Southlake Marketplace, Newcastle Model Railway Club and Rural Health Pro have each been nominated in the 2020 NSW/ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards.

All three organisations were put forward in the Awards Australia Connecting Communities Award category.

Southlake Marketplace runs was recognised for running weekly food banks in Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast area and helping to deliver food to thousands of locals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The service also provides free haircuts to people in need and is launching an app that links homeless teens and families with residents who have a spare room for short term free accommodation.

Newcastle Model Railway Club was nominated for providing opportunities for people interested in all things railways and railway modelling to interact and share skills. Over the years the group has also coordinated model train exhibitions and raised funds for local charities.

Rural Health Pro, which is based at Hamilton, was acknowledged for its work providing an online platform to connect healthcare professionals and organisations passionate about keeping rural communities healthy. It is supported by the NSW Rural Doctors Network.

Nominations for the awards close on August 4. To submit a nomination, visit awardsaustralia.com.