West Wimmera Shire Council has named Harrow’s Ralph Zwar as the 2023 Senior Citizen of the Year.
Mr Zwar was presented the award at West Wimmera Shire’s Seniors Concert at Kaniva on Thursday.
Mr Zwar and his wife Myrna moved to Harrow from South Australia after purchasing the grazing property in 1983.
Since then, Mr Zwar has worked with many different organisations and committees, making a significant contribution to the well-being of the Harrow and Edenhope communities.
He has been a long-time member of the Harrow Historical Society and is known as a ‘history buff’.
He has volunteered in the Harrow Sound and Light Show since its inception, and plays Dr. Potts, the doctor in Harrow in the late 1800s.
He is also a member of the Harrow Bush Nursing Centre and a founding member of the Bush Billy Carts Committee.
Mr Zwar is an active member of the Edenhope Lions Club, Harrow Bush Nursing Centre, the Harrow Promotion and Development Group, and the Harrow Hall committee.
In 2010, he received the James D Richardson Award, which recognised outstanding service to Lions. He has also received the 2011-2012 Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, which is the highest award that Lions can receive.
When accepting his award on Thursday, Mr Zwar said he was pleased be recognised.
He said when he first moved to Harrow, his family was accepted into the community wholeheartedly, and he was very thankful for that.”
“I’ve received more from our community than I ever put into it,” he said.
“I don’t care how young you are or how old you are, the only thing I can suggest is that you get involved in your own communities and give it your full shot.”
Mayor Tim Meyer presented Mr Zwar with his award.
Cr Meyer said there was hardly a committee that Mr Zwar had not made a significant contribution to.
“Ralph has been described as a quintessential ‘nice bloke’ with a wonderful sense of humour,” he said.
“He has spent his life volunteering and we are very honoured to recognise him with this award.”
Cr Meyer said Mr Zwar was a deserving winner, who had made an outstanding contribution to the Harrow and Edenhope communities.
“He is considered a very important figure in the community and is someone who is always willing to lend a hand,” he said.
The Senior Citizen of the Year award recognises shire residents aged 60 years or more who have made a difference to community wellbeing, have a positive attitude towards aging, continue to be active in their community, and encourage others to do the same.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 25 October 2023.
