Bring up

from Gippsland Times Tuesday 22 February

Dealer

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Community champions

STRATFORD Lions Club has had a busy couple of months. In December, in conjunction with the local Primary Schools, the club provided School Awards to the following students:  St Patrick's Primary School Academic Award – Xavier Stringer  St Patrick's Primary School Citizenship Award – Callum Scicluna  Stratford Primary School Academic Award –Zakyrah Duncis  Stratford Primary School Citizenship Award – Piper O'Keefe  Airly Primary School Citizenship Award –Charlie Earley  Cobains Primary School Citizenship Award Lily Sargent Congratulations to the students who were presented with their certificates. The Stratford Australia Day celebration was held at the Stratford Mechanics Hall and hosted by Stratford Lions. Two local councilors were in attendance representing the Wellington Shire; Carmel Ripper and John Tatterson. The Sale City Band provided the music and the Stratford Scouts presented the Australian Flag which was displayed on the stage. The Stratford Citizen of the Year 2022 was awarded to Trevor Teis. Unfortunately, Mr Teis was not able to attend the event, so the award was presented to his daughter Dawn Tyler. The club was able to catch up with Mr Teis later at the Blackhall Creek and presented the award to him there. Mr Teis decided to clean up the Blackhall Creek in 2013. He believed it was a fire hazard thinking, if the region had a dry summer, Stratford could come under threat should a fire start north-west of the town. At that time there wasn't a lot of irrigated country north of Stratford. He began to work tirelessly to clean up the creek, which was in a terrible state. It was full of blackberries, boxthorn bushes and a lot of dead wattle trees. Since that time, Mr Teis has made Blackhall Creek a place that can be enjoyed by locals as well as visitors to town. He has spent hundreds of hours’ whippersnipping, mowing and clearing debris from along the creek - from Jones Street and Merrick Street in the north to Raymond Street at the southern end. More recently he has had some help from a few locals that live next to the creek. It is now a place to look at and enjoy the peace and quiet of the bush, You can walk along the grass track with your dog or spot the local birds. It is probably Stratford's best-kept secret due to one man's determination to clean up the area. A presentation gift of local produce was given to Lik and Alisha, who had become Australian citizens at a ceremony in Sale earlier that day. The club offers its congratulations to you both. During the last two months, the Lions barbecue has been operating each Saturday from 9am until 1pm and a big thank you to all the faithful

Councillor Carmel Ripper, Dawn Tyler and Stratford Lions president Paul Wager.

Lik, Alisha and Stratford Lions president Paul Wager.

customers. The club will be continuing this year operating in a COVIDSafe environment. Like all service clubs, the Stratford Lions Club are always looking to attract new members and meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at the Stratford Mechanics Hall meeting room, accessed from Raymond Street. For more, contact Paul Wager on 0457 329 919 or Bill Morley on 0438 430 841.