TIME hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of Mornington war veteran Alan Moore.
He’s just been honoured with the Victorian Senior Achiever Award at the ripe old age of 98.
Mr Moore, of Benetas Corowa Court Aged Care, was presented with his award at Government House last week for his outstanding community contribution over 40 years of voluntary service to the care provider.
Four generations of family joined Mr Moore for the occasion, including his two daughters and several grandchildren. “It’s a great privilege to receive this prestigious award by the Victorian Governor-General and I think I may just be the most senior here,” Mr Moore said.
A Kokoda Track survivor from the 39 Battalion, Mr Moore spent a large part of his life presenting at schools across Victoria on his experiences during the war, and reinforcing his message of peace and collaboration.
His commitment to the community hasn’t wavered with age: since 1980 he’s been an active Rotary member and spent 40 years volunteering for Benetas. “The most important lesson of all my volunteering and community work is to just get along with each other and learn to better understand one another,” he said. “I’ve sat on many committees and volunteered for many years, and the inability of people to truly understand those they work with – and admit it when they don’t – is one of the biggest challenges many of us face.”
After the event, Benetas CEO Sandra Hills OAM said Mr Moore had invested 40 years of his life on the betterment of Corowa Court Aged Care and its residents. “He has not only served as an integral member on the committee and been an active volunteer at the Anglicare Mt Eliza Op Shop, but at 98 he is now also a valued resident at Corowa Court.
“We are incredibly grateful to Alan for his outstanding contribution to the lives of older Victorians on the Mornington Peninsula and are honoured to have such a dedicated volunteer with Benetas.”
Asked how he’d celebrate his upcoming 99th birthday, Mr Moore said he’d be doing very little. “I told my grandson we’d be holding out for my 100th birthday in 13 months by inviting 100 guests and holding a big party.”
Mr Moore said he hoped to continue to live an active life sharing the message that we “all just need to get along”.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 29 October 2019
