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Latrobe City’S Australia Day Awards Announced 2012 Australia Day Latrobe City honoured its Australia Day award winners at a ceremony held at Kernot Hall on Thursday 26 January, with joint winners of the 2012 Citizen of the Year Award named. By Latrobe City - 30th January 2012 - Back to News Lorrel Samson (OAM) and Barry Whitehead shared the honours.
Latrobe City mayor, Councillor Ed Vermeulen, said that Lorrel had long been a tireless worker for the Traralgon community.
"She is an active member of the Uniting Church in Traralgon and is also well known for her passion for the Scouting movement. Alongside her husband, she has been involved with scouts for over 40 years. Lorrel encourages her scouts to be active in the community, with their participation in Australia Day activities, in particular at the civic function; and also other community events such as Clean Up Australia.
"Barry Whitehead has lived in Latrobe City for 35 years, and during this time has firmly established himself in his community. He is widely known throughout the region for his participation in the arts (theatre, radio, dance) sport (football, basketball) and as a local newspaper columnist; and for his willingness to act as MC or host for many sporting, school and fundraising events," Cr Vermeulen said.
"Latrobe City’s Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Ellen McDonald, a 21 year old woman from Moe. Over the last two years Ellen has made a significant contribution to the young people of the Latrobe Valley community through her involvement as a volunteer with headspace Central West Gippsland and the ’HYPE’ FreeZa committee.
"Ellen currently attends GippsTAFE and is continuing to pursue her goal of becoming a vet nurse. In addition, Ellen supports her younger sister who has resided in her care since the age of 17.
"The Australia Day 2012 Community Service of the Year award was presented to Geoff Bell, a devoted member of the Morwell Lions Club for over 40 years. His work within the community is legendary and he is well known in Morwell where he delivers medications to those who are unable to walk to the local chemist," Cr Vermeulen said.
"As with the Citizen of the Year award, the Community Event of the Year Award was jointly awarded this year.
"The Good Friday Community Family Fun Day organised by the REH Cork Club attracts local people and travellers who stop and spend an hour or two enjoying the activities on Good Friday every year. Many regular visitors come back year after year especially to participate in the day where all money raised is donated to the Good Friday Appeal, in aid of the Royal Children’s Hospital.
"Co-winner was the Gippsland Multicultural Festival 2011 a three day event which showcased talent from school children across Gippsland as well as students in research and education, by generating an interest in their heritage, foreign languages and contemporary society.
"During the event, the Long Table Lunch, which also formed part of the Gippsland Food and Wine Festival, served ethnic cuisine using local produce from the region. On the third day, celebrations took place in the Gippsland Immigration Park with ethnic performers, food stalls, displays, activities and an unveiling ceremony to reveal new names on the wall.
"The event was organised by the Gippsland Ethnic Communities’ Council (GECC) in partnership and co-operation with a number of organisations including the Immigration Park Committee, Department of Education Early Childhood Development and GippsTAFE," Cr Vermeulen added.
Recognition Awards were presented to a number of individuals and organisations for their services to the community throughout the year.
In the citizen category Dr Graham Dettrick was recognised for his contribution to the training of teachers at Monash University Gippsland Campus, as a member of the German Club Executive for many years and for his role as Chairperson of the Gippsland Ethnic Communities’ Council.
In the young citizen category Tim Olorenshaw was recognised for his bravery during the Black Saturday bushfire which inspired him to get an apprenticeship with a local builder to enable him to help with the rebuilding of houses in Calignee.
A recognition award was presented to the Austral-Asia Quest which is part of the annual Filipino Fiesta Festival and involves contestants from ethnic backgrounds enhancing their abilities, talents and learning to win back self-confidence by representing their own cultural heritage through dancing, signing and arts.
The annual Filipino Fiesta is a celebration of the Filipino culture and is a highlight on the multicultural calendar.
Recognised in the category community service of the year Jerry Baladjay has been the SPAG (Samahang Pilipino sa Gippsland) chairman for almost 10 years and has actively promoted the rich cultural heritage of the Filipinos. He has the ability to interact and connect people. He has been instrumental in promoting tourism to the valley and instigated the inter-league basketball games competition in Gippsland and bowling amongst friends of all nations held at the Morwell Tenpins. This group now has 25 members.
Also recognised in this category was Dianne Rayner who provides a service to the community in an unassuming manner, giving of her personal time given with unconditional humility towards others. She is always there to support families who need short term help or a non-judgmental shoulder to cry on.
Finally, in this same category, the Strzelecki Stringbusters were awarded a certificate of recognition for giving free family orientated musical performances to community organisations.
Cr Vermeulen said that there were many people and organisations that
worked selflessly on behalf of others and the community who also deserved recognition.
"The Latrobe City Australia Day Awards are just one way of celebrating an individual’s or an organisation’s achievements within the community. With so many awards and certificates presented today it is clear that Latrobe City is populated by many community-minded and generous people. These awards recognise the hours given voluntarily to improve our society and to those who regularly help others, but I am certain there are many more residents out there who have not been nominated or awarded certificates.
"The Australia Day Awards are open for nominations year round so if you know of somebody or of an event that is worth nominating, make sure you get hold of a nomination form and complete it. We give these awards with pride each year but we can only do so if we receive nominations," Cr Vermeulen said.
Media Enquiries:
Media Relations Team
Telephone: 5128 5458 or 0409 797 498
Jacinta Kennedy, Manager Community Relations
Telephone: 5128 5421 or 0401 824 195
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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