Kadnook’s Ian Hiller recognised as Senior Citizen of the Year

Published on 29 October 2020

West Wimmera Shire Council has named Kadnook’s Ian Hiller as the 2020 Senior Citizen of the Year.

Mr Hiller was presented the award at a special online ceremony on Thursday, which was live-streamed from the new Edenhope and District Community Centre.

He was one of four people nominated for the award.

Mr Hiller moved to Kadnook in 2010 and immediately became involved in the community's fire brigade.

He has taken on roles such as brigade secretary, treasurer, communications officer, training co-ordinator, and equipment officer.

He is also the group training officer for the Edenhope CFA group, which includes the brigades of Edenhope, Kadnook, Charam, Patyah and Ullswater.

Mr Hiller rarely misses a call-out and is an extremely active volunteer.

Besides his volunteer work with the fire brigade, Mr Hiller has been secretary and president of the Edenhope Pastoral and Agricultural Society and helps organise the annual Edenhope Show.

He delivers Meals on Wheels to vulnerable residents and is a community car driver.

Mr Hiller likes to help young people as well and in the past, he has been an exam steward at Edenhope College and volunteered to take teenagers for driving lessons.

He is also an avid record keeper of the area’s rainfall and weather.

Council chief executive David Leahy presented Mr Hiller with the award on Thursday.

He said Mr Hiller was a great asset to the Kadnook and Edenhope communities and a very worthy winner of the Senior Citizen of the Year award.

“Ian is considered a very important figure in Kadnook and he is someone who is always willing to lend a hand,” he said.

“It is always a pleasure to see someone who is such a dedicated contributor to the community.

"Ian’s achievements and his commitment to life in West Wimmera are quite exceptional and he is every bit the unsung hero.

“He is unheralded in himself and just gets on with the job.”

Mr Hiller said volunteering in the community was one of the most rewarding things a person could do.

“I hope to continue to encourage people to participate in volunteering in the future,” he said.

The Senior Citizen of the Year award recognises shire residents aged 60 years or more who have made a difference to community wellbeing, have a positive attitude towards aging, continue to be active in their community, and encourage others to do the same.

The other award nominees were Anne Nuzum, Maree Morrow and Frank Cucciniello.

All nominees received a certificate from Council.