Despite being awarded the city’s top accolade, Peter Webb isn’t about to stop his mission to break the stigma associated with suicide.
Mr Webb was named Hawkesbury’s 2018 Citizen of the Year at the Council’s Australia Day Award Ceremony at Governor Park in Windsor.
He said he was pleasantly surprised.
Mr Webb, who has been a member of the Kurrajong-North Richmond Rotary Club for 20 years, had never considered himself as a potential recipient of such an award and felt stunned when he heard his name called.
Just moments prior, he had relaxed in his seat following the completion of volunteering awards, the only area he thought that he may have been nominated in.
The humble recipient that he is, Mr Webb is already focused on the future and continuing to better the Hawkesbury community.
In particular, addressing loneliness and educating the community on suicide and mental health.
Mr Webb became involved in suicide awareness after being asked to join the Western Sydney Suicide Prevention and Support Network in 2012.
Since then, he has been essential to the co-ordination of a Hawkesbury Surviving Suicide Support Group and has organised several RUOK Day Campaigns across the Hawkesbury region.
Whilst Mr Webb supports the RUOK initiatives, he wants to encourage the community to be the friend, the sibling, the colleague, the person that asks those around them how they are doing every day of the year and not just on the campaign days.
Moreover, he wants people to understand that it is acceptable to say “no” that you aren’t okay, and to educate the community on how to help someone when that is their response.
“In the end, there isn’t going to be a top down solution, it’s up to us to change it for ourselves,” said Mr Webb.
While there isn’t an overnight solution, he’s hopeful that in the future with the right cultural change, complete suicide prevention will be attainable.
Other local Australia Day Award winners were: Adam Higgins [Young Citizen of the Year]; Jodie Amor [Volunteer of the Year]; The Blue Datto Foundation [Community Organisation of the Year]; Peter Ross [Hawkesbury Local Hero Award]; Sister Julia Bligh Johnston [Commemorative Plaque]; Jacki-Lyn Griffiths and Lily Spies [Environmental Award]; St Matthew’s Bicentennial Team [Hawkesbury Cultural Award]; and The Hawkesbury Camera Club [Hawkesbury Community Arts Award].
Hawkesbury Mayor, Mary Lyons-Buckett congratulated all of the winners.
