02/02/2026
I was recently honoured to be named Citizen of the Year by the .
I wanted to share this as a reflection on what volunteering has given me.
From a purely selfish point of view, I like helping people.
It makes me feel good.
It fills my cup.
Whether it’s spending time with the awesome people at , sitting in a men’s circle with and hearing a bloke say, I’ve had it pretty rough lately, this is exactly what I needed, or planning community events with , those moments of connection matter deeply to me.
In the past, I’ve felt overwhelmed by the amount of pain and suffering we see every day around the world. I’ve often found that disempowering. What I’ve learned, though, is that real change doesn’t have to be global. It can start right on our own doorstep. Imagine the footprint if everyone did something small, where they live.
Volunteering doesn’t have to mean starting an organisation or taking on something huge. It might be hosting a games night, helping with care packs, or lending your time locally in a small but meaningful way.
There are far too many names to mention here, but I want to say a genuine thank you to everyone who gives their time, energy, and care to the groups I’ve spent time with. This recognition belongs to all of you just as much as it does to me.
I also want to thank the City of Bayswater for the continued support of community initiatives like Bayswater Blokes.
If you’ve ever thought about getting involved in your community but weren’t sure where to start, is a great option, or feel free to reach out and have a chat.
Sometimes helping others is also how we help ourselves.
Buzzing way to start the year 😊
