General News
28 January, 2024
Top citizen giving his time to so many
Graham Gerlach will today be recognised as Horsham's Citizen of the Year, acknowledging his outstanding community involvement and contribution over many years.
Graham Gerlach will today be recognised as Horsham's Citizen of the Year, acknowledging his outstanding community involvement and contribution over many years.
Mr Gerlach's community involvement has included Horsham College Council (member for 10-plus years), Horsham Motor Sports Club (life member), Horsham Sports and Community Club, Horsham Spring Garden Festival (member for 10-plus years), Horsham Squash Club, Meals on Wheels, Rotary Club of Horsham (member for 30-plus years) and Rotary Exchange Student Program.
He is described in his nomination as a tireless community member who gives his time freely to many charities and organisations.
Mr Gerlach was so humbled and surprised by the award, his first thought was to not accept it, but after consultation with his family, he agreed.
He said it was great recognition to be awarded Citizen of the Year, but the recognition belonged to the groups he was part of.
"Without those groups, you can't volunteer, and I am extremely passionate about where our country would be without volunteers," Mr Gerlach said. "We would be a wreck."
A real estate agent and property valuer, Mr Gerlach was born and raised in Horsham, but spent a few years in Melbourne working and earning his relevant qualifications.
Returning to Horsham in 1978 - a town he describes as "the best place you could ever be" and "the centre of the world" - Mr Gerlach said a family that was hugely supportive allowed him to dedicate so much time to volunteering.
"My wife, Bronwyn, has allowed me to volunteer, and has helped me along the way," Mr Gerlach said.
"And the boys, Cam and Matt, they have known nothing else, and I hope I haven't neglected them too much.
"Horsham is a close community and it is accessible, so I haven't had to drive, for example, from one side of Melbourne to the other, so it's a good community to volunteer in.
"The people in our community are fantastic. It was a case of once I got bitten (by volunteering), I was in."
Mr Gerlach is also a member of an advocacy group which is working for the establishment of a Horsham Mental Health facility to avoid the travel currently involved for people requiring ongoing treatment.
Involved through Horsham Healthy Minds and Rotary Club of Horsham, Mr Gerlach said there was a desperate need for a local facility so people didn't have to travel.
By his own admission, Mr Gerlach is "getting on in age", and his volunteering is slowly cutting down, but he said it would give others the opportunity to step up into his place.
In all the groups he has been involved in, he said, success had come from teamwork.