Warrnambool’s 2017 Citizen of the Year John Sherwood’s passions for research and teaching have enriched the Warrnambool community in many ways.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Those passions have taken him beyond his job teaching thousands of local tertiary students for more than 30 years to researching the region’s estuaries and waterways along with its indigenous and paleontology heritage.
He has contributed his wealth of knowledge to numerous volunteer groups including Friends of the Warrnambool Botanical Gardens, Society of Growing Australian Plants, Field Naturalists Club of Warrnambool, Mahogany Ship Committee and Warrnambool Anglican Club.
Among his research findings was that local estuarine environments were attuned to the river mouths being closed and that artificial openings should be only be done after ecological needs were met.
Dr Sherwood has also provided his technical expertise on boards including the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority, Western Coastal Board, Victorian National Parks Advisory Council, Coastal Management Authority, Marine Coastal Committee as well as being chair of the technical group that recently investigated options to improve boat safety at Warrnambool harbour.
He has been a driving force behind the research into indigenous heritage at Point Ritchie at the Hopkins River mouth, which has led to the area receiving heritage protection and the dual name, Point Ritchie-Moyjil.
His contributions have also included the sporting arena, although off the field.
He has been a stoic supporter of the Deakin University Sharks through some challenging football seasons – a tremendous effort for a New South Welshman who did not grow up with Australian Rules football. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of the club he has been recognised with the Dr John Sherwood Pavilion being named after him.
Dr Sherwood, 69, came to Warrnambool in 1979 from Sydney to teach chemistry at the then Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education, which later merged to become Deakin’s Warrnambool campus.
He found Warrnambool to be “a caring community” and a great place to raise a family. The 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires that devastated parts of the south-west revealed to him the community’s strength.
“The way the community came together, I found that inspiring,” Dr Sherwood said.
He will be recognised as the 2017 Citizen of the Year at Warrnambool’s Australia Day celebrations at the Botanic Gardens, which get underway at 10.30am.
