By Natasha Fujimoto
A LOVE of one’s community can manifest in many ways. For some, community spirit is infused with sport while others generously donate their time as volunteers to ensure the wellbeing of others.
For all his 87 years, Vic Dohnt has lived, loved and worked in Nathalia. A self-confessed, ‘jack-of- all trades’, Vic has donated thousands of hours of his time giving back to his community. Amongst many altruistic ventures, Vic has donated and planted over 100 trees for the local surrounds as well as built a shed and cleared land for a new day care centre. Vic has also tended the gardens of the district hospital.
Embodying the phrase, ‘when a person needs a hand, you give it,’ Vic, along with his wife Joan, have shared their deep appreciation and love for their town and its community by recently gifting the district hospital with a commissioned sculpture by renown Shepparton artist, Mark Niglia.
Crafted from mild galvanised steel provided at a ‘good rate’ by Furphy & Sons, the sculpture consists of a life-sized kangaroo and emu. Speaking warmly of his collaboration with Vic, Mark said,
“Vic is a very humble man and when my wife, Alicia and I spoke to him about a plaque to sit beneath the sculpture to commemorate his many years of community service, he became quite emotional.”
With a poem written in assistance by Mark and Alicia for his presentation speech, Vic and Joan proudly unveiled the sculptures in front of a host of friends and well-wishers on Thursday, October 13 at the Nathalia District Hospital.
In giving thanks to their beloved town, Nathalia, Vic read the following:
In our beloved Nathalia
A place that we call home.
We have lived through drought & floods
But never on our own.
We’ve been together for 66 years
And done our best as volunteers
Always willing to lend a hand
When things have not gone quite as planned
We have watched our community prosper and grow
In gratitude, we’d like to show,
With these Aussie icons, the Emu & Kangaroo
We give thanks to Nathalia, our gift to you.
