Proud winners accept 2019 Port Macquarie-Hastings Australia Day awards

The 2019 Port Macquarie-Hastings Australia Day Awards ceremony culminated in the announcement of Janette Hyde as Citizen of the Year.

Roger Barlow took out the Senior Citizen of the Year accolade, Jennifer Cooper won the Young Citizen of the Year and 2Way FM was named Community Group of the Year.

Shalise Leesfield and Addam Lockley shared the Environmental Citizens of the Year recognition.

Janette said the Citizen of the Year honour was a humbling experience.

“Everything you do for the community, you do because you are passionate,” she said.

“I’ve got some wonderful groups of people behind me that allow me to be who I am.”

Janette’s track record of community work has spanned more than 40 years.

Her community involvement ranges from the Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce to the Food & Wine Tourism Taskforce, Bravehearts and Greater Port Macquarie Tourism Association.

Senior Citizen of the Year Roger Barlow has been the president of the Bonny Hills Progress Association since 2009.

Roger embraced the John Oxley Bicentenary celebrations as an opportunity to involve the entire community by instigating a spectacular Back to Bonny’s weekend.

Roger, in winning the award, recognised his fellow volunteers in Bonny Hills and encouraged others in the community to become volunteers.

“If you are not in the volunteer game, get into it, even if you have to start small, because it’s incredibly rewarding,” Roger said.

Young Citizen of the Year Jennifer Cooper initiated a fundraising program to support farmers and communities in drought-affected areas of NSW. 

The Hastings Secondary College student’s idea developed into a shared fundraising campaign through the Hastings Valley community of schools, and through partnering with a number of Rotary clubs, enabled her to purchase, fill and distribute Christmas hampers to families within the drought-affected areas.

Jennifer is an active member of the Westport Aware Students of Cancer and Leukaemia Sufferers (WASCALS). 

Community Group of the Year 2WAY FM has been an integral part of the Hastings for 33 years.

2WAY FM 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.

2WAY FM president Liz Faassen likened the award to a thank you.

“It’s a pat on the back,” she said.

Shalise Leesfield was proud to share the Environmental Citizen of the Year honour.

Shalise, 12, said she was grateful to the community who had helped her become a voice for marine animals.

The young ocean conservationist’s mission is to clean up the local beaches to help save aquatic animals and bird life at risk from plastic pollution and discarded fishing lines.

Addam Lockley, the joint Environmental Citizen of the Year, co-founded Coastal Warriors Mid North Coast in 2017 after participating in Clean Up Australia Day at Town Beach. 

Addam said he was humbled by the Australia Day award.

“I accept it on behalf of the volunteers and all the support that Coastal Warriors gets,” he said.

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