HORSHAM woman Judith Bysouth is known to many as the city’s go-to person.
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Before she settled in the Wimmera, she lived at Hay in New South Wales as well as Papua New Guinea and Melbourne.
But Horsham has now been home for the past 30 years.
Her journey to the region would raise a few red flags for most people, but she does not let obstacles get in her way.
She said her story started when her family went for a holiday at Balmoral.
After buying the newspaper she had found the perfect job for her.
“It was the perfect job for me so when I got back to Melbourne, I applied for it,” she said.
A successful application scored her an interview and off she drove to Horsham.
“I drove up for the interview and took a wrong turn at Ararat and hit an eagle, which smashed the windscreen,” she said.
Despite the dilemma she arrived on time – unrattled and ready for the extensive interview process.
“When I came out, I had a parking ticket,” she said.
She drove back to Melbourne with a broken windscreen and a parking ticket, but confident she got a job to set up the Roberts Avenue Childcare Centre for the Uniting church.
There are two things I believe – busy hands are happy minds and what you get out of the community is what you put into it
- Judith Bysouth
It did not take long before Mrs Bysouth settled in Horsham and her community spirit shone.
She said community had always been in her heart.
“There are two things I believe – busy hands are happy minds and what you get out of the community is what you put into it,” she said.
In her early years in Horsham she joined the inaugural Horsham College chaplaincy committee as a community representative.
She was the secretary for the Horsham Rowing Club and state president for the Penguin Club for two terms.
However, it was the Triple J One Night Stand concert in Natimuk that was her biggest highlight.
“I felt really strongly about this event because there was a need for the youth to do something in the community,” she said.
Mrs Bysouth spearheaded the fundraising efforts to help the group perform for the Wimmera.
She said the community’s generosity was exceptional.
“You could drag a chain down the main street in Horsham and everyone you passed would donate,” she said.
From there, Mrs Bysouth became Horsham’s go-to woman – and lead her next highlight.
In 2005 Sri Lanka was hit by a devastating tsunami.
Every minute was a learning experience
- Judith Bysouth
“I had a kindergarten teacher, who was in Sri Lanka at the time of the tsunami, asking for my help,” she said.
“She was told that if she wanted something organised then I was the best person to contact.”
Mrs Bysouth said every minute was a learning experience as the co-ordinator and spokeswoman for the Sri Lankan tsunami appeal in Horsham.
She said the community raised $1700.
“All the money went towards building a childcare facility and midwifery accommodation in Sri Lanka,” she said.
Mrs Bysouth flew to Sri Lanka to personally deliver the money raised, paying her own way to visit the country.
“We spent a fortnight there at our own costs – and every minute was a learning experience,” she said.
Nowadays she would be recognised for her involvement with the Natimuk Agricultural Society despite not living in the Natimuk community.
“I joined the society because an elderly gentleman asked me nicely,” she said.
Mrs Bysouth has always had a passion for shows, having grown up in the show circles in Hay.
“It was a big part of my life,” she said.
She has been involved at Natimuk for 13 years and was made a life member in 2016.
Mrs Bysouth said she was privileged to earn the recognition.
Receiving life membership had blown me away because I was not in the farming community and to have that recognition was an exceptional honour
- Judith Bysouth
“Receiving life membership has blown me away because I was not in the farming community and to have that recognition was an exceptional honour,” she said.
In 2009 she was asked to join the Horsham Lions Club. It was their philosophy that inspired her to become a Lion.
“I have always been community minded and Lions was a way of serving and giving back to the community,” she said.
“One hundred per cent of what the Lions raise goes back into the community and I really believe in that philosophy.”
Since joining Horsham Lions she has been the president in 2016-17 and is now the secretary. She said the Lions club had allowed her to broaden her horizons.
“They have allowed me to expand my friends and network – not just in Horsham, but all around the world,” she said.
Mrs Bysouth said continually meeting new and inspiring people and hearing their stories motivated her to constantly give back to the community.