Tuesday, 18 February 2020

Norm Gibbs Community Leadership Award

Mr FREGON (Mount Waverley) (13:39): Norman Gibbs, OAM, is a good bloke. The Honourable Anna Burke, AO, calls him ‘Mr Waverley’, and I could not think of a better name for Norm. Norm has always volunteered and given back to our community. He has volunteered for over six decades in more community groups than I have time to mention. He is a life member of many of them. He also volunteered for decades as Zodo the Clown at Monash Children’s Hospital until he retired two years ago at the age of 90. Even at 92, Norm and his beloved wife, Topsy, are still heavily involved with community groups around the Waverley and Monash areas.

Norm has been recognised for his service and holds many awards to his name, including the Sir John Monash Community Leadership Award, the Victorian Senior of the Year Award and an Order of Australia Medal, and he has also had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch. That is why I named our school community leadership award after Norm. This award highlights students who give to back to their community and make it a better place.

I am proud to announce the winners of the inaugural Norm Gibbs Community Leadership Award. We have Daniel Fatouros and Shilpi Shah of Glenallen School, Tuhina Verma of Glendal Primary School, Cindy Tran of Brentwood Secondary College, Iaroslav Shubin of Essex Heights Primary School and Flynn Bartlett of Syndal South Primary School. Joan Kim won the Lance Lloyd Award at Mount Waverley North Primary School, and Demitri Kaminis won the VCE Leadership Award at Mount Waverley Secondary College. While I was in the house a fortnight ago Norm Gibbs was at Avila College presenting the award to Emma Gare. My congratulations to you all.

As I said, Norm Gibbs is a good bloke.