By ALESHA CAPONE
WILLIAMSTOWN resident Douglas Heywood has brought the magic of music to many people.
The 71-year-old has spent decades volunteering for several causes and has also received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his dedication to musical education.
On Saturday Mr Heywood received another accolade when Hobsons Bay City Council announced him as the municipality’s 2013 Citizen of the Year at an Australia Day ceremony.
However, Mr Heywood – who is known across Australia as the choir conductor of Channel Nine’s yearly ‘Carols by Candlelight’ broadcast – does not believe he deserves the title.
“I was dumbfounded. I had no idea what I got it for but I think it’s fantastic,” Mr Heywood said.
Mayor Angela Altair praised Mr Heywood for his efforts to raise funds for Williamstown Hospital.
Across the past 16 years, Mr Heywood has co-ordinated and self-funded an annual recital of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ featuring 100 performers.
“Last year it made a profit of $500 for hospital,” Mr Heywood said.
“The ambition is to keep going every year until we raise $5000 for the hospital.”
Among his other achievements, Mr Heywood founded the Hobsons Voices festival for primary school choirs.
On Saturday, teenagers Oussama Abou-Zeid and Joel Kuperholz stood alongside Mr Heywood at the Williamstown Town Hall.
The pair, who will both turn 18 next month, were joint recipients of the 2013 Young Citizen of the Year Award.
Oussama and Joel, from Altona North and Toorak respectively, have created a football team called the MuJu Peace Club.
With support from the Western Bulldogs and Victoria Police, last year they organised an exhibition football match at Whitten Oval played by teams made up of Jewish and Muslim teenagers.
They also entered the 2012 AFL Unity Cup and won.
Ousamma encouraged other young people to try and make a difference in the community.
“Don’t be afraid, be confident,” he said.
“You might think you’re insignificant but you can make a stand in the world.”
Joel said he and Ousamma worked hard to organise their football team throughout their VCE studies.
“Even before the milestone of a double digits birthday, my parents instilled in me ways of making a difference,” Joel said.
