Cade Lucas
Hoppers Crossing businesswoman and community leader Melba Waugh has been named Wyndham’s Citizen of the Year.
The Philippine born grandmother was announced as the winner of the award by Wyndham mayor Jennie Barrera at Australia Day celebrations in Werribee on Friday.
“I’m very proud,” said Ms Waugh shortly after the announcement.
“It’s something that I really did not expect, but very grateful and feeling so honoured to be awarded this prestigious award.”
Having emigrated to Australia in 1991 after marrying her Australian husband Robert, the Waugh’s moved to Wyndham in 1993 and became licensees of a chain of post offices across Melbourne and Geelong that they still run today.
Business success allowed Ms Waugh to embark on the community work and advocacy for which she was recognised on Australia Day.
“Melba has been a consistent and passionate leader of the Filipino and multicultural
communities in Wyndham and is passionate about giving back to the Wyndham
community,” said Cr Barrera in presenting the award.
For Ms Waugh, giving back to the Wyndham community has taken many different forms.
In 2011 she co-founded ACME, the Australian Council for Multicultural Entrepreneurs, and for many years served as its president.
She’s a past chairperson of the cultural display pavillion of the Melbourne International Folkfest and of the Princess Committee of the Philippine Australian Foundation.
And currently she serves the president of Bridge Builders for Australasia, a not-for-profit born out of Wyndham’s Fillipino community that seeks to provide connection and companionship to disadvantaged and isolated people.
Lately, this has involved Ms Waugh and her colleagues helping those, who like them, are getting older.
“We found out that there’s a lot who are living alone, single, divorce, all on their own, and they just want that motivation from other senior citizens to help them come out and socialise and be connected.”
Trips to the country, dancing, swimming and singing are among the activities Ms Waugh and Bridge Builders have organised for elderly members of the Wyndham community, a community that has changed markedly in the 30 years since she and her husband moved in.
Ms Waugh said Wyndham had become a far more multicultural and dynamic place and was excited for its future.
As for her role in it, she was a little circumspect.
“As long as my energy will allow it,” she laughed.
