Major Award – Citizen of the Year
Vicki Hamilton
The demonstrated commitment displayed by Mrs Vicki Hamilton of Newborough, for her active involvement in the fight against Asbestos related diseases, has paved the way to her receiving the 2005 Australia Day Latrobe City ‘Citizen of the Year’ Award.
Vicki was nominated for her dedication, contribution and commitment to the families of Latrobe Valley in her involvement with the fights against Asbestos and as a member and Secretary of Gippsland Asbestos Related Diseases Support.
Vicki has worked tirelessly to support victims of asbestosis and mesothelioma and devoted many, many hours meeting with victims and their families in fighting for their rights.
Vicki’s significant contribution to the community also includes –
Her current involvement with Newborough Primary School as an Integration Aide. For the past four years she has been involved with Lowanna College as a School Counsellor and a member of the Lowanna College Student Welfare Committee. Since its inception, Vicki has been on the Board of Management for the Gippsland Rotary Centenary House. She is a Latrobefirst Ambassador She was a Unit Helper of the Newborough Guides/Brownies group for six years and also took on the role as Secretary for a time. And Vicki is past Secretary of the Wooreen Street Kindergarten in East Newborough.
Major Award – Young Citizen of the Year
Christopher Larsen
Christopher Larsen is a 17 year old student from Traralgon and is being honoured with the Latrobe City 2005 ‘Young Citizen of the Year’ Award for his dedicated contribution to the community in his capacity as a volunteer and leader and for his commitment to the Performing Arts.
Chris has been actively volunteering his time with Latrobe City Youth Services for many years now, supporting youth programs and activities in the Latrobe City municipality. Last year he volunteered his time assisting Youth Services staff with the Gippsland Youth Leadership Program initiating warm up activities for the 38 young participants. This experience he incorporated into his VCE studies.
He has held a position on the Latrobe City Youth Council for two years and in 2004 he undertook a lead role in coordinating the Youth Council’s activities for International Youth Day; titled “Youth is an Intergenerational Society”.
Chris has a great sense of humour and his enthusiasm, passion and dedication combined gives him true leadership qualities and is an excellent role model for other youth.
Chris is a very active member of the community and some of his other significant contributions and achievements include –
Being a member of the ICED UP FReeAZ committee, taking on the role of Master of Ceremonies encouraging youth involvement in the activities at the underage rage events. He is a member of the Latrobe Theatre Company. An active member of ‘Class Act Productions’, the Latrobe City Youth Theatre Company. He is a member of the Warragul Theatre Company. For the last 13 years Chris has been dancing and performing with the Julie Ryan Dancers in Traralgon. He has performed in principal and minor roles in 13 shows. Has participated in 6 Rock Eisteddfod Challenges. Chris has just completed his VCE.
Major Award – Community Event of the Year
The Gippsland Motorcyclist Christmas Toy Run 2003
The Gippsland Motorcyclists 2003 Christmas Toy Run was coordinated by three local Motorcycle Clubs involving the dedication and commitment of the Eastern Riders, Us and Them Tourers and the Gippsland Central Branch of the Ulysses Club.
The Christmas Toy Run was first held five years ago involving 75 bikes and has since gone from strength to strength, attracting 428 bikes in 2003 with more than 550 people participating. Many other Bike Clubs have also joined in to lend a helping hand.
In a joint operation involving the cooperation of the motorcycle fraternity, local government, police, corporate and small businesses and the general public, the procession of bikes travelled through the CBDs of Traralgon, Morwell, Newborough and Moe finishing at the Moe Race course.
A Handover Ceremony was held for the presentation of goods to the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul Society. These two organisations were responsible for the distribution of the goods throughout Latrobe City.
The Motorcyclists raised over $32,000 in monies and goods and the event was declared the biggest single effort to support needy families in Gippsland in 2003 and helped to provide hampers for more than 750 families at Christmas.
The success of this event is evident in the result, and we as a community are very privileged to have such a wonderful annual event in Latrobe City.
Latrobe City Award – Citizen of the Year
Susan Scholes
Susan is being recognised for her dedication and contribution to the community in the Scouting movement.
For the past 30 years Susan has been heavily involved in Scouts as a Leader of Cubs, Assistant and Parent’s helper of Joeys & Scouts.
In her busy life routine, Susan can still find time to be a designer and costume maker of outfits for the participants in the Scouting production of ‘Showtime’, where her voluntary work and dedication is invaluable.
Susan is constantly committed to other community work, such as being involved as -
A Latrobefirst Ambassador She sells tickets for Lions Club fund raising Does Christmas wrapping for Apex Susan coordinates activities at the Christmas Carols held the Morwell Community Playground.
Latrobe City Award – Citizen of the Year
Max Sargent
Max is being recognised for his dedicated contribution to Teaching and the Environment, and his involvement with the Morwell community.
Max is a Sunday School Teacher; and also Primary School Teacher at Commercial Road Primary School, Morwell where he has been teaching for the past 32 years.
In addition to his valuable contribution to teaching and a busy family life with his wife Jill and their four children, Max commits much of his time and energy to the Gippsland environment where he conducts Sunset Tours of the ‘Wetlands’. His latest community involvement just recently completed was a Garden Project at the Commercial Road Primary School.
Max excels in teaching Natural Science to children and in 2003 he won a Science Travelling Scholarship trip to the U.S.A.
During his time as a teacher, Max has been nominated for the ‘Science Teacher of the Year Award’ and twice for the ‘Best Teacher of the Year Award’.
Latrobe City Award – Community Event of the Year
Commercial Road Primary School, Morwell Garden Project
This project is the culmination of Max Sargent’s dream to bring
his school, the children he teaches and his love for natural
science together in a school and community project involving
the dedicated commitment many parents, businesses and the Hazelwood Rotary Club.
He is to be congratulated for this initiative of a Garden Project providing environmental and educational interests for the
students of Commercial Road Primary School and devoting many hours of his time and energy to the Gippsland environment.
The Garden Project is cleverly constructed with waterways,
ponds, bridge and pergola in the front garden of the Morwell Commercial Road Primary School.
Volunteer members of the community are also to be commended for the enormous amount of planning and preparation that was involved in making the project the success it was.
Latrobe City Award – Community Event of the Year
2004 Churchill Festival
The Churchill and District News’ staging of the 2004 Churchill Festival was unique, as it was a free Festival of Information, entertainment and refreshments.
The idea was to inform and allow the community attending to do so without any financial pressure.
The Festival involved the commitment and dedicated support of 32 varied businesses and organisations, and was held at Glendonald Park, Churchill.
The Festival was organised by the Churchill and District News, a newspaper run entirely by volunteers. Their philosophy of Solutions, not Problems, was one of the tenets behind the Festival.
They are to be congratulated for their dedication and hard work for the staging of a community event that provided free enjoyment and participation, and was an excellent example of how the spirit of a community can be lifted and united together.