Don’t miss out on your chance to nominate deserving community members and groups in the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council 2019 Australia Day Awards.
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Nominations close on November 30 across all categories – Young Citizen of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year.
The 2018 Citizen of the Year, Geoff Shelton, encouraged people to lodge nominations for the 2019 awards.
“Definitely don't hesitate to nominate someone,” he said.
Mr Shelton said as a society, we needed to praise each other and be more positive in life, rather than criticise.
Mr Shelton said he felt humbled, embarrassed, proud and honoured when he won the 2018 Citizen of the Year award.
And while he had received awards at a national level, Mr Shelton said the Citizen of the Year award meant a bit more because it was from his peers.
The region celebrates our local heroes through the annual Australia Day awards.
The awards are announced during a ceremony on January 25.
The Citizen of the Year, open to people aged between 31 and 65, is judged on contributions to the community, with particular focus on the volunteer contribution over the preceding 12 months and/or sporting contributions/achievements during that period.
The Young Citizen of the Year Award recognises the contributions and achievements of people aged between 16 and 30, while the Senior Citizen of the Year is open to residents aged 65 and over.
Judges decide the Community Group of the Year based on community involvement and strong community values.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council group manager of community place Lucilla Marshall said the awards recognised our wonderful community members who did something amazing every day.
She said the awards were a great way to celebrate how people impacted the way we lived.
“It’s a great time to come together and celebrate who we are,” Ms Marshall said.
“I think it’s really important that we get behind the volunteers and recognise the people that are doing the hard yards in the background.”
People can lodge nominations on the council’s website, drop into a council customer service centre or call 6581 8111.
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