ACCORDING to Swan Hill’s citizen of the year Marie Schlemme, there’s no place like home.
Since moving to the region in 1975, Ms Schlemme quickly proved herself to be an indispensable asset by taking up any opportunity to involve herself in the local community.”
“If someone asks you to do something, it’s because they believe you have the capability to do it,” she says of her myriad achievements.
“If you’re prepared to have a go it can lead to all sorts of amazing things.”
On Saturday her commitment to the community was recognised when she was named Swan Hill’s Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day breakfast, an event she is all-too familiar with.
The proud Aussie has been in charge of organising the celebration right from the first local Australia Day breakfast, held in Campbell Street, Swan Hill in 1982.
“Barry Steggall, who was the mayor at the time, said he wanted a local celebration so [the Business Professional Women’s organisation] said we would take it on,” said Ms Schlemme.
“Eventually it all got a bit big for Campbell Street, so we moved it to Riverside Park.”
For more on this story see Monday’s edition of The Guardian (January 28, 2013).
