It's a club that is growing and reflecting the deep roots being established in the national capital - the Canberra Gold Awards for people or community groups who have been here for 50 years or more.
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More than 90 individuals and 12 community groups were recognised at the 2019 Canberra Gold Awards ceremony, at the Albert Hall on Wednesday.
Among the groups recognised were the Woden Valley Youth Choir, which started in 1969, and the YWCA Canberra, which has been going for 90 years.
The Woden Valley Youth Choir at the ceremony sang the national anthem in English and the traditional Ngunnawal language. Members Evangeline Osborne, 13, and Hannah Harper, 14, have both been singing with the choir for four years.
"It's like a family, really enjoyable," Evangeline said.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr presented the awards, saying since 2005, more than 4500 individuals had been recognised for their commitment to Canberra and the ACT.
"This year we’ve recognised local businesses, sporting groups across cricket, hockey, rugby union, and AFL; an orchestra and a choir; as well as community organisations, fundraising groups, and a local women’s fellowship that has both national and international impact," Mr Barr said.
"Canberra is a growing city, and these awards importantly reflect on the people and groups that have helped make Canberra such a great place to live, work and play."
One of the grassroots groups organised was the Immanuel Lutheran Women's Guild which has been operating for 50 years in Canberra, quietly working to make the community better, whether it's holding a lunch for older people, offering a free coffee at their op shop or supporting overseas missions.
Eunita Pietcsh, Diana Greschke and Jenny Bartholomaeus represented the group, Eunita saying it was "really nice" to be recognised.
"And it's an inspiration to keep doing it," Diana said.
Diana's husband Rod Greschke, 75, received an individual award. A resident of Canberra for 54 years, Rod moved from Melbourne as a 21-year-old police officer to join the then ACT Police Force.
"Canberra still feels small," he said, of its enduring appeal. "I came here because it was a big country town in the 1960s and it still doesn't feel like a Sydney or Melbourne-type city."
Hard as it is to believe, but when Rod turned 50, he and other police officers were made redundant. They were in a section charged with intercepting phone messages interstate. A change in the law mean police in their own state could do the work and the ACT officers lost their job.
Rod, also the first welfare officer for the police, went on to work in other jobs in government departments. He had also been an enthusiastic volunteer for the Lutheran church.
"I've been mowing church grounds for 50 years," he said, with a laugh.
Meanwhile, YWCA Canberra chief executive officer Frances Crimmins said the award was fitting recognition of the positive contribution YWCA Canberra had made since it was established in the city in 1929.
“YWCA Canberra has a proud 90-year history as an organisation that has grown and responded to the needs of women, girls and the broader Canberra community,” she said.
Nominations are open year-round for the Canberra Gold Awards and can be submitted at www.act.gov.au/cbrgold
