By Roman Kulkewycz
Popular Bunyip man, Alan Wright was awarded the Australia Day, Bunyip and District Citizen of the Year Award at the Australia Day ceremony held in the Bunyip Hall on Saturday 26 January.
Representing the Cardinia Shire was Mayor Cr Graeme Moore, M.C for the day was Russell Pendlebury and the entertainment was provided by the Bunyip Singers and popular local poet Gerard Cunningham.
Guest speaker was Australia Day Ambassador Angela Barker 33, whose life changed forever in 2002 at the age of 16 when she was brutally bashed to near death by her ex-boyfriend. She suffered severe brain damage, and the prognosis was that she would remain in a vegetative state for the rest of her life.
Against the odds, Angela started to make a recovery and today – seventeen years after the assault and wheelchair-bound – she continues to bravely share her story.
In 2004 the Federal Government released a DVD, about Angela’s story called ‘Loves Me, Loves Me Not’ as part of their Domestic Violence Campaign, which was distributed to every secondary school in Australia.
She has spoken to over 36,000 students on preventing relationship violence.
You could have heard a pin drop as Angela held the Bunyip audience spellbound – some wiped away a tear whilst others gave her a standing ovation; such was her powerful story.
Angela was humbled and surprised when it was announced that she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) this year.
