Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

Roger Seeney is a strong believer in helping others and contributing to his local community.

Roger was named Denmark’s Citizen of the Year in 2017 and last year received both a 45-year national service medal and a long service medal for his time as a volunteer fire fighter. Originally from the UK, Roger migrated to Australia when he was a boy.

His family were poor and his already tough life got even tougher after his father died when Roger was just 12 years old.

“We’d settled in Perth and my mother was constantly working to make ends meet so I was basically left to raise myself and my younger brother on my own,” Roger said.

“I was lucky to have some amazing mentors including an Aboriginal Elder who taught me a lot about the meaning of community and how to enjoy working with people.”

Roger always liked tinkering with things and experimenting with how things worked. This led him to become an electrician and then a marine electrical engineer.

He later became a fully fledged engineer working all over the world and spending countless weeks away at sea. When he met the love of his life, Bev, at a pony club nearly 40 years ago, the desire to live in the country was one they shared.

“We’d been looking for land in a few places but as soon as we pulled up alongside the Denmark River, we never left.

“We built our house, and all the structures on the farm, ourselves.”

Roger, now in his early 70s and not yet retired, is busy with all his volunteer commitments.

He’s captain of the Somerset Hill fire brigade and founding member of both the Denmark Equestrian Club and Denmark Machinery Restoration Group. He also spent nearly a decade as a Shire councillor.

“To me, being on council is a community service.

“It’s a privilege especially when you look at all the other people who volunteer their time for free.

“I’m also heavily involved with the local Lions Club and people don’t really know about all the great work they do as they go about it quietly. It’s only a small group but very effective at getting things done.”

Just over a decade ago Roger said he had “a bit of a midlife crisis” and bought himself a big motorbike.

After becoming aware of the Black Dog Ride, a national charity that works to raise awareness of depression and suicide prevention, Roger helped form the local Black Dog Ride group.

“Sadly too many of us are touched by the tragedy of suicide.

“I wanted to help raise awareness of the importance of encouraging people to reach out.

“There’s no shame in asking for help – we all suffer from difficult times and we all need to keep an eye out for the welfare of our mates.”

Of all his community work, Roger said it was his time as a career mentor at Denmark Senior High School that was one of the most rewarding.

“It was a great program and even though it stopped a few years ago some of the students still keep in touch with me.”

With countless other areas of involvement, including being on the board of the Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee, Roger said he’s just one cog in a wheel of dozens of dedicated volunteers that work tirelessly to get things done.

He also said he couldn’t have done all he has without Bev by his side.

“She’s not only my greatest supporter but I have to say that my community work is a mere drop in the ocean in comparison to what Bev does.”

The next Denmark Black Dog Ride will be to Dalwallinu on October 8 and interested riders can contact Bev Seeney at wa@black-dogride.org.au

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 29 September 2022.