WITH Australia Day just around the corner, Lake Macquarie council will announce the winners of the 2014 Lake Macquarie Australia Day Awards, recognising unsung heroes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Award winners will be announced at a ceremony this Monday, January 20.
The nominees for the awards are:
Citizen of the Year
■ Elaine North, Blackalls Park. Life member of the Toronto Senior Citizens Club and a volunteer for the St Vincent De Paul Society.
■ William (Bill) Disney, Dudley. Dudley Combined Pensioners Group president of 20 years and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
■ Neville Charles Harris, Bonnells Bay. Developed a social activity program for his fellow residents at the Henry Kendall Retirement Village in Bonnells Bay and fund-raises for the Southlakes Anglican Church.
■ David Helmers, Windale. Helped establish the Australian Men’s Shed Association in Windale in 2006.
■ Keith Graham, Swansea. Order of Australia Medal recipient, Swansea Advisory Committee and Swansea Meals on Wheels secretary.
Young Citizen of the Year – 18 to 30 years
■ Bianca Judd, Warners Bay. Developed her own charity, Field of Dreams, to support people in lower socio-economic circumstances and assist people affected by natural disasters.
Young Citizen of the Year – Under 18
■ Jack Antcliff – Kahibah. Whitebridge High School Student Representative Council member and established an online newspaper, The Kahibah Times, to keep the local community informed.
Volunteer of the Year
■ Clive Read, Teralba. Identified and recorded the history behind the 3432 street names across the Lake Macquarie council area for 12 years.
■ Geoff See, Edgeworth. Manages a mobile kitchen that caters to frontline Rural Fire Service volunteers on the job as a member of the Lakes Team Welfare Support Brigade.
■ Carol Wall, Swansea. Vice-president and active volunteer at the Belmont Neighbourhood Centre.
■ Donald Spence, Windale. Volunteer at the Windale Men’s Shed and captain of the Windale-Floraville Fire Service for 35 years.
■ Dorothy Murray, Bonnells Bay. Rallies for donations at the Lakeside Retirement Village in Bonnells Bay and a member of the Wyong Auxiliary Hospital.
■ Shirley Farmer, Swansea. Volunteer fund-raiser for the Cancer Council and Ronald McDonald House and a Pink Lady, Belmont Hospital, for 16 years.
Community Group of the Year
■ Dudley Sustainable Neighbourhoods Group, Dudley.
■ Habitat in Harmony Community Garden – Belmont Neighbourhood Centre, Belmont.
Community Event of the Year
■ Lake Macquarie/Newcastle Relay for Life, Lake Macquarie.