Australia Day Awards nominations open
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Nominations for the 2019 East Gippsland Australia Day Awards are now open.
East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Joe Rettino officially launched the awards on Tuesday, September 4 in front of previous award winners and recipients of Australia Day honours from throughout East Gippsland.
“We all know people, young and old, who are inspirations in the community. People who give without ever expecting anything in return, people who are always doing things to benefit others, people who make a difference to their community. Now is the time to acknowledge those people through these prestigious awards,” Cr Rettino said.
The categories are: Citizen of the Year (people 27 or older on 26 January 2019); Young Citizen of the Year (people under 27 years on 26 January 2019); and Community Event of the Year.
Strong nominations will highlight how nominees have:
Made a significant contribution in the current year or over a number of years; Demonstrated outstanding leadership or are role models in the community; Excelled in their field, for instance arts and culture, community service, sport and recreation, etc. Benefitted the community (for the event category)“Australia Day may seem a while off, but nominations for the East Gippsland Australia Day Awards close on November 23, so now is the time to think about the people who make a difference in your community and start collecting information for the nomination,” Cr Rettino said.
Guest speaker at the awards launch was Ensay beef farmer Barry Newcomen AM, who addressed the crowd of invited guests that included fellow Order of Australia recipients.
Mr Newcomen received his Medal of the Order of Australia in 2001 for services to primary industry, community and local government.
A Omeo Shire councillor for 15 years and president for one, Mr Newcomen spoke of the efforts during and after the 1998 drought and following floods of June that same year coordinating the distribution of fodder for farmers in need – a similar scenario local producers are now experiencing.
Mr Newcomen encouraged everyone to think of people who are worthy and “go to the trouble of nominating”.
“Successful nominations will mean so much to the recipients, as it did to me.”
Paraphrasing a letter sent to him from Neville Beasley in 2001 on receipt of his Medal of the Order of Australia, Mr Newcomen said there is no greater honour than the respect of your fellow man.
“I urge you to think about it and get going. There are a lot of people worthy of nominations,” Mr Newcomen said.
Cr Rettino thanked Mr Newcomen for his address and also for his contribution over many years to the primary industry sector, most recently with input into how federal and state drought assistance could be best used in East Gippsland Shire.
The East Gippsland Australia Day Award nomination form is available on council’s website, eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/ausday; hardcopies are available at council’s Customer Service Centres and Outreach Centres.
Nominations close 5pm Friday, November 23.
PICTURED: East Gippsland Shire Mayor Cr Joe Rettino and Australia Day Awards launch guest speaker Barry Newcomen AM look through an album of letters of congratulation, numbering more than 80, Mr Newcomen received following his 2001 honours. Mr Newcomen said the album is one of his most prized possessions.