Woodend’s Allan and Shirley Cann have been honoured for their extensive dedication to volunteering, receiving Medals of the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day Honours.
The couple’s remarkable journey of service includes impactful work with Australian Business Volunteers and the Australian Volunteers Program, where they provided invaluable business mentoring to start-ups in Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.
Both Allan and Shirley, drawing on their rich business backgrounds, brought unique expertise to their volunteer efforts.
Allan, with experience in running a manufacturing business, and Shirley, a financial expert in medical practices and schools, leveraged their knowledge to assist others. Their focus was on assisting new business ventures by developing business plans and providing guidance on marketing and sales strategies during their overseas assignments.
The Canns discovered a pressing need for support in countries like Vanuatu, Cook Islands, and Solomon Islands, where the level of education was comparatively lower, and aspiring entrepreneurs lacked a solid understanding of business dynamics. “Our role was to help them get started,” Allan said.
“We found there was a real need there for that, and that’s what kept us going.”
In collaboration with the Rotary Club of Woodend, Allan and Shirley spearheaded the construction of a new school building in a remote village on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. This endeavour addressed the crucial issue of insufficient access to education for many school-aged children in the region.
Allan, a Rotary member for 33 years, with the past 12 years spent at the Rotary Club of Woodend, has held various leadership roles, including secretary, president, community service and international director. He is also recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow with a Sapphire pin.
Shirley, having been a member of the Red Cross for 10 years, holds an honorary membership at the Rotary Club of Woodend, and is distinguished as a Paul Harris Fellow and a recipient of the Rotary Excellence in Service to Humanity Award.
