Awards highlight local achievements

INDIVIDUAL and group achievements made throughout the region last year were celebrated on Tuesday afternoon as part of the Golden Plains Shire Council.

The event was held at the Dereel Community Hall where the winners of this year’s Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and Community Impact awards recipients were announced.

Smythesdale resident Jaymee Ellis took home the Citizen of the Year Award for her community contributions with the Smythesdale Country Market, Woady Yaloak Recreation Facility, and fitness program GenkiFit.

She said it was “absolutely crazy” to receive the honour.

“There were some amazing people in the category with massive resumes of community work. I’m just happy to have been a part of it and insanely lucky to be the winner,” she said.

“I think my volunteer role with the Smythesdale Country Market is what led me to this.

“Not only has it grown to 50 stalls from about eight, it’s brought people from the Shire and Ballarat to the town.

“Volunteering is so rewarding. For me, it’s not just about that cross-generational friendship, it’s made me come out of my shell a lot more and helped me utilise my skills.

“My dad received this award about 20 years ago… so a lot of the reason I love that community aspect of everything is because I grew up around it.”

Dr Jill Wheeler, president of the Linton and District Historical Society received the Senior Citizen of the Year Award while the Young Citizen of the Year Award was presented to Bannockburn-based youth advocate Jayden Scheier.

The Community Impact Award went to Mannibadar Settlement Committee with chair Graeme Ellis accepting the certificate.

The winners were chosen from nine individual and three group nominations.

Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham presented the awards and said the event is about celebrating the contributions of the municipality’s residents.

“It’s really about community. One of the reasons this is a great place to live is because of the people in our community,” he said.

“These awards allow us to recognise the remarkable acts of service from our individuals and groups.”

Nominees for The Citizen of the Year also included Melissa Gillett from Bannockburn, Meredith Community Centre manager Leah Phillips, Bannockburn YMCA’s Shona Eland, and environmentalist Stuart McCallum.

Heather Butler from Rokewood was the only other Senior of the Year nominee, while the Young Citizen of the Year category included Jemma Mizzi from Lethbridge.

Other Community Impact Award nominees were the YMCA Bannockburn and the Bannockburn Cemetery.