at Mooroolbark BB and be part of something bigger and more significant in life”.
“I had seen my own skills and self-confidence grow, I felt consistently encouraged and more and more grounded in life, as well as appreciative of the huge investment my BB leaders and mentors were making in me,” he said.
“I saw value in what the Boys’ Brigade was already doing in the local community, so it stood out to me as a place where I knew I could not only give back, but connect with others and help youth and young men lead in their own lives.”
Some 25 years later he continues to support young men and see them grow, build confidence and skills via sports, games, outdoor adventures, camps, special events and competitions.
“I’ve found it immensely rewarding sharing with a dedicated team of BB volunteers in the growth and development of several hundred youth and young men over my 25 years as a volunteer, seeing them grow and transform to confident and responsible individuals, with a strong sense of purpose, identity and a greater realisation of their value and potential,” Mr O’Regan said.
Each humbled by the awards, Mr Lundh and Mr O’Regan said the reward was watching these young people transform in front of them and continuing the legacy they too experienced from their predecessors.
“I certainly appreciate this award but it is also dedicated to my team who help coach the kids with me, my boxers who are great mentors to others and if it wasn’t for the help and guidance that I received in my own youth I may not be in the position that I am in today which I am more grateful for,” Mr Lundh said.
“Receiving this recognition was a humbling reminder that the work we do is valued and impactful. It’s not just about the time spent, it’s about the lives transformed and the community we’ve built and supported together,” Mr O’Regan said.
Fellow volunteer award recipients included:
• Neal Taylor – Holy Fools
• Mark Watson – Kilsyth Cricket Club
• Simone Ritchie and Pat Natoli – Montrose Community Cupboard
• Geoff Dawson – Mt Evelyn Fire Brigade (CFA)
• Peter Harris – Chirnside Park Primary School
• Sharon Chuck – Rotary Club of Lilydale
• Frank Longayroux – Lilydale Community Youth Hub
• Aunty Lou Baulch – Boorndawan Aboriginal Healing Service
• Kim and Daniel Walton – Mother’s Day Classic, Lilydale
• Andrew Ermel – Rotary, CFA & Basketball Activities
• Rhonda Carson – Caladenia Dementia Care
• Frank Haynes – Montrose Men’s Shed & service to Mooroolbark community
• Richard Moody – Lilydale & Chirnside Park CFA
• Darren Ayton – Different Journeys
• Mark Peers – Lilydale Rats Inline Hockey Club
• Bill Dobson – Lilydale RSL
• Geoff Earney – Service to Mooroolbark community
• Robyn Parker – Lilydale Township Action Group and Kreative Kids
• Lynn and Peter Menhennitt – Discovery Community Care
Mr Violi said the number of nominations this year was a testament to the strong community here in the Yarra Ranges.
“We’ve seen countless nominations for volunteers and community groups right across the Yarra Ranges, which shows just how strong our community is with so many people working to make our community even stronger,” he said.
“These volunteers and community groups are the people who go above and beyond to care for others, create strong townships, care for others, preserve local history, look after our environment, organise community events and support others in need.”
