Recognising those who ‘do their bit’ for no return

Well, come on, it is just a tad anachronistic and if you are among those who are impressed by the size of someone’s bank balance they you really need to get a life.

What did impress me was a list I didn’t even know existed, even though it is compiled by the very same newspaper. The Sunday Times Giving List is far more impressive, yet it doesn’t seem to grab quite as many headlines as its more ostentatious stable-mate.

We got to hear about it on the rock because the multi-millionaire philanthropist and Gorey resident, David Kirch, last year swapped the one for the other.

Being in the process of giving away his £100 million fortune, the bulk of which will be left for the benefit of the elderly of Jersey, he no longer qualifies for the Rich List. He has now joined a far more exclusive club, one that richly deserves widespread recognition and the public’s respect. His generosity over the last year has placed him among Britain’s top 100 philanthropists who, while those on the Riche List grew richer, increased the amount given to charity by 21% to £1.77 billion.

Interestingly, their largesse ran counter to a lack of altruism on the part of the general public that resulted in a nationwide decline in charitable giving. Moreover, the number of individual donations in excess of £1 million rose by three, from 135 in 2011 to 138. Okay, it may only be £3 million more, but to charities struggling to make ends meet even a few thousand pounds is not to be scoffed at.

Mr Kirch received another award last week. It didn’t get a mention in the national press but it impressed me more than any other – and not just because it came from my dear own parish, Grouville.

The parish decided to recognise those parishioners who in their own particular way ‘do their bit’ and expect nothing in return. The recipients ranked from the high profile Mr Kirch to Geoff Walker, a familiar sight along the Grouville stretch of the coastline. A dedicated environmentalist, Mr Walker lives up to his name, patrolling the shoreline and picking up items of flotsam and jetsam washed up on the tide.

This notable collective example of the spirit of the honorary community service, on which this Island’s institutions were built, are familiar faces to we Grouvillais. We may not all know them personally – or even their names until they appeared in the pages of this esteemed publication – but it was nice to see them getting the recognition they so richly deserve.

Their deeds are replicated in all the other parishes by an equally willing selfless band of individuals, many of whom pass their community zeal on to the next generations, just as their forebears did to them. What makes their dedication even more impressive in an island where making money – or helping the rich to get richer – is the mainstay of economic life is that these parish stalwarts give their time and effort for no financial return.

They don’t seek the limelight or push themselves forward when the spotlight beams in their direction – they just quietly do what has to be done.

Jersey and its financial industry are awash with awards for business, workplace achievement and best bank/lawyer/trust company and whatever. Although we have Islandwide awards that recognise the sterling work of the third and voluntary sector, the ones that really count are the grass roots kind as dished out in Grouville.

The same can be said of Jersey Heritage’s annual portrait commission, where ‘ordinary’ folk – the likes of environmentalist Mike Stentiford, ‘am dram’ star Teddy Noel and Occupation historians Joe Mière and Bob Le Sueur – are chosen by the public to sit for an official portrait, usually the preserve of the famous. As the late dear Joe said at the time, being immortalised on canvas meant far more to him than if he had been included in the Honours List.

Jersey should follow the example of Australia where each year on 26 January, Australia Day, the Australian of the Year Awards are made.

For a nation that has never stood on ceremony, these awards go to the most deserving and not just the rich or famous. As David Marr wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald on Australia Day last year: ‘The rich have no place on the list. Raw success isn’t enough. There has to be something more, some sense of distinction that lifts a candidate out of the ruck of the famous.’

The Australian of the Year Awards provide all Australians with the opportunity to recognise someone who makes them proud to be an Australian and who they feel makes the country a better place to live, be they a friend, family member, community leader, colleague or even someone famous.

When the 70th anniversary of the Liberation comes round in 2015, what better way to celebrate Jersey’s vibrant voluntary sector and long tradition of honorary service than with truly local awards, by the people and for the people.

Better than a metal tree any day and a lasting memorial to unite the community in celebrating the extraordinary efforts of ordinary folk.