That is the

By Tania Martin
A COMMUNITY activist and a Black Saturday bushfire relief leader are just a few of those honoured in Yarra Ranges annual Australia Day awards.
Mayor Len Cox said the awards were a chance to celebrate community spirit and recognise those who had given so much.
“Countless numbers of residents put so much of their blood, sweat and tears into their local community each year,” he said.
Cr Cox congratulated the award winners at a ceremony at Mont De Lancey Estate, saying they made the shire a wonderful place.
Mount Evelyn’s Franc Smith has been named the Environmental Achiever of the Year for his work as a community activist as the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA) president.
Although often referred to as an environmentalist, Mr Smith says he was more of a conservationist.
He is renowned in the hills for fighting against inappropriate developments such as the proposed Mount Evelyn Safeway.
Mr Smith has also campaigned against the barrelling of creeks.
“It’s not just about the environment,” he said.
“I don’t hug trees. I am not a greenie in that sense, but I am a conservationist.”
He said his passion for the environment began more than 55 years ago as a kid living in the bush.
Mr Smith grew up in Powelltown and felt right at home in the bush.
It’s here that his passion for spiders grew.
Mr Smith first joined MEEPPA back in the early 80s and until six years ago has been involved a part-time member.
For the past six years, he has joined full-time and has been group president for the past four years.
This year Mr Smith was also instrumental in helping give a voice to a number of CFA volunteers before the Bushfire Royal Commission.
He believes that all volunteers should have been able to give their accounts of that terrible day.
Mr Smith helped more than 17 put in submission and three of those received standing to appear in front of the commission.
“We thought we were doing something wrong, but then I found out only one out of every 132 were getting standing to tell their story,” he said.
Mr Smith said the award was an honour and would dedicate it to all volunteers and MEEPPA as it celebrates 100 years of progress this year.
“It’s a lovely award, but I am really not an environmentalist, I am a conservationist,” he said.
“It’s (the award) is a chance for someone to say thankyou, which is really important to a lot of people.”
Peter Montgomery took out the Citizen of the Year for his role in leading the Yarra Glen Community Fire Relief committee.
He offered support to any volunteers who helped out with the material aid centre following the Black Saturday fires.
Mr Montgomery also championed the ‘adopt-a-container’ project, arranging sponsorship, storage and delivery of more then 170 shipping containers to individuals and families that lost their homes.
Other award winners this year included the Rotary Club of Healesville that took home Community Group of the Year, the Ken McIntosh Memorial Award 2010 went to Lilydale Primary School’s Earthkeeper Group, the 1st Mount Evelyn Scout Group winning the gong for the Ian De La Rue Community Leadership Award and the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award went to Raymond and Marion Jull.
In the neighbouring Shire of Cardinia, Australia Day award winners names were embargoed when the Mail went to print.