INSPIRING seniors from across the Redlands received recognition for their contributions to the community at Blue Care's annual seniors award ceremony on Tuesday.
An award winner was chosen from each council division, with two others selected for either a Blue Care or mayor's choice award.
Blue Care event coordinator Breanne Tukavkin said the award ceremony, now in its eleventh year, recognised those who gave selflessly to the Redlands.
"The seniors in our community contribute so much to the social fabric and culture of Redlands and what makes our community such a wonderful place to live," she said.
Redland City mayor Karen Williams said the seniors nominated for awards were setting an example for future generations to follow.
"It's well known that there's an ever increasing number of seniors living on our Redlands coast," she said.
"It's also a well known fact that a significant number of our over fifty-fives actively and continuously volunteer.
"Our older residents bring many, many valuable skills and lots of experience to keep our city running and being a wonderful place to live."
Blue Care received more than 30 award nominations this year.
The ceremony was held at Redland Performing Arts Centre in front of family and friends.
Read transcripts from the ceremony below:
Ada Lee - Blue Care Award
Ada has lived in the Redlands for 57 years, first at Victoria Point and now Redland Bay.
She has volunteered with Meals on Wheels Victoria Point for the past 45 years.
She spent five years as the main cook, preparing meals for 128 customers, and currently volunteers once a month delivering meals to residents in Victoria Point and Redland Bay.
Ada spent 25 years as a cub leader at Victoria Point. Starting with just 10 cubs who held their weekly meeting under a gum tree, Ada secured funding to move into the Eprapah Hall and grew the club to 32 cubs.
Ada has volunteered with Blue Care Yarrabee at Redland Bay since its opening 17 years ago. She started the Bellbird Op Shop which still runs every Tuesday, and supports residents to interact socially by participating in bingo and other activities.
Ada has also volunteered at Lake Sherrin residential facility assisting residents with games, bus trips and a monthly garage sale.
She also volunteered at the Redlands Hospital in the canteen and linen areas.
Steve Devenport and Gail Sinclair - Mayor's choice
Steve and Gail have contributed much to the community since they moved to the Redlands in 1995.
They are an incredible team, volunteering within many community organisations while also caring for their two children with disability.
They volunteer with not-for-profit organisation Friends with Dignity, furnishing and fitting out homes for families escaping domestic violence.
They have the house keys for seven days, during which time they meet with a social worker to understand the needs of the family moving in, take photos of the home, organise the required furniture, arrange necessary security measures and decorate the home.
Steve and Gail organise and store donations from the community to help to refurbish these homes.
Steve and Gail also foster children every weekend through Multicap Respite, and are involved in animal rescue support through RSPCA.
Steve is also heavily involved in the Birkdale Men's Shed as treasurer, meeting with the group every Monday to enjoy music, poetry, games, cards and socialising.
Julie Porteous - Division 1
Julie has been a member of University of the Third Age Redlands District since 2006, connecting seniors with lifelong learning.
Julie was U3A's Vice president from 2008 to 2010 and President from 2010 to 2018 and was recognised as a lifetime member in March 2019.
She has achieved a great deal during her time with U3A, including hosting the 2014 U3A State QLD Conference, launching the U3A website, installing online membership enrolment and payment, and managing and producing the Seniors Week concert at Redland Performing Arts Centre.
Under Julie's leadership, U3A membership has increased from 1200 to almost 1800, with over 100 classes now being run by 140 volunteers.
Julie continues to diligently campaign for U3A Redlands to secure its own permanent building in which to hold classes.
Julie is also a member of the Donald Simpson Centre, Redland District Committee on the Ageing and Wellington Point Probus Club.
Julie continues to liaise with Redlands City Council about the Redlands Coast becoming an age friendly community.
Judith Chapman - Division 2
After moving to the Redlands 15 years ago, Judith was keen to meet new people and volunteer in her new community.
An occupational therapist by trade, the role of caring for others has always come naturally to Judith.
She is a member of Redland District Committee on the Ageing, Council on the Ageing Queensland and Vice President of Redlands Seniors network.
Judith has been a member of the Savvy Seniors group for the past seven years, which is on the Island and supported by Council. They have received support from various technology organisations to implement new forms on technology for residents on the Bay Islands.
Pam Tranter - Division 3
Pam has lived in the Redlands for over 30 years. Known as 'the enabler' for her encouraging, support and inclusive nature, Pam's love of community work and action- oriented attitude came from her mother.
Pam is a life member of Bay FM, having volunteered 3-4 times a week for many years.
You can still hear her on-air once a week, discussing what's happening with the Cancer Council and other local organisations or events.
Pam is secretary and treasurer of the Cancer Council, where she is also a life member.
The team runs fundraisers including Bunnings Warehouse barbecues, morning teas, lunch events, craft shops in local shopping centres and themed nights that have raised $5000.
Pam is a life member of the local public speaking forum group, where she has held roles of secretary, vice president and president over 30 years.
Pam has completed several public speaking courses, and has shared her knowledge with Griffith University staff and students through various workshops.
Heather Opekar- Division 4
Heather has lived in the Redlands since 1988, and spent much of her 40 plus years teaching in Redlands schools.
After retirement, Heather became a volunteer with Blue Care, where she has been volunteering for 28 years.
Struck down by illness in 2014, Heather spent six weeks in ICU and lost the ability to eat, talk and walk.
After a long road of rehab where Heather showed her strength and determination, she recommenced her volunteering.
Over the years Heather has volunteered across various aspects of Blue Care, including several op shops, chapel services and driving residents to appointments.
