Williamstown’s local hero Ralph Humphries is Hobsons Bay’s Citizen of the Year, while fellow resident Nikolina Mabic is the city’s Young Citizen of the Year, it was announced on Australia Day.
Mr Humphries, a retired teacher, has been secretary of Hobsons Bay U3A for 20 years, volunteered with the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre for more than a decade, and is a founding member of the Friends of the Williamstown Wetlands.
He is also a life member of the Williamstown Sailing Club and member of Newport Community Choir.
“I’m not a leader of a vanguard waving the flag and running over the top of the trenches – I like to do things that facilitate that happening to other people,” Mr Humphries said.
He said receiving Hobsons Bay’s top civic honour was the last thing he’d expected.
“It’s great, but it’s also a bit frightening – I’m not my usual little quiet self.
“Hobsons Bay is my home and one likes to keep the home infrastructure ticking over.”
Ms Mabic, a 22-year-old graduate of Footscray City Films, was recognised as a champion of mental health issues.
She said her own journey and frustration with treatment methods had inspired her to produce an upcoming documentary
The First Giant Hurdle, which looks at anxiety and depression.
“At the age of seven, I was already taken to see a psychologist from suffering with anxiety, and then around 14, I was diagnosed with panic disorder,” she said.
Ms Mabic hopes to launch her film on Stan or Netflix and to show it in Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong.
The award also recognised her work in creating the Spare Capacity project, which includes a website and app to help combat mental illness.
Workshops will be held locally for 30 young women during National Youth Week.
Ms Mabic said she was almost speechless when told of her award.
“I’m still a bit on a high … I’m excited to get out there and keep affecting other young people’s lives.”
