Dedication to the community was recognised when Coonawarra resident Jim Childs was recently named as the 2020 Wattle Range Council Senior of the Year.

Mr Childs, also known as ‘Chipsy’, was born in Coonawarra in 1927 and has been a staunch supporter of the local community for his entire life.

He has been an active member of the Penola P.A. & H Society for 35 years and has been the organiser of the Sheaf Tossing Championships for the last 20 years.

Mr Childs has been a foundation member of the Penola Caledonian Pipe Band, back in 1950 and he continued as a playing member until he retired as a piper in 2018 at the age of 91 – it is believed he could be the oldest bagpipe player in Australia.

During this time, the award recipient has served as president, secretary and Pipe Major of the band.

He has been made a life member and is now a patron of the band.

Mr Childs has served as president of the Penola Pony Club and has also been a significant member in a working committee that assisted the local branch of the RSL stage the Penola Rodeo for several years as a means to raise much needed funds for the Penola Memorial Hospital.

“Jim is a valued member of our community and a very worthy winner of this award,” Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll said.

“We thank him for his tireless contribution over many decades and congratulate him on receiving this recognition after being nominated by his peers.”

The Senior of the Year honour is awarded annually and would ordinarily be presented during council’s Celebrate Seniors program, however, this was unable to occur in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.