Volunteer’s shock- John Glazzard was named the Cardinia Shire’s Citizen of the Year. 26516

By Melissa Grant
TYNONG stalwart John Glazzard was shocked to be nominated, let alone receive, Cardinia’s highest honour.
The dedicated firefighter was humble when accepting the shire’s Citizen of the Year Award during a ceremony at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on Australia Day.
“This is totally unexpected,” he said.
Mr Glazzard has been an active CFA member for 30 years and has been captain and deputy officer of the Tynong fire brigade for the past 16 years.
As a member of the CFA Strike Team, Mr Glazzard has fought fires in NSW, Canberra and Gippsland.
He is involved with the Tynong Progress Association and is a past president of the Garfield Scout Group.
Mr Glazzard has recently supported the community at Tynong sewerage pipeline and powerline meetings planned as part of the Wonthaggi desalination plant.
Despite his long-standing involvement in the community, Mr Glazzard was stunned to be given the nod by the shire’s Australia Day committee.
“I really don’t think I’ve done that much compared with hundreds of people who have done a heck of a lot for the community and done it for a very long time,” he told the Gazette.
“I was very shocked – it is an honour that the people who nominated me did and that the committee selected me.”
Mr Glazzard said he simply enjoyed volunteering for the community and never expected to receive any accolades.
“I enjoy all the different people you meet and seeing the result of what you do,” he said.
Mr Glazzard said volunteers were the backbone of the community and urged residents to give up their time for a worthy cause.
“Without volunteer committees probably nothing would get done,” he said.