Gully News Party at the Gully Library

By Editor Anne Boyd

*Knox Cr Susan Laukens, Daniella De Martino MP, State Member for Monbulk, Editor Anne Boyd and Mayor Cr Jude Dwight. Photograph by Barbara Oehring*.

To celebrate Gully News’s 15th year of publication, around 40 people enjoyed the hospitality of FTG Library and catering by Foothills Community Care. This annual event is for the community to thank volunteers and for us to thank the institutions that auspice or support us.

Representing them were Knox Council Mayor Jude Dwight and Monbulk MP Daniela de Martino as well as guests from other groups such as Rowville News, Boronia Rotary etc.

The Community Houses of the Eastern Suburbs (CHAOS) presented a special award to Pam McConnell, who has for ten years cajoled businesses for the advertising that pays the printer of this not for profit enterprise.

A newspaper lovingly ‘builds a home’ by gathering the stories of the people who live here. We do this in continuity with stories from the past and in the hope of handing on our own stories to future generations.

CHAOS Volunteer Awards 2024 – Pam McConnell

By Rachel Bast

Every year the CHAOS network (Community Houses of the Outer Eastern Suburbs) is encouraged to nominate an outstanding volunteer. The CHAOS Volunteer Awards commenced to support member organisations to recognise those special volunteer(s) who go above and beyond and who deserve some special recognition.

In 2023, Mountain District Learning Centre nominated Pam McConnell. Pam has been a volunteer at the newspaper every Tuesday since 2014 and has been unwavering in her weekly commitment to ensuring all the ‘in office’ administrative tasks are professionally and efficiently dealt with.

Quite frankly, Pam is integral to the Newspaper and the whole (volunteer) team involved!