Fairfield City Australia Day Award nominations now open

The awards recognise outstanding achievements or contribution to the local community by individuals who are Australian citizens who live, work or study in the Fairfield City Local Government Area.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said this was a great opportunity for residents to acknowledge the wonderful work being done by people in our community.

“Fairfield City is full of unsung heroes who work tirelessly in making this City great,” Mayor Carbone said.

“Many of them do this without seeking recognition. The Community Awards are a great way to acknowledge and thank them for the work they do.

“These people selflessly give their time for others and make a significant contribution to our community and City.”

Award categories include:

• Citizen of the Year - 25 years and over

• Young Citizen of the Year – 12 to 24 years

• Volunteer of the Year - 12 years and over

• Sports Achiever of the Year - 12 years and over

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in January 2019 at Fairfield City Council Chambers.

Nomination forms and guidelines are available from Council’s website – www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au. Nominations close on Friday 2 November 2018.

Last year’s winners were:

2018 Fairfield City Citizen of the Year: Desmond Ettingshausen 

Desmond Ettingshausen shared his love of athletics with many generations of children, encouraging them to be the best they can be through hard work. Through his many years of coaching children and young adults, Desmond taught them that no matter the level of performance they reach that with dedication towards training they can be rewarded with their own personal self-improvement.

2018 Young Citizen of the Year: Rowena Tran 

Rowena was passionate about representing and advocating for the needs of young people and the local multicultural community. Rowena was a member of the Youth Advisory Council and Multicultural Advisory Committee, and represented Fairfield City at national conferences and consultations across the country.

2018 Volunteer of the Year: Krystyna Whittaker  

Krystyna was a dedicated member of the St Vincent de Paul Society. She had volunteered in Fairfield City for more than 30 years. Krystyna dedicated her time to serving people in need in Fairfield City through visiting them in their homes and assisting with financial and material assistance. Krystyna made a real difference to the lives of people who are struggling or marginalised.

2018 Sports Achiever of the Year: Simaima Taufa 

Simaima was a talented rugby league player playing at the highest levels of competitive rugby league across the country. Simaima also volunteered her time to the community; running sports clinics and mentoring young people by using sport as a tool for leadership skills which they can apply in all areas of their lives.