Whyalla’s Australia Day Award winners
Whyalla’s most special citizens have been recognised and celebrated at yesterday's Australia Day Awards ceremony.
The Australia Day awards, including Citizen, Young Citizen and Event of the Year, provide recognition for some of the outstanding achievements of Whyalla residents and are part of Council's commitment to strengthening community participation within the city.
Mayor McLaughlin paid tribute to all the award winners and said the judges had a hard time selecting the winners once again this year.
“These are the people that work tirelessly and selflessly to help make our community so rich - we all owe them a great deal of thanks.
“They are the inspiration for us all to go that little bit further to help others in the community and make our lives even more rich and enjoyable.
“They don’t ask for thanks but that’s exactly what we are going to give them for the example they set and the contributions they make to create a city and a community we can all be proud of” Mayor McLaughlin said.
- CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Keith Sichler
- SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Margaret Shambrook
- YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR: Blake John Brougham
- EVENT OF THE YEAR: Whyalla Stall Crawl
- SPORTS CONTRIBUTION AWARD: Shaune Beaty
- COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS: Lorraine Burns, Chris Coathupe, Janice Eygenraam, Mackenzie Spry, Jodie Stringer, Triple Y
BIOS
Whyalla 2021 Citizen of the Year Keith Sichler
Keith has been putting his hand up to help the Whyalla community since the late 1990’s, holding volunteer committee and leadership roles in different organisations across the city. With over forty years’ experience in the banking industry, Keith’s work background and people skills have guided him to be the effective volunteer he is today. During this especially difficult year he has been President of the Rotary club of Whyalla, President of Advancing Whyalla, President of the Lutheran Church and Treasurer and committee member for the Whyalla Football league. Keith has an amazingly positive attitude, treating all with respect, offering his assistance and enthusiastically volunteering year after year and he’s always there to offer a helping hand when needed.
Whyalla 2021 Senior Citizen of the Year Margaret Shambrook
One of our most active senior citizens, Margaret is an inspiration. She moved to Whyalla with her two sons in 1976 and has made her mark on the community ever since. A life member of Lifeline and Ladies Probus, Margaret volunteered at the OneStop Lifeline Shop for more than three decades. She began delivering for Meals on Wheels 32 years ago and continues to this day. Over the years she has helped out many local community organizations and volunteered at the Whyalla Hospital kiosk, Heartbeat, Neighbourhood Watch Area 277 and Blue Light Disco, often holding important committee roles such as Secretary or Treasurer.
Whyalla 2021 Young Citizen of the Year Blake John Brougham
A lifelong resident of Whyalla, 18 year-old Blake is the 2020, 7News Young Achiever Award winner of the SANTOS Community Regional Service Award, the current Deputy Mayor of the Whyalla Council Youth Advisory Committee, a mentor for young musicians through the Whyalla Music Association Incorporated and a social media manager for COMET (Creating Original Music Every Time). It is Blake's unlimited capacity to contribute to his community through performing or supporting other young artists to perform which makes him an inspirational role model and mentor for youth in Whyalla.
Whyalla 2021 Event of the Year Whyalla Stall Crawl
Whyalla Stall Crawl was started due to covid when it was not possible to run traditional markets. Together, Ann Yates and Kylie Hughes found a way to keep the community connected, coming up with the idea of running a market where social distancing could be achieved with stallholders operating from their own homes. The inaugural market, held in early August 2020, was overwhelmingly successful with over 60 stall holders offering a diverse range of goods. The stall crawl map made it easy for participants to travel from one stall to another, creating a buzz around the city and offering a unique event that the whole family could take part in together.
Whyalla 2021 Sports Contribution Award Shaune Beaty
For over three decades, Shaune has been dedicating his time and commitment to coaching swimmers and helping them to achieve their personal best. A life member of the Whyalla Swimming Club, Shaune has coached swimmers at State and National level competitions in South Australia and interstate. He is committed to the sport and the club, helping with fundraising events and taking swimmers to Adelaide for SAPSASSA competitions. Providing countless hours to the sport of swimming, Shaune has been a valuable mentor and helped many others to obtain their coaching accreditations. Shaune maintained his commitment to the sport long after his children ceased swimming and now has a grandson swimming with the club.
Community Service Award Lorraine Burns
Lorraine has been an active member of the Kindred Living Auxiliary (formerly known as Whyalla Aged Care Auxilliary) for many years. She has previously held the role of President and was an active volunteer to Copperhouse Court and its residents. While most Auxilliary fundraising events were cancelled due to covid-19, Lorraine didn’t let this stop her. She compiled a DVD on the history of Whyalla titled "Hummock Hill to 2020" with backing music kindly donated by the Steve Bartel Band. Lorraine donated the proceeds from the first 50 DVD’s sold to Kindred Living Auxilliary, raising $1500 towards equipment for residents.
Community Service Award Chris Coathupe
Chris is a familiar face in local football, having volunteered as a Junior Football umpire in Whyalla for quite a few years. On the weekend Chris quite often travels between more than one venue to umpire different games, usually missing out on watching his two sons play due to umpiring commitments. Associated with the Central Whyalla Football Club, Chris is always encouraging and positive, taking the time to explain to the children playing why an umpiring decision was made, helping them to understand the rules and providing sound footballing advice. Chris is widely regarded as an unbiased and fair umpire who is inspirational, always smiling, humble and proud.
Community Service Award Janice Eygenraam
(accepted on Janice's behalf by the Chair of Whyalla Suicide Prevention Network, Kimberley Pursche)
Janice was the founding chairperson of the Whyalla Suicide Prevention network in 2013; and continues to be involved as its treasurer. Her expertise and contributions have enabled this group to become one of the most effective and productive suicide prevention networks in the country. Janice has been involved in events such as Roses in the Ocean and R U OK Day along with countless forums and public events raising awareness of local suicide prevention.
Community Service Award Mackenzie Katelyn Spry
Sixteen-year old Mackenzie is a respectful, polite, mature, driven, goal orientated young person. She is known for her coaching skills, caring nature and mentoring of young sports people. Mackenzie contributes to all facets of the Whyalla Basketball Association by playing, coaching, umpiring and managing - during basketball season she can umpire up to 15 games a week. She coaches 5 separate basketball teams and plays in 3 herself. She manages her sporting commitments with study at Samaritan College whilst being a highly respected role model for younger generations.
Community Service Award Jodie Stringer
Jodi is a role model and inspiration who helps people thrive in the sporting and music community. Heavily involved in Roopena Football & Sporting Club as a netball player, coach, committee member, board member and umpire, she is also the current Roopena Netball Club President. Jodi donates many hours of her time to the local music scene, singing with her band “Hold My Beer” and also “Jodi and Craig Acoustic” She gives her time and equipment for many junior and senior fundraising and charity events. Always going above and beyond, there is nothing that ever seems too much for her to do to be able to help people in the sporting and music community.
Community Service Award Triple Y
With a true community focus, Triple Y have been recognised for their efforts in raising funds for our local CFS unit. Holding a 24-hour radiothon and with announcers on air throughout the day and night, Triple Y raised $1,500 which was donated to the Iron Knob CFS, enabling them to purchase a thermal camera. At the time of the radiothon, some CFS members were away fighting fires in NSW, Victoria and Kangaroo Island. The outcome was so successful and the Whyalla community so supportive and generous that this will now become an annual event, with a different worthy Whyalla group being helped each year.
