By Abbey Cannan
Three outstanding volunteers have been honoured by the Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin-Noosa, Cooroy and Marcoola Community Hero Awards with a generous donation of $5000 towards the charity of their choice.
Jeanette Reichman from Uniform4Kids, Paul Jenkinson from Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club and RSL Sub Branch, and Mark Cameron from Coolum Business and Tourism, all embody the spirit of a community hero.
The chosen heroes were revealed during the Bendigo Community Bank 21st Birthday Celebrations, and spoke to Noosa Today before a lunch celebration at Gusto’s Restaurant on Thursday 5 October.
It was double the fun for Tewantin winner Paul Jenkinson, who was joined by his partner in crime (of volunteering time) Robyn, on his birthday.
As the Chief Training Officer at Noosa Surf Life Saving, Paul has made exceptional contributions to beach safety and community wellbeing.
With unwavering passion and dedication, he trains new volunteer surf lifeguards, imparting vital skills that keep our beaches safer. His commitment stems from his time in the army during the Vietnam War, where he honed his instructional abilities teaching in mechanics.
Paul’s impact on the community is immeasurable. Through his training, countless lives have been saved, demonstrating his profound commitment to public safety.
His military background has enriched his teaching approach, instilling discipline and effectiveness. Additionally, his volunteer work at the RSL sub branch showcases his enduring dedication to community service, extending his positive influence beyond beachfronts.
“It’s very humbling. I was so surprised and gobsmacked because I had no idea that people had put me in for the award,“ Paul said.
“I enjoy volunteering, whether it be at the surf club or sub branch, just giving back to the community.“
Some of his proudest moments volunteering include a tribute to the landing at Gallipoli performed on Noosa Main Beach on the morning of 25 April 2015.
“It was the biggest gathering of people in Noosa, judged by policemen, with 12,000 to 15,000 attendees. People really supported it,“ he said.
“As for Surf Life Saving, Robyn and I were involved in the first ever successful resuscitation in Queensland of somebody who had drowned using the 30 to 2 CPR ratio. We got a premier citation for that from the premier at the time, Beattie. We get to teach that now through courses that we are very passionate about. Giving your time, you get more back.”
Cooroy winner and retired nurse Jeanette Reichman was joined by pioneer and founder of Uniforms4Kids (U4K), Yvonne Pattinson OAM.
“Yvonne was so welcoming when I moved here. I absolutely love it, it’s so rewarding,“ she said.
Jeanette laughs and sings and makes everyone around her happy, despite suffering from severe back problems.
She oversees, unpicks, irons, cuts out, sews on buttons and embellishments and is also a quality controller, spending approximately 11 hours every week with their groups, and also works at home making bookmarks.
She sorts and stores all their sewing equipment and knows exactly where every coloured button, ribbon, and lace is located.
U4K In Cooroy makes over 100 items of clothing for children in need every week. Currently they have almost reached the 30,000 mark.
People like Jeanette make this a better world for the children they sew for and everyone around her.
“I’m most proud when walking out the door and seeing these beautiful things we’ve made, and seeing the photos of the children wearing the clothes,“ Jeanette said.
“My children are very proud of me doing it. It’s absolutely worth your time, don’t sit at home and be lonely. Come join us.“
The Marcoola hero, Mark Cameron, has dedicated an immense amount of time as a volunteer, tirelessly advocating for the growth of both the Coolum business and tourism sectors.
Widely recognised in Coolum for his profound connections with local businesses and his unwavering support, he has played a pivotal role in steering Coolum Business and Tourism towards a more sustainable and prosperous future.
“I was surprised because I guess we don’t do these things for the awards, we do it for the personal rewards. It was nonetheless nice to be recognised,“ Mark said.
“I got involved for my mental health. I was not occupied enough, so I got involved in an attempt to find things that were bigger than myself to be involved in. I’m now five years into leading the chamber and still enjoying it.“
In this financial year, the three branches have made an extraordinary contribution of $1.7 million to our local community. It’s nothing short of astonishing to see how banking can have such a significant impact, with up to 80 per cent of profits being reinvested right here in our community. This remarkable commitment truly reflects the bank’s dedication to the well-being of our community.
