One of the Yarra River’s most determined protectors, Gordon Buller, received the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for the Australia Day Civic Awards.
Mr Buller was recognised for his tireless commitment to keep Warburton the amazing place it is.
He was working from home when he received a phone call to inform him of his achievement.
“The mayor’s PA rang me and asked if I’d realise I’d won an award and I said, ‘Well, it answers a few queries I had where people were asking me all sorts of sticky nosy questions.’”
“So I put two and two together. I was a little surprised,” Mr Buller said.
A real jack of all trades, Mr Buller’s resume spans most of his life. He began volunteering at 20-years-old after he noticed a deterioration in the Yarra River.
He served as chair of the Upper Yarra River Reserve Committee of Management (UYRRCoM) for over 50 years, was a member of the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Bank Board for several years, and volunteered for the Warburton Emergency Planning Group for more than 13 years.
Volunteers striving to improve the world around them have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day Civic Awards, with nominees awarded in a ceremony on Monday 26 January.
The awards, presented each year on Australia Day, reward community members who, in the last year, have excelled in making the Yarra Ranges a better place to live in.
Yarra Ranges mayor Richard Higgins congratulated this year’s winners.
“We have an exceptional community, full of people willing to put their hand up and help others, to build resilience, to protect the things we love and grow this beautiful area we call home,” Cr Higgins said.
For an example of Mr Buller’s devotion to Warburton, one needn’t look further than the busy day he had ahead of him when he spoke with the Star Mail.
Before his phone call to the Star Mail, he’d already knocked out a few Justice of the Peace appointments and a committee meeting with the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise.
Come 2pm and his focus is on a Warburton Emergency Group meeting, before he sets off to work on the local 3799 connect newsletter.
He squeezed in a few hours of paid work in there too.
Mr Buller’s motivation stems from a place of love for Warburton and an obligation to “keep the ship afloat” when others drop out.
He loved Warburton for its “old-worldly” feel – the slow, conservative type of living you can’t experience closer to the suburbs.
“We haven’t got any of the flashness or the newish things that you see when you get further down. There’s nothing substantial, but now we’ve got an IGA coming in that’s probably going to have the latest sliding doors in the front,” he said.
Mr Buller still brims with passion and energy to continue his work for Warburton and its surrounds.
“I sat and saw the other night a lifetime achievement award. Well, what does lifetime mean? Does that mean I’ve got to sign a contract and keep going as long as I live,” he joked.
Volunteers like Mr Buller never work to get attention, but Mr Buller said was grateful for the award.
“It’s nice to be recognised.”
