VICTORIA'S Governor General Linda Dessau presented an Order of Australia Medal for service to the Beechworth community to longtime Beechworth volunteer Iris Mannik at Government House on Wednesday, September 7.
Iris said people receiving presentations of Australian Honours and awards last week announced on the Queen's Birthday in June this year would be the last recipients to have received them at that time following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11 last Friday.
A humbled Iris said she remained stunned in receiving the award that acknowledged her volunteering.
"I'm just one of many people in our community who volunteer and it's all about team work," she said.
"My grandmother who I grew up with as she lived next door taught me there is no 'I' in the team and that's my motto as everyone is part of a team.
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"My grandmother looked after me as my mum worked and she was a great volunteer herself.
"My grandfather's family came to Australia in 1830 and my grandmother was a staunch Irish Catholic who volunteered a lot for the church.
"I remember some of my first volunteering with her to help out at events when I was about eight years old."
Iris said she was thrilled someone in the town thought she was worthy to be nominated for the award.
"It's great to volunteer as there is personal satisfaction, its rewarding, friendships are made and you are always giving back to the community to help make a difference."
Iris has been a volunteer in the town since moving to Beechworth with her family in 1988, with more than 25 different volunteer roles across various organisations over the years.
The presentation became an extra special occasion as a vehicle breakdown on the way caused the excited recipient to miss the formal award presentations.
"We continued to make our way to Melbourne with a hire car but arrived too late and the Governor General said she was not sending me back to Beechworth after coming all that way without her presenting the award to me," Iris said.
Iris said she had been struck by the Governor General being so gracious.
"She is such a credit to Victoria and to our country and one feels so comfortable in her presence," she said.
Iris received a Victorian Premier Volunteer's Champion Award presented by the Governor of Victoria in 2018, a Beechworth Lion Club appreciation award in 2015, Beechworth Lion of the Year for 2015–16, an Indigo Shire Australia Day Certificate of Achievement Award in 2009 as well as a Keep Australia Beautiful Dame Phyllis award in 2007.
