THE founding member of Melville’s historical society was one of three citizens awarded a premier’s gong at the city’s Australia Day ceremony.

Barbara Dudding founded the society in 1981 and has volunteered for it ever since.

President for the past 10 years, she also helps out at the Miller Bakehouse Museum.

Sydney Rowe has been a volunteer justice of the peace for more than 20 years for The Royal Association of Justices at Garden City shopping centre, and a volunteer JP at the Fremantle Town Hall, Fremantle Hospital after-hours and Family Law Court in Perth.

• Melville mayor Russell Aubrey with the premier’s citizenship award winners. Photo supplied

The under-25 award went to Kayla Ferraz—who helps out at Yangebup Family Centre, St Vincent De Paul Op Shop in Hilton and the Red Cross Soup Patrol.

Community group winner was Melville Friends of Hatolia. Formed in 2005, it was the first group in WA to form a “friendship” with East Timor.

The group raises funds to improve the quality of life of Timorese people, providing scholarships and basic infrastructure, including toilets and libraries at schools.

The annual Australia Day awards and citizenship ceremony, held at John Creaney Park in Bull Creek, attracted nearly 700, who enjoyed a barbecue breakfast from the local Lions club.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK