Gerard Dickinson is Brimbank’s Citizen of the Year. 59716 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Laura Wakely
GERARD Dickinson has reason to be good at his job.
As a resident of Sunshine, the Municipal Youth Resource Officer sees the direct impact of his work around his own neighbourhood.
The Leading Senior Constable, known as ‘Dicko’, was named Brimbank’s Citizen of the Year for his contribution to the community.
Gerard said he was surprised to win, as he was just happy to be nominated.
“I like working in Brimbank and I like living in Brimbank,” Gerard said.
“I’ve pretty much been western suburbs all my life. I like the challenges that it presents and I like the diverse culture here.”
The activity Gerard is most passionate about being involved in is the Preventing Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth (P.A.R.T.Y) program, which sees school-aged children charged with crime spend time in The Alfred hospital to see the effects choices like drink-driving and fighting can have on lives.
“It’s really kicking some good goals,” he said of the program.
Gerard also runs camps for young offenders and never knocks back a school visit.
Improving life for young people in Brimbank by reducing gang issues and assaults is his passion.
“There’s no miracle right answer… but if you can just get in the kid’s ear and make them think before they act,” he said.
It’s not always easy to take the police out of the policeman, but the skills sometimes help out when he’s off-duty, whether it be volunteering at his sons’ soccer club, working with the St Albans Traders Association, Sunshine Business Association or Brimbank Youth Services, or on stage with the Sunshine Community Theatre Group.
On Thursday however, you’ll find him wearing both resident and police hat at the Brimbank Australia Day ceremony.
“I’m looking forward to seeing in the new Australian citizens,” Gerard said.
“After that… maybe I’ll put my feet up and have a beer.”
Other winners included Young Citizen of the Year Sharlene Prasad, Afaf Mohemed for the Community Wellbeing Award, Sunshine and District Historical Society for Cultural Achievement Award and Teacher of the Year Kathy Hatton.
The Environmental Achievement Award was shared by 12 groups.
The winners will be presented along with Brimbank’s newest citizens at a ceremony from 10am this Thursday at Kevin Wheelahan Gardens in Sunshine.
