GUIDED by the words of St Mary MacKillop “Never see a need without doing something about it”, Sea Lake resident Jane Stacey has always been heavily involved in the local community.
Her willingness to contribute to the tight-knit rural town was instilled at a young age.
“It was my upbringing,” Ms Stacey said.
“Mum and Dad were heavily involved in the local community when I was growing up.”
Her volunteering efforts and passion for the region were recognised at this year’s Australia Day celebrations, when she was named Sea Lake’s Citizen of the Year.
Born and raised in the Sea Lake region, Ms Stacey bid farewell to the town after completing high school.
She spent time travelling and lived in Melbourne and Alice Springs before returning to Sea Lake, where she raised her own family.
Throwing her heart and soul into every project she has been involved in, Ms Stacey’s enthusiasm, courage, determination and community spirit were highlighted during the Australia Day celebrations, which paid tribute to her many achievements.
From coaching netball teams to cooking up a storm in the kitchen, having organised numerous catering and fundraising events, Ms Stacey has been involved in all aspects of the community.
She was responsible for organising the town’s Night Under the Stars New Year’s Eve event and helped establish the Sea Lake Business Network.
Heavily involved in the Sea Lake Off Road Club, Ms Stacey played a major role in the success of the town’s signature event, the Mallee Rally.
She has also been involved in the Sea Lake Cemetery Trust and St Mary’s Parents and Friends Association.
She was at the forefront of the Save the Sea Lake Hospital campaign and played an integral role in attracting funding for Lake Tyrrell.
“The original aim of the project was to protect the lake and protect the rally,” she said.
It was her greatest accomplishment and she was proud to have played a role in securing more than $2 million of government funding to proceed with the Lake Tyrrell project.
“There were lots of zeros on the end of that figure,” Ms Stacey said, adding it was funding the town had never seen before.
She said her involvement in the project was bittersweet and, while it was great to see Sea Lake receive the funding and recognition the town deserved, it also came at a cost to the community, following the cancellation of the Mallee Rally.
“It came at a very high cost and I’m not talking in terms of dollars,” Ms Stacey said.
Despite the outcome, Ms Stacey persevered with the project, while trying to secure the best outcome for the Sea Lake community.
In an emotional speech, Ms Stacey said she was honoured to receive the accolade.
She urged the younger generation – the future leaders – to get involved in their local community and help shape the future.
“Volunteering can be one of the most stressful, exciting, humbling experiences you can be involved in,” Ms Stacey said.
“While you don’t always get the outcome you set out to achieve, you do it for the love of your community.”
