No one at the Australia Day celebration will have been surprised to witness Mrs Kenwood untie an apron from around her waist and step from behind the tea stand she was volunteering at to receive the honour.
The former President of the Queenscliff Community Association (QCA) said the prize was a team effort – and thanked all of those who have shared her causes.
“I am very humbled and appreciative of this recognition but any of the things I have achieved couldn’t be done without the people around me. These are the people who share my ideals of preserving the borough’s environment, heritage and community spirit,” she said at the Australia Day award ceremony.
“I would like to thank my colleagues at the Community Association for supporting me during the years of my presidency at the QCA. Nothing could be achieved without their support.”
Mayor Helene Cameron described as a worthy recipient of the award and a “prized and valued citizen of this community.
“Her contributions have been outstanding, with a strong commitment to community issues, charitable concerns, heritage values, environmental issues, social justice, humanitarian causes and refugee issues.”
"For the past 18 years Joan has been president of the Queenscliff Community Association, she has made numerous cups of tea to help with asylum seeker and refugee support events, being a strong supporter of heritage values and a member of many political and environmental communities in the Borough. Joan is a true community leader, her passion for causes and a better world continues to this day, she provides an inspirational beacon for others in the community," the Mayor said.
Point Lonsdale Surf Life Saving Club Vice President Liam Petrie-Albutt has been named Young Queenscliffe Citizen of the Year, continuing a strong family tradition of volunteerism.
Liam has been instrumental in a number of initiatives including the development and implementation of the Nippers in School program. He also helped coordinate the annual Rip View Swim Classic, and is a key adviser to the Rotary Club ‘s Lighting of the Christmas Tree committee.
■ The Community Service of the Year Award was presented to Queenscliffe Rotary
The organisation, which last year celebrated 10 years, ws instrumental in a number of events over the past 12 months including the Queenscliffe Bricks Lego exhibition, Vanuatu Cyclone Appeal, a drug awareness forum and the lighting of the Christmas tree.
■ Community Environment Project of the Year: Bellarine Catchment Network – Point Lonsdale Primary School Coast Care Caring for our Bays day
The inaugural Point Lonsdale Primary School Coast Care Day was organised by Grade 3 and 4 students. It featured games and activities that focused on the impact of litter on our waterways and bays, protection of Hooded Plovers and the importance of our Moonah Woodlands.
■ The Community Event of the Year: Queenscliffe Historical Museum 1915 WW1 ANZAC 100th Commemoration ‘Weaving the Threads of Remembrance’
The Queenscliffe Historical Museum Research Group initiated a WW1 project to commemorate the life of WW1 Nurse Violet Duddy.