Award surprise for Wendy

WHEN the name of this year’s Citizen of the Year was read out at last week’s Australia Day breakfast, there was a loud gasp of surprise – from none other than the winner, Wendy Hoskins.

She was almost speechless when called up to accept the award, and was still in a state of shock when the proceedings were over.

“I was listening to all the other nominations, and they were all so good I thought I had no chance of winning,” she said. “They were all so worthy.”

Her husband, Mick, thought her win was a good thing, but apart from that he didn’t have much to say; Wendy said he is a pretty laid back person.

While Wendy was surprised at winning, most people thought it was long overdue for her to get recognition – not that that is her motivation for all she does.

She believes in getting involved in the community, and she has certainly done that.

She is a long-serving member of Collie CWA, having filled all executive positions at one time or another at the local level, and has also held office at divisional level.

She represented CWA on the Collie Welfare Council, was manager of the Collie Senior Citizens’ Centre for 21 years, on the Hospital Comforts Fund for more than 40 years, a member of Red Cross, tutors for Read Write Now, is a serving Justice of the Peace, cleans the radio station, drives a bus, and organises trips for people to enable them to see theatrical productions out of town. Born in England, Wendy came to Collie when she was around two years of age.

She started school at St Brigids, but the family moved away when she was seven, and lived in a number of places.

They returned to Collie for holidays fairly frequently, but it was not until Mick got a position at Muja Power Station that she returned to live here.

“When we settled down in Collie, I joined the CWA and it opened the doors to lots of things,” Wendy said. “It is lots of fun.”

One of the doors it opened up was to Red Cross, another the Hospital Comforts Fund.

Both these organisations work to improve the lot of others - the Red Cross through its welfare activities in the local community, and supporting recovery in times of trouble and disaster, and the Hospital Comforts Fund in providing the extra items which make hospital stays less stressful and more comfortable for patients.

Wendy still works for both organisations, although the Comforts Fund’s kiosk has been on hold while the hospital has been on Code Red during COVID-19.

In 1978, she was asked to take a position at the Collie Welfare Council representing CWA. “It was a terrible time for Collie, as there were lots of empty houses following the closure of Amalgamated Collieries, and single mothers were relocated here,” Wendy said.

“They had nothing, and were without any support, so Hilda Turnbull formed the Collie Welfare Council to fill the gap.

“It started as an emergency housekeeper service. I ended up on the steering committee.”

An activity which Wendy finds very satisfying is Read Write Now, which was started by Lions.

“It is very satisfying dealing with adults who are unable to read and write, people don’t really understand what a handicap that is,” she said.

“It can actually be dangerous if you can’t read signs, or read prescriptions –and of course, it impacts on finding work. It is very gratifying when you see people make progress and begin to read.”

Wendy is also a Justice of the Peace, and ran the weekly bingo at the Collie Football Club for many years until she stood down as organiser early last year –but she still goes and plays.

She intends to continue volunteering for her various concerns.