Would-be Community Champion Gillian needs your vote

Daingean volunteer Gillian Barratt has reached the final shortlist for the second annual Calor Community Champion award, and she’s looking for your vote to help her win and get €7,500 for her local community.

Nominated by her neighbour Gemma McCarron, Gillian was revealed as the Offaly finalist in the competition last Monday. Members of the public have until November 8 to vote for finalists, with the four who get the most votes going through to the final stage of the competition along with two wildcards chosen by Calor.

The overall Calor Community Champion 2013 will be chosen by a judging panel led by television and radio personality Sile Seoige, GAA broadcasting legend Micheal O’Muircheartaigh and Mary Geraty from Calor and will be announced on November 13.

Gillian moved to her adopted home in Daingean several years ago, and is described by her nominator Gemma as “a truly inspirational lady” who gives all her time and efforts into creating groups and organisations in Daingean.

“She’s lifted the entire community spirit into getting involved and active in all our local events and always goes about 100 steps further to ensure everything is put in place,” Gemma said.

“I’ve met lots of fabulous, wonderful people in my time, but Gillian is incredibly the exception to any rule. She has more than a heart of gold. Her determination is remarkable and is truly more than deserving of a nomination.”

Some of the projects Gillian is involved with locally include Daingean’s makeover in conjunction with Dulux and Dirty Old Towns; securing land at the Grand Canal for a playground; producing a multimedia heritage trail around Daingean; setting up a Daingean Times Facebook page; setting up a community group to progess enterprise, leisure and tourism activities around the Grand Canal and engaging with Bord na Mona and a local architect to build greenways and a rowing centre at a wind farm close to the town.

“My sense of commitment to the town of Daingean is such that I realise it has the potential to be something much greater than it presently is,” Gillian said.

“I look at what bugs me, and then I realise that the community probably have the tools to solve that problem, or at least know what the solution is. To sum it all up, I love working in the community as a volunteer. The possibilities of getting to know more people and the capacity to have fun are endless, and there’s a huge sense of accomplishment. Voluntary work is my real job; anything I earn money for is just an added bonus!”

Anyone who would like to vote for Gillian in the Calor Community Champion competition can do so at https://www.facebook.com/calorireland/app_306230512794109. The link to vote is also available on the Daingean Times Facebook page.