By Jacqui Bialocki
For more than 30 years, Nina and Colin Blythe have poured their hearts into the Mornington Peninsula community, and this year that passion was recognised when they received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Australia Day Local Awards.
Their story is not just about service; it is about love, resilience, and the unstoppable power of two people determined to make a difference, and it began after Nina’s breast cancer diagnosis decades ago.
Rather than retreating, the couple leant into community and joined McCrae Lions Club, sparking a lifelong mission to give back. That first step led to decades of volunteering, fundraising, and inspiring others to roll up their sleeves.
For more than 20 years, Nina and Colin have been key organisers behind the Dromana Australia Day Breakfast, a much-loved tradition that brings the community together each year. “Fun, not just fundraising,” Colin laughed, displaying the light-hearted spirit that has drawn so many others to join them along the way.
As long-time Lions members, Nina and Colin have worn many hats, including Nina as president and Colin as vice-district governor. They have helped raise money for medical equipment, youth programs, and multiple community initiatives. Nina proudly recalled her time as chairwoman for the Lions’ Ride for Sight, which has raised more than $1m for vital eye research. “I’m so proud of what we achieved,” she said with a grin. “No one can say no to me.”
Their generosity does not stop there. For the past eight years they have supported the Mornington Peninsula SES, providing hot meals for volunteers after long, exhausting emergency call-outs. “It’s a small gesture, but it means the world to those who’ve been out saving lives,” Colin said.
Their compassion has no borders either. In 2017, while holidaying in Bali, their beloved second home and honeymoon destination from more than 40 years ago, the pair found themselves in the middle of a major volcanic eruption. True to form, they immediately began organising aid and fundraising efforts to help affected locals.
Even now, after Nina’s recent cancer treatment, the couple show no signs of slowing down. Fresh from a three-week break in Bali, they are already back in the thick of things, volunteering almost daily, helping wherever it’s needed.
Colin and Nina’s creative ideas have become community cornerstones. Colin helped spearhead the McCrae Lighthouse lighting and time capsule project, and when Covid lockdowns threatened to cancel Christmas, he dreamed up Carols by Headlight at the Dromana 3 Drive-In – a joyful, safe celebration that raised crucial money for Food for All and Focus.
“We have been members of McCrae Lions Club for over 20 years and we are always looking for new members,” Colin said. “It is a wonderful way for locals, especially new locals, to make friends in our community.”
Through it all, they have built a legacy of friendship, courage, and kindness. “The best thing about volunteering is the people,” he said. “We have met some of our dearest friends through the Lions club and volunteering in general. It is amazing how passion for a cause can be contagious.”
From feeding first responders to lighting up lighthouses and hearts alike, Nina and Colin Blythe are proof that the spirit of community shines brightest in those who never stop giving.
Colin and Nina Blythe’s community service was acknowledged this year at the Australia Day Local Awards.
