By Derek Schlennstedt
Retired health professional, 79-year-old Hamish Russell from Lilydale has taken out the prestigious 2018 Victorian Senior of the Year award for his volunteer work to improve health outcomes in the Yarra Ranges.
Mr Russell received the award due to the breadth, reach, and lasting impact of his volunteer work.
Since retiring 24 years ago, he has dedicated himself to volunteering in his local community in the Shires of Yarra ranges and Cardinia, and has worked hard to ensure the provision of high quality health services in the region by setting up a tertiary scholarship program.
Mr Russel said giving back to the community had always been a big part of who he was and said that passion began at school.
“When I was reflecting back to when I left school, the principal was giving his final address to the year 12 saying something along the lines of ‘to whom much has been given much is expected’… I guess I’ve always felt that way,” he said.
“I’ve been extraordinarily lucky and if I can give back through any skill I’ve been able to develop then that’s a privilege and it’s something I love doing and something I love continuing to do.”
Since 2000 his tertiary program has helped more than 70 students become doctors, nurses or allied health professionals and has contributed to many other positive health care developments in the Yarra Ranges.
The scholarship offers $10,000 in scholarship assistance to tertiary students studying medicine, nursing, allied health or other health sciences, who live in the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
“I was very aware of how much different having a scholarship made things when I was an undergraduate at university.”
“How they really made an enormous difference to my ability to concentrate on study and not be worrying about money all the time.”
“It’s been wonderful really been some amazing people come through that program.”
“In this case equal emphasis is given to scholastic achievement and contribution to community so looking for young people who are already giving back to the community and not just brilliant scholars.”
Having lived in the Dandenong Ranges for a number of years Mr Russell also oversaw the amalgamation of nine of the magnificent gardens in the Dandenong Ranges as Chairman of the Dandenong Ranges Gardens Trust.
This amalgamation brought the management and preservation of gardens under one umbrella with Parks Victoria, making them more sustainable in the long term.
Mr Russel said he was humbled and surprised to receive the award and said hoped it would remind other retirees that they can still partake in community work.
“I feel amazed and humbled to receive the award but one that I can then use to inspire others to be involved in their retirement,” he said.
“It’s extraordinarily important for people who have retired to not become invisible – one of my passions is just because we’re retired or older doesn’t mean we don’t have a role to play in society.”
