Victoria’s Moorabool Shire Council has presented its Citizen of the Year 2022 Award to 88-year-old Bob Closter, for his many years of service to the municipality.
Bob was born in Bacchus Marsh and played football and cricket for Maddingley/Bacchus Marsh, but his main love from early years was horses.
It was common for children to knock on his front door and ask for help with their horse, sometimes just for advice, or maybe for feed, or a gate or fence that needed fixing, and Bob would go and keep the children happy.
“I’ve always loved the horses and I still do. If you say to me today, there’s a football match on, or there’s a cricket match on, I would still go to the horses,” says Bob.
He was the President of the Bacchus Marsh Pony Club for eight years, and his work and valued contribution there has never ended, Council said in a statement.
“His work at the Bacchus Marsh Pony Club was never ending, and he has held various roles throughout the decades including instructor, coach, committee member, president and groundskeeper.
“Up until recently he would spend hours on the tractor slashing grass on the Racecourse Reserve, even though he is now 88 years old.”
He still attends the Pony Club regularly, and still instructs the children on how to ride.
Bob received a ‘Living Legends’ Special Commemoration Award in 2019 from Pony Club Australia, one of only three to be given out. The award was made to those 80 years and over who have made a significant contribution to pony clubs around the country.
He was recognised for his contributions, not only as a parent, grandparent and president between 1981-1987, but also for his continued devotion to the club.
We congratulate Bob for his many years of service to Moorabool Shire.
