Later this year, in a play, Horsham Church of Christ ministry team leader Simon Risson will play an emergency doctor, a priest, a university dean and a theatre producer.
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When he does, his stage life will mirror his real life.
Horsham Rural City's 2020 Citizen of the Year, Mr Risson moved to Horsham with his wife in 2002, 11 days after the birth of their youngest daughter Ruby, to start a job as an associate at the church. He became team leader in 2007.
He has also been a chaplain for Horsham's Country Fire Authority, a member of the MATES Mentoring Community, for Horsham Carols By Candlelight, Horsham Arts Council, Smart Artz theatre company, Horsham Relay for Life, Horsham Primary School, Horsham College, Horsham White Ribbon Walk and the Pimpinio Football Club as a player, runner and chaplain.
Mr Risson said being in a relationship with the community - and helping others do this too - underpinned his involvement in each of these causes.
"That doesn't matter if you're a Christian minister or anyone else - that kind of relationship has wide value," he said.
"I remember coming here and thinking 'I want my role to be existing as part of a community'. I can hide away in an office and be disconnected from the rest of the world, but I made a really clear decision that when we came to Horsham we would find our ways to involve ourselves."
The 47-year-old said he was proud of the carols event. "I think it's a great event for a wide range of people," he said.
"I've seen the work of the White Ribbon organisation and there have been a lot of people working for a long time to reduce and make people aware of domestic violence - I've only had a small step into that. Just seeing how the community functions and the engagement it has in particular issues, I'm incredibly proud of the community all round."
Mr Risson said faith was highly relevant in Horsham in the 2020s. "I don't think religion has any place, because religion is about being man-made, laws and regulations that often mean we make life harder for a group of people when they don't agree with us," he said.
"But faith is different, (faith) is based on relationships, understanding who we are and growing in our understanding of who god is and the kind of relationship he desires with us. I have to put my role as minister of religion and I hate every time I do it, because I think it's so much more than that. It's about communication, inviting others to participate and sitting with others in their struggles and hardships.
"I've been invited to places where I genuinely do not have any answers - I've sat with families through tragedies, accidents and suicide attempts. To be invited into those places is really sacred, and I often walk away from those not sure if I did anything to help, but sometimes being there is all you can do."
In selecting Mr Risson, Horsham Rural City Council said he was "an unassuming achiever with time for those around him".
"Many Wimmera residents have been impacted and enriched by faithful contribution Simon has made to his community."
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Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