Heather and the op shop teams' efforts have resulted in almost $400,000, which has been directed to a Blue Care car, medical equipment, furniture, revamping gardens, renovations to the facilities and respite centre.
Alene Ivey- Division 5
Alene has lived on Macleay Island for 11 years and made a significant impact to the Island community.
She sees retirement as a time when she can fulfil the dreams of her youth through travelling the world, while also finding a sense of purpose and belonging through volunteering.
Alene has been a member of the Macleay Island Rural Fire Brigade for over 10 years and is currently the fourth officer and secretary.
Alene regularly assists paramedics by performing CPR, helping with stretchers and even driving the ambulance.
She is also a Community Champion, assisting fellow islanders in the event of an emergency.
Alene operates a not-for-profit website where businesses, clubs and organisations can list their services, providing the Macleay Island public with as much information as possible.
In her limited spare time Alene is a keen writer, having contributed to a local anthology, becoming a finalist in the 2013 Redlitzer and self-publishing four books - two on travel and two on the lives of everyday people living on the Island.
Margaret Pyne - Division 6
Margaret has lived in the Redlands for over ten years, first at Raby Bay and now Redland Bay.
Known as 'Mama Mags' to her friends and loved ones, Margaret was nominated by her daughter for giving back to the local community, while also being a supportive and loving mother and grandmother.
Margaret volunteered her time at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Jeans for Genes and the recent local election.
She has always put her heart and mind into her community, working for not-for-profit organisations across five countries, assisting students with scholarships, raising money, putting together cricket teams and organising other events.
Margaret and her husband have also given back to the Redlands through having management rights to Edge Water Villas at Raby Bay, where they assisted residents in 74 units and conducted maintenance on the facility.
Margaret was recently informed she has ovarian cancer, after being diagnosed and beating the disease previously in 2017.
The thoughts of the Redlands community are with Margaret, urging her to stay strong and fight with the knowledge she is loved by many.
Margaret O'Driscol - Division 7
Margaret, who goes by Meg, has lived in the Redlands for many years and has always been a pillar of the local community.
Dedicating her whole life to helping others, Meg was appointed community director of nursing for Blue Nurses in 1981 and community liaison coordinator for the Princess Alexandra Hospital in 1982.
Meg's career took her around the world and she made it her goal to learn as much as possible about the health industry, specifically in the areas of pain monitoring, cancer care and palliative care.
Meg was a pillar of strength when her best friend Gayle was diagnosed with bowel cancer, working around the clock to provide care and support to Gayle and her family.
When Meg retired in 1997, she began volunteering across many community groups.
She has been the honorary administrator for heritage-listed Ormiston House for 15 years, helping run special events, groups tours and morning teas. Her work has greatly contributed to the Redlands winning a tourism award for culture, and visitors to the region sky-rocketing from 3000 to 15,000.
Meg has been instrumental in driving lifestyle and leisure programs at Blue Care Nandeebie Alexandra Hill Retirement Village, where she has lived since 2005.
Meg introduced bus outings, trips, movies, lunches, dinners, happy hour, and Christmas and Melbourne Cup annual events, building a strong sense of community among residents.
Graham Hinson - Division 8
Graham is a local icon who dedicates his time as RSL military welfare advocate and RSL community link coordinator, while also supporting Legacy.
Since 2010, he has supported the widows of servicemen to receive the entitlements they are eligible for. He works in the RSL library and museum as a welfare volunteer, and attends local schools' ANZAC services.
Upon commencing as RSL community link coordinator in 2013, Graham began to research the details of 35 deceased veterans whose names appeared on the Redlands RSL Cenotaph.
Armed only with their surname and first initial, Graham spent over a year researching and liaising with Canberra authorities.
By 2017, Graham had encouraged 10 schools to participate in the community program, with students chosen to represent the veterans who died in World War One.
Graham is the Redlands Vietnam Veteran Group's liaison officer, organising their fundraising activities, and is vice president of the Redlands National Servicemen.
Rosie Nicol - Division 9
Rosie has lived in the Redlands for over 40 years, dedicating her life to tackling domestic and family violence within the community.
A survivor of domestic violence herself, Rosie draws upon her personal experience to support and empower people to build a better future.
Rosie has been volunteering with the Queensland Police Service since 2015, working with victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence. Rosie is the only volunteer in this position and collaborates with a fantastic team of police officers, sergeants, detectives and trackers at Camp Hill Police Station.
Rosie receives applications for the south side of Brisbane and contacts every client to assess their level of risk, assist with referrals, determine next steps and identify what support they need.
Rosie attends Coffee with a Cop, promotes services at shopping centres, attends Rotary fun days and presents lectures at local schools.
Beryl Sutcliffe - Division 10
Beryl moved to the Redlands in 1996 with her husband Colin and quickly became an active volunteer in the local community.
Beryl volunteers with U3A, where she is in her fourth year as secretary, second year on the committee and first year as liaison officer.
She also volunteers at Ormiston House, supporting the team with tours and special events.
In her role as Welfare Officer of Probus, Beryl visits hospitals to follow up with members, while also sending cards out to anyone in need.
She also helps out with Rotary's bookfest and annual blues festival at Capalaba.
Around Christmas time, Beryl assists with the Christmas trailer raffle and gift wrapping at the shopping centres for Police Legacy and Rotary.
In 2015, Beryl and Colin travelled to India with Rotary to assist with polio immunisation in a small village. Beryl found great satisfaction in helping people in need in another part of the world.