‘‘There is a real satisfaction in being involved and seeing something develop from an idea — something of benefit to the entire community’’.
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That has been Kathy Simpson’s reason for dedicating so much of her time to her community as a volunteer.
It is for her commitment to local government, the Deniliquin Ute Muster and the Deniliquin Golf Club in particular that Mrs Simpson was today officially announced as Edward River Council Citizen of the Year.
Her community participation started with the Deniliquin Business Chamber soon after she and husband David relocated to Deniliquin in 1993 to run the local newsagency.
That initial taste of civic service led to Mrs Simpson’s involvement in the Deniliquin Ute Muster, and also inspired her to extend her reach in the community as a Deniliquin councillor.
The Deniliquin Golf Club also became an outlet for Mrs Simpson’s passion for her community, and she was at its helm as chair when the committee and members helped drag the club out of a financial slump that threatened its closure.
She will be presented with her award at the council’s Australia Day celebrations in the Waring Gardens next Saturday, January 26.
She is one of seven people or groups that will be honoured on the day.
Other Australia Day awards recipients are:
●Young Citizen of the Year – Emily Butcher.
●Junior Art and Culture Award – Edward Public School.
●Senior Sports Award – Brenda Norman.
●Junior Sports Award – Ella Harvey.
●Community Event or Initiative of the Year – Herds2Home.
●The Bill Hermiston Memorial Landcare and Environmental Citizen Award – Deniliquin Golf Club.
When asked why she spends so much of her spare time helping her community, Mrs Simpson referenced the sentiment of her Deniliquin Ute Muster board colleague Russell Tait.
‘‘When accepting his Citizen of the Year award a few years ago he said ‘you do it because you can’, and I can,’’ Mrs Simpson said.
‘‘You also get to make a lot of friends and you can get involved with a lot of very positive people.
‘‘The Golf Club is a prime example of how positive people can turn things around — it’s about the atmosphere and the members have taken real ownership of the club.
‘‘You get to take an interest in your community and that in itself gives you a sense of ownership.
‘‘It’s just about contributing to your community, and helping to make it a better place for others — someone will always benefit from what you do.’’
Involvement in the Deniliquin Business Chamber, then known as the Chamber of Commerce, was natural for Mrs Simpson as the organisation was then run and managed in entirety by the business owners.
After two years as a member she took on the role of president, which she held for three years.
It was as an active member of the chamber that Mrs Simpson first became involved in the Ute Muster, which started in 1999 as a chamber and Deniliquin Council initiative.
But her most notable involvement with what would become the region’s largest annual event would come in later years.
Mrs Simpson took a back-seat on the chamber from the end of her term as president in 1998, when she decided to run for Deniliquin Council. She was elected in 1999, and served two consecutive four-year terms before retiring from local government.
‘‘Being so involved in chamber, I could see the need for a more defined connection between the business sector and the council.
‘‘At the time council had employed a streetscape designer to concentrate on Napier St, and that needed business input.
‘‘Then, of course, the water issues started and I became a member of the Murray Valley Voice — a regional representative group that went to Canberra as a delegation to, even then, call for a socio-economic study for this region to be undertaken in relation to water policy.
‘‘There were a lot of businesses who at that time did not fully understand what would happen to them without water for our region, and it is scary this is still going on today. Eventually I realised the water issues were over my head and I stepped aside and let the others go ahead.
‘‘My portfolio on council for the eight years I was there was economic development, and I came to realise just how difficult it is to attract private enterprise to Deniliquin.
‘‘We are so isolated and transport has always been a big issue.
‘‘Even though the councillors and staff put in a lot of work on this, we struggled to get any rewards.
‘‘It was also a big learning curve on council, learning how to agree to disagree sometimes.’’
Halfway through her term as a councillor Mrs Simpson revived her association with the Deniliquin Ute Muster, initially returning as a volunteer, later becoming board secretary and then its chair.
Mrs Simpson was chair for five years, but stood down from the committee in 2011 when her beloved Deniliquin Golf Club needed her more.
The club’s annual meeting revealed in late 2010 that it was under threat of closure due to a 15 per cent reduction in revenue. It was being propped up only by its poker machine licences.
In an effort to save money and get the club back on its feet, the board took over management of the club in early 2011 and all staff were volunteers.
‘‘I spent four years as president from then,’’ Mrs Simpson said.
‘‘We could see a notable difference (in finances) after the first year, but we were definitely in a far stronger financial position after the second year.
‘‘I am still involved in the club today as a volunteer, because you can set up a structure but it’s up to the board and members to keep it going.’’
Once the golf club was ‘‘back on its feet’’, Mrs Simpson was free to return to the board of the Deniliquin Ute Muster, and is three years into her term.
‘‘I just do it because I love it,’’ she said.
■More on Edward River Council’s Australia Day award recipients on page 11, 21 and 23.
Senior journalist