Victor Goldsztein and his husband Chris bought land and built near Deans Marsh 14 years ago with the partial aim of getting away from it all.
Then he discovered how irresistibly vibrant his new community was and couldn’t help but get involved in it all.
Now after years of volunteer service to organisations including the Deans Marsh Community Cottage board, festival, community market, and hall and reserve Community Asset Committee, Victor is being hailed as Surf Coast Shire’s latest Local Legend.
His nomination recognises and celebrates his commitment and passion for helping his community to connect and thrive.
“Victor has been an integral part of the Deans Marsh community, volunteering in numerous ways for the best part of a decade,” his citation read.
“He has shared his expert skill set generously and thoughtfully, in particular being an active leader for the Deans Marsh Community Festival, markets and recycling initiative.
“Victor has enviable organisational skills and a friendly willingness to undertake anything. His non-judgemental and enthusiastic attitude encourages others to join the ride!”
Victor said he felt slightly embarrassed and very humbled to be acknowledged.
“The reality is I’m one of many in Deans Marsh,” he said.
“It is very nice that someone made this recommendation about me, but the community is full of people who do lots.”
He said that in establishing a weekender away from Melbourne, he and Chris bought 11 hectares at Pennyroyal ‘so that we couldn’t see another living soul’.
“But then the first really lovely thing about the experience was the neighbours in our street,” he said.
“We just found this amazing connection with people, some full-timers, some weekenders like ourselves.”
Something special flourished, but really it was an ad on the local store noticeboard which unlocked his community involvement.
“The community cottage was running a program called Chainsaws for Chicks and I rang them up and said I’m not a chick but I know nothing about chainsaws, would you consider taking a bloke,” Victor said.
“The workshop was a great experience. That was on the Saturday, and on the Tuesday they were running a first aid course, so I figured on Saturday I’ll learn how to chop my arm off and on Tuesday I’d better learn how to stop excessive blood loss!”
During the first aid course, he was effectively recruited onto the community cottage board by the then co-ordinator.
“Turned out I was on the cottage board for three years and it was a great way to meet people in the community and really get a sense of how the community runs,” Victor said.
One volunteer role led to another, and with professional skills honed by years in hospitality and event management Victor moved on to the Deans Marsh Festival committee, and spent seven years running the town’s popular community market, pre-pandemic.
“I think one of the nicest times I’ve had in the community is the first market that we ran after the 2020 lockdown,” Victor said.
“It wasn’t a large market but there was such a buzz from the stallholders and from the community, just being able to be at the oval and be together. It was a special day.”
Victor has also helped establish the Deans Marsh Community Action Network, develop a community strategic plan, and played a central role in compiling a Deans Marsh community emergency phone contact list.
After the rigours of the pandemic he has taken a breather from community work during 2023 but has pledged to be back.
“My involvement will continue,” he said.
“I don’t know, I enjoy it.”
Read more about Surf Coast Shire Local Legends via surfcoast.vic.gov.au/LocalLegends
