2011 Joint Frankston City Citizens of the Year
2011 Frankston City Citizen of the Year
Mark and Sue Whitby, Frankston
Directors of City Life Inc. and founders of the Jubilee Christian Fellowship, Mark and Sue work tirelessly to provide material, financial and emotional support for the disadvantaged and most socially isolated members of the Frankston community.
Both Mark and Sue demonstrate a true generosity of spirit, giving much of their own time to support others and through their work at City Life, which provides a food bank and community café providing over 9000 meals each month to the needy; free Christmas lunches in Frankston and Frankston North for local people feeling lonely and vulnerable; crisis support, recycled store, community clinic, care connections (shower facility), weekly community barbecue and many other community based initiatives reaching out to the homeless, youth at risk and more.
They have also both been instrumental in establishing a training program for many clients ranging from basic computers to food handling and other life skills.
Together Mark and Sue also provide pastoral services and leadership through the Jubilee Christian Fellowship which has included support for international orphanages and helping disadvantaged young people to train in Ministry work through Creative Ministries in India, Thailand and Burma.
2011 Frankston City Young Citizen of the Year
Lucinda Liddiard, 20 years, Langwarrin
Lucy is an active and committed member of the new Frankston Youth Council where she has been a mentor to other young people and helping advise Council on youth issues. Lucy helped plan, organise and facilitate the recent state-wide youth forum in Frankston, coordinated by the Office for Youth.
She also recently became a member of the CREATE Foundation, undertaking young consultants training, to further develop her skills in developing youth programs and activities.
Lucy also attended the Frankston Youth Resource Centre winter sleepout event as a guest speaker, sharing her experiences of homelessness and raising awareness with young people attending.
She is currently studying full-time toward a Certificate IV in Community Services while working part-time on a voluntary basis for the Brotherhood of St Laurence community store. Her other volunteer efforts have included working on a soup van to feed the homeless and needy; supporting a basketball team for young people with disabilities and/or mental health issues; and caring for a seriously ill family member.
Her story demonstrates how a young person can turn their life around from being homeless, disconnected and lacking direction to being a mentor giving back to the community and looking toward a brighter future.
Lucy said she feels "overwhelmed" by this award and says a little bit of hard work can yield outstanding results. "It's been a long time since I've been able to say I feel proud," Lucy said.
She urges anyone wishing to raise youth issues to contact her through the Youth Council website, select Youth Council and 'Contact the Youth Council'.