Years of community service recognised

The Nelson community celebrated Australia Day at Bridge Park Nelson with a free breakfast sponsored by the Glenelg Shire, followed by the Flag Raising Ceremony and Nelson Citizenship 2024 Award Presentation.

The event was organised by the Nelson Tennis Club and supported by Nelson Men’s and Women’s Shed.

More than 160 people were well fed, enjoyed the music provided by four local residents and many attendees took prizes home from the raffles organised by the Women’s Shed.

The highlight of the morning was to announce the winner of the 2024 Nelson Citizenship Award as Nicole Stevens.

Nelson Citizen of the Year Award 2024 – Nicole Stevens

Nicole Stevens became a resident of Nelson in September/ October 2023. Appointed as the Health Service Manager of the Dartmoor Bush Nursing Centre, she is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and RAN.

Nicole was nominated for her outstanding role and commitment to the care and wellbeing of the residents of Nelson. Although the Dartmoor Bush Nursing Centre has provided support and medical care for Nelson residents for some time, Nicole has not only raised the profile of what Dartmoor can provide, she has demonstrated a real-life commitment to us, the people of Nelson.

She spoke publicly at the Nelson Women’s Shed – Cancer Council Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser about her family’s experiences with cancer and how we can support our own family and friends.

She has actively sought more employment as health care workers, who live locally. This has meant the opportunities for before and after hour care, more achievable, and have already made a real difference to the lives of many Nelson families.

Nicole has personally advocated for more dedicated spaces in Nelson where practitioners can apply ongoing treatment for some of our aging population. (e.g. for a podiatrist to work here regularly).

It might be a small thing for some of us to get our medical scripts filled, but for some older residents who are not very mobile, she has organised a service where they can be delivered to their homes at the end of the working day, from her contacts in Heywood and Dartmoor.

Home visits, organised by Nicole, have become a regular event for those with injuries needing ongoing treatment, medicines required and medical appointments fast tracked. Nothing is too much despite her long days at the Bush Nursing Centre in Dartmoor.

She has advocated for support of those living alone, needing health care support, meals, counselling and social support.

A friendly, very approachable and professional person, Nicole has added another layer of wealth to our small and older but diverse population. She has made a huge difference to the lives of many of us. We look forward to her plans for future health care support in Nelson.