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LEADING CITIZENS: From left, Heidi French, Bruce Muhlhan, Susan Burgess, Alison Skepper, Kirsty Arbuckle, Mayor Clare McLaughlin, Emily Rawlings, Craig Sinclair (Whyalla Apex Club), Lesley Maxwell and Raelene Williams. Olga St Paul and Jan Wakeling were unable to attend.
An unseasonal downpour couldn’t stop Whyalla residents from enjoying Saturday’s Australia Day celebrations.
While the rain caused the cancellation of some entertainment and activities at Ada Ryan Gardens, due to safety concerns, the crowd that stayed around seemed to enjoy the refreshing cool change. City of Whyalla organisers estimate about 5000 people turned up throughout the day to the various activities that included the annual Whyalla Fun Run in the early hours of the morning.
Even as the rain came down, the food and drink stalls in the gardens and foreshore carnival rides continued to tick over until the fireworks lit up the sky in the evening and brought a roar of approval from the packed foreshore.
Fortunately, the formal part of the day wasn’t affected by the rain with Whyalla Mayor Clare McLaughlin presenting the 2019 Australia Day citizens of the year to the crowd while eight Whyalla residents took their national citizenship vows on the stage.
The official citizen of the year ceremony was conducted at a special event on Friday evening at the Mt Laura Homestead Museum.
“It was another inspiring occasion on Australia Day as the community was able to acknowledge these wonderful Whyalla citizens,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“To then have eight people then come up on stage and take their citizenship vows was equally uplifting and a very special moment for them in front of hundreds of people.”
Later in the day, as the rain caused activities to be shortened and equipment packed up, many of the award winners were quick to step up and assist Council officers.
“That was just as inspiring for me as many of these award winners jumped in to help out without being asked,” Mayor McLaughlin said.
“It shows exactly why they were honoured with these awards.
“I now urge everyone to keep an eye out for those people who contribute to our community during this year and acknowledge them by putting them up for an Australia Day award when nominations open later in the year.”
2019 Whyalla Australia Day Citizens of the Year Awards
Citizen of the Year: Lesley Maxwell
Senior Citizen of the Year: Raelene Williams
Young Citizen of the Year: Emily Rawlings
Sport Contribution Award: Kirsty Arbuckle
Community Event of the Year: Whyalla Apex Club – Christmas Pageant and After Pageant Fair
Community Service Awards: Susan Burgess, Heidi French, Bruce Muhlhan, Allison Skepper, Olga St Paul and Jan Wakeling.
Australia citizenship recipients
OFFICIAL AUSSIES: From left, Elizabeth Vlachoulis, Leing Reupana, Mark Barr, Jannine O’Conner, Mayor Clare McLaughlin, Dilshan Rodrigo, Samantha Wood, Mahboob Sajjad and Astrid van Genderen
READ MORE ABOUT OUR CITIZENS OF THE YEAR
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72901
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72905
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72908
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72911
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72913
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72916
http://www.whyalla.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=1009&c=72920