Published on Thursday, 20 January 2022 at 4:42:00 PM
Community Citizen of the Year Awards – 2022 Nominees
Community Citizen of the Year Awards reward and recognise individuals and organisations making a notable contribution during the current year, and/or those who have given outstanding service over a number of years.
Outstanding contribution and community service includes areas such as; education, health, fund-raising, charitable and voluntary services, business, sport, arts, the environment, social inclusion or any other area that contributes to the advancement and wellbeing of a community.
Shire of Dardanup awards winners will be announced at the Australia Day Breakfast in Eaton.
NOMINATIONS
Youth
Alister is recognised as an engaged member of his Eaton Community College School community and a natural leader among peers. He is the 2021 Dux of the School, previous winner of the Long Tan Leadership Award and a national ballroom dancer.
Alister is dedicated to his studies and strives for constant achievement while supporting his fellow students with their work.
Taya is well respected for her ongoing contribution to the local community by advocating for youth, mental health, vulnerable community members and minority groups. She is a passionate advocate for human rights – striving for equity, equality and justice for people from all walks of life.
She isn’t afraid to stand up and be a voice for those in need and she does this with such compassion, awareness, understanding, respect and acceptance for those around her.
Taya has assisted with the Burekup seniors lunches, charity food drives, homeless luncheons and recently began dedicating her time to the Shire of Dardanup Youth Advisory Group, Headspace Youth Refence Group and the Zonta Women’s group within her Bunbury Senior High School.
Community
Brendan is President of the Eaton Junior Football Club and has been an active member for the past 10 years from volunteering at Auskick to coaching junior teams and now leading the club as well.
Brendan encourages kids of all abilities to be involved in football not just as players, but to also consider roles like umpiring or volunteering in the canteen or game day set up. He has been instrumental in developing a pathway for footballers from juniors to the Eaton Boomers by developing a Year 10 side in 2021 and a future year 11 and 12 team for 2022. He has also provided support in the development of girls football at the club.
Brendan represents the junior football club at numerous meetings throughout the season including those held by the South West Junior Football League, Eaton Boomers and the Shire of Dardanup.
Nathan is President of the Burekup Cricket Club, Coach of the Wellington Junior Representative Cricket Team plus the local Year 6 and Year 8 team, he’s heavily involved in the Harvey Brunswick Football Club as a coach and umpire while also being a Lieutenant of the Burekup Volunteer Bushfire Brigade.
He is recognised as an instrumental figure in the growth and development of junior cricket in Burekup taking the town from having no junior side to now three active teams.
Nathan is active in encouraging local children and adults to be involved in local team sports and tackles everything he does with full commitment. He is currently working with the Shire of Dardanup on plans for a purpose built sporting facility for the town.
Thought retired, Phil is a very active contributor to his Burekup community through his association with the Country Club. He works tirelessly as Bar Manager, constantly looking for opportunities to improve its service and performance and always going well beyond any expectations by helping in the kitchen, cleaning up, promotion of events and attracting sponsors.
Phil is always happy to help out, with a smile on his face. He embodies the spirit of community service.
Mary runs a busy winery on Ferguson Road and is also Secretary of the Geographe Wine Association. She constantly gives back to her community by volunteering in a large number of activities across a wide range organisations.
Her many roles have included:
- Volunteering every year at Geographe Wine Show
- Active member of Dardanup and Districts Residents Association
- Clean up Australia Day Ferguson Coordinator
- Co-ordinator of Annual St John’s Senior First aid course Dardanup Coordinator
- Dardanup Lions Australia Day breakfast volunteer
- Former Secretary and Committee member of Ferguson Hall Management Committee
In addition she provides her winery as a venue for the annual Carols by Candlelight event in Ferguson.
Senior
Albert retired to Burekup with his wife Moira from Perth and for 12 years now has been the face behind the message signs at the town’s entrance.
He is Commander of the Bunbury Sea Rescue Group and is actively involved in the Burekup country club, bushfire brigade and Brunswick Lions.
Before moving to Burekup, Albert had already established a long history of contributing to his community as a founding member of the Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club and as a driving force behind Radio Lollipop, raising money for Princess Margaret Hospital.
Warren is a former President of the Bunbury & Districts Softball Association based in Eaton and is now the Softball Pavilion’s Functions Coordinator – a voluntary role he has taken on with gusto in retirement.
Instrumental in the design and establishment of the softball pavilion, Warren now facilitates all functions and ensures the facility is maintained to a high standard. He is also active in promoting softball to the wider community and is credited with making a significant contribution to the growth of the sport locally as well as the association.
Group or Event
Members of the Millbridge Lions have been running a breakfast club at Glen Huon Primary School for the past five years, ensuring a great start to the day for many of the students.
The Millbridge Lions volunteer their time to not only prepare the breakfast for the students but to also provide a safe place for students with no shame attached. The members make it a welcoming environment and get to know the students, forming friendships that have lasted even when the students have left primary school. The students also learn life skills as they are included in a roster to help prepare breakfast and clean up with the Lions Club members.
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