By Alesha Capone
Hoppers Crossing’s Rhonda Edwards says she was bowled over to be named Wyndham’s Citizen of the Year last week.
Mrs Edwards, a volunteer at the Werribee Bowls Club, was presented with the award on Friday.
Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard said Mrs Edwards had “demonstrated tremendous passion for increasing community participation in lawn bowls”.
“Rhonda has helped grow the bowls club and has made vital contributions to its sustainability,” he said.
“She has developed partnerships and leads a team of volunteers to create and deliver several new community programs, which have introduced more than 4000 people to lawn bowls in the last three years alone.”
“Rhonda has been the driving force behind several successful programs that have helped introduce lawn bowls to new and diverse groups, including Girls on the Green, Bowling with Babies, CALDplay, and programs for multicultural seniors and people with disability.”
Mrs Edwards, who was also presented with the Sports and Recreation Community Volunteer Award, said she was “very surprised and overwhelmed”.
“I accepted it on behalf of everyone at the bowls club and all the volunteers at sports clubs in Wyndham,” she said.
Mrs Edwards said she enjoyed the fact that lawn bowls could be played by people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
