Suzanna was the recipient of a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) award on Australia Day.
She was recognised “for her services to the people and Parliament of Victoria, and to the community”.
“Well, I feel honoured,” Suzanna told the Shepparton News.
“It’s always nice to be recognised, and I was very surprised, but pleased and happy, to graciously accept the honour.”
Ms Sheed was raised in Jerilderie but attended boarding school at Kilbreda College, Mentone, Canterbury Girls High School and then completed a law degree at the University of Melbourne, followed by work in the Northern Territory and Melbourne, before settling in Shepparton.
“Pursue every opportunity that comes your way because dreams are just that, they are worth having and they are worth pursuing,” she said.
“But every day, there’ll be an opportunity that’s presented to you in some little way.
“You can make a decision about it, and that decision can have a big impact on how you feel about yourself and what it might do for someone else and also how it affects your trajectory in life in so many ways.”
It’s a mantra that led her to cause one of the biggest political earthquakes in Victoria’s history when, standing as an independent, she won the previously-safe Coalition seat of Shepparton in 2014.
She retained the seat at the 2018 state election but lost to the Nationals’ Kim O’Keeffe in 2022.
Whether it’s been working in family law and often dealing with people during the most difficult times of their lives, as a trustee of the Goulburn Valley Health Foundation or as a co-chair of the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District Water Leadership Forum, Ms Sheed said she had always tried to work towards a better future for the community.
Well done, and greatly deserved.
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Jerilderie Australia Day activities at Luke Park on Friday were well attended, with the Citizenship Awards, free entertainment, and the usual fabulous fireworks spectacular drawing an enthusiastic crowd.
Congratulations to the award recipients: Citizen of the Year Joan Ferris; Sportsperson of the Year Trevor Eldridge; and Little Aussies William Maynard and Jacinta Eldridge. Full reports on Murrumbidgee Council Australia Day awards are published elsewhere in today’s SRN.
Well done to the Jerilderie Apex Club members who got the Mini Rail up and running for the occasion.
It proved such a success that there were queues waiting for a ride.
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As part of the Australia Day celebrations, the Jerilderie Swimming Pool held a summer party with a splash park.
A small but exuberant group disregarded the cool breezes and enjoyed hours of fun until mid-afternoon.
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Swimming lessons continue at the Jerilderie pool until around mid-March.
Different programs are on offer such as Mums and Bubs, group lessons, learn to swim stage 1-7, and private lessons.
For more information contact Dru and Jody at the pool, which is open Tuesdays to Fridays 6am to 10am and 1pm to 7pm, and weekends 9am to 6pm.
Even if you don’t want to dip your toe in the water, you can go to the pool and enjoy a quiet cup of coffee and relax for a while in the pleasant surroundings.
Snacks are also available from the canteen.
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The Jerilderie Football and Netball Clubs recently merged and are now known as the Jerilderie Football Netball Club Inc.
At the recent AGM, office bearers were elected as follows: President Carson Thomas, vice president Dean Knight, public officer Dean Knight, treasurer Carmen Lawton, secretary Charleton Glenn, football operations manager James McRae, netball operations manager Eden Hercus.
The general executive is Sam Sleigh, Tom Marshall and Tianni Given.
Annual fees for 2024 are as follows: Senior football/netball player $180; social single membership $100; aged pension membership $50; junior player membership $100.
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If you have any news you would like to share, contact Judy on 5886 1241 or email pry59686@bigpond.net.au.
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