Neighbourhood Watch East Gippsland honoured one of its longest-serving and most dedicated volunteers this week, marking the retirement of committee member Lyn Winnett after 36 years of continuous service.
The milestone was celebrated at the organisation’s bi-monthly general meeting, held at the Bairnsdale RSL on Wednesday, April 8.
Lyn was presented with flowers, an engraved pen, and a card signed by her fellow members in recognition of a journey that began at the very first Neighbourhood Watch meeting in Bairnsdale in 1990.
Coordinator Willy Vloedmans and long-time volunteer Barry Sutton spoke warmly at the event, reflecting on Lyn’s significant contributions over more than three decades.
Throughout her tenure, she held an extensive array of committee roles at local, district, and regional levels, serving as treasurer, secretary, newsletter editor, coordinator, and media liaison.
Despite the breadth of her influence, Lyn noted during the meeting that she always preferred to work behind the scenes, ensuring the organisation ran smoothly and the essential work was completed. She told attendees that her motivation remained simple: the power of community.
“Neighbourhood Watch brings people together,” she said.
“It gives neighbours a reason to talk, to look out for each other, and to take responsibility for the safety of the place we call home.”
Lyn’s dedication has been recognised at the highest levels, including a 20-year Service Award Certificate in 2010 and a State Award of Honour in 2011 for sustained commitment and significant contribution to the state of Victoria.
While she is stepping down from formal committee duties, Lyn emphasised that she is “not disappearing.”
She intends to remain an active member and will continue her long-standing tradition of delivering newsletters, noting that staying connected to the community has always been at the heart of her work.
As a final gift to the organisation, Lyn distributed a booklet she compiled documenting the history of Neighbourhood Watch in East Gippsland from its 1990 inception.
The publication serves as a record of the key events, volunteers, police officers, and residents who have sustained the group for 36 years.
In closing, Lyn thanked her colleagues for their commitment and friendship, stating it had been a “privilege and a joy” to share the work with them.
