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WELL DESERVED: Last year's Whyalla Citizen of the Year Karen Harrison, right, receives her certificate from Mayor Lyn Breuer.
The search for Whyalla’s most dedicated and deserving community members has begun with nominations now open for the 2019 Australia Day citizen’s awards.
The annual awards celebrate the city’s many generous residents and achievers, who tirelessly give up their time to give back to the community.
Whyalla City Council’s CEO, Chris Cowley is urging the public to consider nominating a well-deserving resident so the city can acknowledge some of Whyalla’s quiet achievers for the betterment of the broader community.
Revised nomination forms, aimed at making their completion as easy as possible, will be available from the council’s civic building, Whyalla Public Library and the council’s website, www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/australiadaywhyalla
Mr Cowley said while Australia Day was still a few months away, it was important people started considering their nominations.
“We take the nominations process very seriously because there are so many deserving people nominated each year,” Mr Cowley said.
“That’s why we are encouraging residents to get their nominations in as soon as possible.”
The 2019 Australia Day awards will again feature the 11 awards, with the citizen, young citizen, senior citizen, sports achievement, event of the year, and six community achievement awards up for grabs.
The awards recognise individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to the Whyalla community throughout the year or demonstrated outstanding service for a number of years and are excellent role models irrespective of their age.
Mr Cowley said most people knew “someone special” who was a great volunteer and contributor to Whyalla.
“The Australia Day awards program is a perfect opportunity to acknowledge some of these people and say a genuine thank you,” Mr Cowley said.
“Every service club, community group and youth organisation would know someone who more than qualifies to be nominated.
“I also appeal to previously unsuccessful nominators to consider re-nominating.
“Just because they may not have won does not necessarily mean they were not worthy contenders.”
Although nominations do not close until November 23, Mr Cowley is urging prospective nominators not to get caught by leaving it too late and running out of time.
Award recipients will be presented with their awards at a private function on Friday, January 25 prior to the Australia Day community celebration at the Ada Ryan Gardens on Saturday, January 26, 2019.
Nomination forms are available from: www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/australiadaywhyalla as well as the council’s civic building on Darling Terrace and Whyalla Public Library.
Nominations close at 5pm on Friday, November 23.
ABOUT THE AWARDS
The citizen, senior citizen and young citizen categories reward and recognise individuals who have made a noteworthy contribution during the past year while having regard to their previous achievements and ongoing contribution over and above normal employment duties.
Outstanding contribution and community service includes areas such as education, health, fundraising, charitable and voluntary service, business, sport, arts, the environment, or any other area that contributes to the advancement and wellbeing of the community.
To be eligible, the person must be an Australian citizen, and under 30 years of age on January 26, 2019 for the young citizen category and over 65 for the senior citizen award.
The community event of the year will be awarded to either a person or group that has staged the most outstanding community event during the past year.
The sports achievement award will be presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the sporting community during the past year focusing on volunteer involvements in preference to individual achievements. This may cover fundraising, club administration, helping around the club with weekly duties, club maintenance and umpiring.
Community service awards recognise residents who have given outstanding service to a single organisation or field of endeavour.