CERAMICIST Barry Wemyss has been named Golden Plains Shire Citizen of the Year.<\/p>\n
Based in the Smythes Creek-Smythesdale community, Wemyss was celebrated at last week\u2019s municipal awards, help in Turtle Bend park at Teesdale, for his arts advocacy and service to the creative community.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s the man behind the annual Smythesdale Arts and Music Fiesta which showcases the district\u2019s creativity in all forms, and is the current president of local creative network Golden Plains Arts Inc.<\/p>\n
A passionate volunteer and champion of the arts, both performing and visual, he has been a member of the strategy community reference group, contributing to the development of the area\u2019s arts, culture and heritage strategy.<\/p>\n
When announced as Citizen of the Year, Wemyss said he was surprised and \u201cout of his comfort zone totally.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do the work that I do because that\u2019s what I believe is worth doing for our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like behind the scenes. I do it to create opportunities for other people, not for me, that\u2019s not what it\u2019s about.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, I guess we do need people like me who are prepared to step forward, particularly young people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bannockburn resident and Regional Youth Voice program member Alisha Nurnaitis was named Young Citizen of the Year.<\/p>\n
Ms Nurnaitis said she was honoured to be recognised amongst a \u201chigh-calibre\u201d group of nominees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all incredible and I know they\u2019ll all go very far,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to thank my parents who are incredible people who have raised me to be a wonderful, community-minded person, and I\u2019d like to thank the community and everyone for coming out.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so thankful that I have grown up in such a wonderful community where opportunities for young people like me have been so plentiful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Golden Plains Shire mayor Cr Gavin Gamble, presented Ms Nurnaitis with her award and spoke of her impacts on the Regional Youth Voice program.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlisha brings a mature and considered insight to the group and is passionate about providing opportunities for young people in Golden Plains,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n