2019 Port Macquarie-Hastings Australia Day Award recipients announced

Cr Pinson said she was inspired by the efforts of the local champions who had gone above and beyond for their community.

“Hearing the individual stories of the recipients is incredibly motivating and sets a great example of what it means to be Australian,” she said.

“I would like to thank all nominees and recipients of this year’s awards for making an extraordinary contribution to our growing community, it is people like you who truly do make our region such a great place to call home.”

The 2019 Citizen of the Year is Janette Hyde

Described as humble, generous and always willing to help out, Janette has the Port Macquarie-Hastings front of mind and is keen to see our region prosper.

With a track record of community work for over 40 years, Janette’s contributions are numerous.

She is a member of the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce, Food & Wine Tourism Taskforce, Bravehearts and president of the Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association and a member for 33 years.

Janette is always there to assist.

Janette has been a supporter of Panthers for many years and was instrumental in the NSW State Touch Competition coming to and remaining to be held in Port Macquarie for over 30 years.

Janette’s work in developing and keeping that event led to the Junior State Cup also being held here, attracting competitors, visitors and local crowds of 17,000 to the event.

Janette’s ongoing contributions to see the successful delivery of local events are endless with a few examples being the coordination of participants in council’s annual Christmas Street Parade, and co establishment of the Beatles Festival.

The 2019 Senior Citizen of the Year is Roger Barlow

Widely recognised as the ‘go to’ person in the Bonny Hills community, Roger has been the president of the Bonny Hills Progress Association since 2009.

Described as a proactive person, Roger has volunteered time to be involved in important initiatives such as the development of the Bonny Hills Community Plan; input into the Urban Growth Management Strategy; Biodiversity Strategy; formation of a Community Action Team; local traffic management and pedestrian safety; and improvements in essential services such as establishing local medical and chemist facilities.

Appreciated for his consultative and positive manner, organisational capability and attention to detail, Roger embraced the 2018 John Oxley Bicentenary celebrations as an opportunity to involve the entire community by instigating a spectacular Back to Bonny’s weekend.

In response to a need for a more specific sporting facility for young girls and women in our Bonny Hills community, Roger supervised the building of a netball half court in just four months at the centrally located Community Hall Reserve.

Roger’s other passion is music. Taking up the bass guitar in retirement, he has for many years played with local concert and jazz big bands at retirement villages, the Glasshouse and open air concerts.

The 2019 Young Citizen of the Year is Jennifer Cooper

Jennifer is a highly valued student at Hastings Secondary College and was recently elected, by her peers, as school captain for 2019.

In 2018 Jennifer initiated a fundraising program to support farmers and communities who were in drought-affected areas of NSW.

Her idea developed into a shared fundraising campaign through the Hastings Valley community of schools, and through partnering up with a number of local Rotary clubs, has enabled her to purchase, fill and distribute Christmas hampers to identified families within the drought-affected areas.

Jennifer is an active member of the Westport Aware Students of Cancer and Leukaemia Sufferers (WASCALS) which has raised over $30,000 since she joined in 2013, to assist the Cancer Council and those affected by cancer so they can have a better life.

As part of the volunteering work with WASCALS, Jennifer travels to local primary schools to speak to students of the importance of Daffodil Day, raising awareness about cancer to young people and the need for a cure.

Jennifer’s willingness to accept challenges and responsibilities has seen her undertake various roles not only in school, but contributing to the community by volunteering for various charity organisations such as the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, selling Legacy badges and volunteering at the Port Macquarie Ironman event.

The 2019 Community Group of the Year is 2Way FM RADIO

2WAY FM has been an integral part of our community for 33 years.

2WAY FM continues to provide listeners a real alternative with programs going to air seven days a week.

In times of an emergency and natural disasters, 2WAY FM provides regular updates on prevailing conditions, emergency service advice and warnings.

The community radio station continues to support community groups and their projects by providing air time for radio interviews, full programs and producing community service announcements for not-for-profit organisations.

Local schools are also provided the opportunity to inspire young people to further their skills in public speaking, English and confidence building through the ongoing support provided by the volunteers at 2WAY FM.

The 2019 Environmental Citizens of the Year are Shalise Leesfield and Addam Lockley

Shalise Leesfield

Shalise Leesfield is a 12-year-old ocean conservationist from Lake Cathie.

A few years ago she found out that every year thousands of her favourite marine animals including seals, dolphins, whales, pelicans and sea turtles are injured due to people leaving behind their plastic pollution and discarded fishing lines.

She wanted to become a voice for them and it became her mission to clean up the local beaches to help save these aquatic animals and bird life.

When you love something you want to protect it, so she set up trial fishing line collection bins in Lake Cathie and worked with council to secure an EPA litter grant to address marine litter locally – including signs, new bins, educational flyers and engagement with fishers to enforce marine litter rules.

The grant application was a success, largely due to data Shalise had collected, and the project is underway.

Shalise is also one of the Youth Ambassadors for Clean Up Australia Day 2019 and a Green Innovations Award ambassador, an annual award that recognises and celebrates the sustainability innovations of young people in the region.

Addam Lockley

Addam Lockley co-founded the Coastal Warriors in 2017 after participating in Clean Up Australia Day at Town Beach.

The amount of litter inspired Addam to look for a local solution, to form a group to clean up monthly and not only aim to help the environment, but to also educate people on the importance of recycling, the damaging impacts of pollution and to have an enduring presence within the Mid North Coast area.

Addam’s passion for the marine environment has now led him to starting his own business called Coral Blue, designing a coral cooling pod to prevent coral bleaching and also assisting with water flow in dams and rivers to prevent stagnant water and algae issues.

Addam plans to have a prototype in the water and being tested later this year.

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