THE former chairperson of the Frankston Susono Friendship Association has been awarded the 2020 Frankston citizen of the year award.
Peter Patterson was given the award on 26 January. He spent 18 years as the chairperson of the Frankston Susono Friendship Association, and has also volunteered his time to other community groups.
“If you have a go, you can succeed in things you think are far beyond your capacity,” Mr Patterson said. “If in my own little way, I’m making a difference for people in the community, then I’m motivated to do more.”
Frankston’s senior citizen of the year was named as Gina Poulos. Ms Poulos runs an emergency food bank organisation, Theodora’s Cheerful Givers, and helps prepare around 1200 pre-cooked frozen meals and 400 food hampers each week.
“My volunteers make me look good, they pull it all together. I’m over the moon that all the hard work we have put in has been recognised,” she said.
Frankston High School student Michaela Goggin was named the 2020 young citizen of the year for her work tutoring refugees and helping create a recycling hub at her school campus.