By Mikayla van Loon and Dongyun Kwon
A lifelong volunteer, at age 81, Alan Somers doesn’t look to be slowing down his community work.
And that’s what made him the right recipient of the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024.
The Chirnside Park resident started his volunteering journey as a youth cadet with St John Ambulance at the age of 12.
From there Mr Somers joined the Croydon Scouts Association with his son and quickly stepped in to help run the group.
With a passion to support others, Mr Somers established the Bone Marrow Institute of Australia’s Croydon Branch in collaboration with Les Willmott.
Becoming the fundraising secretary, he was able to raise more than one million dollars for the institute.
“We fundraise for cancer research. It’s now an arm of Fight Cancer. They’re located in the head offices at the Royal Melbourne Hospital but we started in Croydon about 35 to 36 years ago,” he said.
“I’m currently working with the Bone Marrow Donor Institute to put on an art show at Ringwood which is coming up in April.”
The 29th Annual Mayoral Art Exhibition by Maroondah Council has helped raise funds for the Bone Marrow Institute for many years.
This year’s exhibition will focus on the theme ‘tangent’, inviting artists to explore different techniques, materials and subject matter, across all mediums.
Applications can be submitted until Friday 5 March at 5pm, with the exhibition being hosted at Maroondah Federation Estate Gallery from 2 April to 4 May.
When not organising events, Mr Somers is busy assisting St Vincent de Paul in his role as conference president by visiting residents, conducting welfare checks and providing food hampers.
“That’s ongoing. Everyday we get calls for that where we do the welfare and interview the families in the home.”
His commitment to assisting others was evident in the aftermath of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires and the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires in Mallacoota and surrounds.
“We’re helping people that need assistance and that’s helping someone that’s not as well off as you are. That’s the main driving force,” Mr Somers said.
Volunteering is something Mr Somers said was passed down from his parents and now is something his own children have taken up, by volunteering with the SES and CFA.
Mr Somers’ nominator noted “no matter how much pressure he is under, his demeanour is always relaxed and pleasant – something his coworkers and community group members greatly appreciate”.
“His efforts in fundraising, collecting goods and connecting vulnerable community members with support have helped countless people,” the council’s citation said.
“His tireless work in the community also matches his commitment to his family and his children.
“He quietly and diligently keeps our community running and is always available to help others.”
