AFTER nearly 365 days as City of Greater Bendigo's 2019 Citizen of the Year, Kevin Cail - or the man simply known as Mr Kamarooka - still pinches himself.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I haven't really grasped that someone nominated me, and I still I don't know who put me forward to represent the Kamarooka area.
"I think it's been great that the City of Greater Bendigo went outside the boundaries of the city to select a person from a rural area as the Citizen of the Year for 2019.
"I'm so proud to have been able to carry it out to the best of my ability," Mr Cail said.
In a year that's taken him to countless community events, openings and even a car ride in the Easter parade, the community stalwart is ready to pass on the baton.
"I'm very proud of what I've achieved and what I went to over the year," he said.
"A councillor told me at the start of the year as a volunteer to try and represent the people of my area at all the functions the city have.
"I think that's been great for the Bendigo public and the support of my wife Bev and my family has been wonderful," Mr Cail said.
He counts attending and speaking at the city's bi-monthly Citizenship Ceremonies, which saw more than 200 people become Australian citizens across the year, as both a highlight and a moving experience.
"I didn't know that the naturalisation of Australian citizens was such a big and emotional event before this year," he said.
"You go and see some of those people there and they are so proud to become Australian citizens and we just take life for granted.
"They are over the moon. That little piece of paper and the Australian plant they receive means so much to the people and their families," Mr Cail said.
For Mr Cail, the role has allowed him to advocate for the work his community undertake to protect and uphold their beloved Kamarooka Recreation Reserve, and similar spaces in the region.
Mr Cail has helped maintain the Kamarooka Recreation Reserve for 50 years.
"I've had people congratulating me and also saying what a great contribution rural people make running reserves.
"The community that remains is trying hard to maintain reserves and halls, so people can have meeting places where they can have district functions and family get togethers," he said.
Last year was eventful for the reserve and its committee, hosting the annual Kamarooka Community Picnic, applying for funding to continue current projects and holding community barbecues and talent-time evenings, where locals sang, played musical instruments and told stories.
"At these places people can come and relax and talk to one another," Mr Cail said.
2020 marks an important year for the Kamarooka community and recreation reserve committee, marking 70 years since the site first opened. In that time it's maintained the same purpose, as a place for locals and families to meet.
It is in that community and at that reserve where Mr Cail has lived opposite from for most of his life and where he plans to continue giving his time moving forward.
"I'm going to keep my involvement in the reserve at the highest level as I can and in my capabilities and am looking forward to the future of the reserve very much.
"I'm also going to come into Bendigo every time there is a Citizenship Ceremony, and meet some of the people who become Australian citizens," he said.
Of all his Citizen of the Year experiences, Mr Cail said one thing will stay with him.
"It's taught me there's more to life than just yourself.
"It's about family and friendships and has definitely been a great experience that I'll never forget.
"Being the City of Greater Bendigo's 2019 Citizen of the Year made me feel very proud and hopefully I'm still the same person now as when I was selected," Mr Cail said.