Adelaide’s Citizens of the Year Awarded for 2019

25 Jan, 2019

Two philanthropists who use Adelaide’s renowned coffee, produce and hospitality to help make a difference, and a young entrepreneur developing local young artists are the City of Adelaide’s 2019 Citizens of the Year.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor presented the Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year awards at Adelaide Town Hall today in conjunction with a special citizenship ceremony.

Mike and Tim have been awarded City of Adelaide Citizen of the Year as a result of their work together as co-founders of Café Outside the Square, located in Whitmore Square.

Their charitable endeavours include facilitating delivery of on-site workplace training to vulnerable community members and helping them find employment. They also support the St Vincent De Paul Society Men’s Crisis Centre through the provision of meals.

The totally not-for-profit café is enjoyed by the local community and has helped to facilitate various new local events. These include the Whitmore Square Outdoor Cinema and other cooperative events, alongside other organisations such as Unity Housing and Baptist Care SA.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said that Mike and Tim were worthy winners.

“We acknowledge the incredible difference that Mike and Tim have each made to our city and the positive impact Café Outside the Square has had on those less fortunate in our community,” said the Lord Mayor.  

“It’s truly impressive what these two generous individuals have achieved together over a short period of time and they should be very proud.”

In 2013 Amber Cronin co-founded The Mill, which is a unique creative incubator, providing arts programming for over 50 resident artists as well as technical groups. The Mill houses bespoke show-makers, art exhibitions, a photography studio, and the headquarters of Adelaide fashion and jewellery label, Naomi Murrell.

Amber is a passionate and socially engaged advocate for the arts who works in the community as well as through the ‘arts in health’ framework. Amber has won awards and grants, and participated in many residencies, exhibitions and productions. Recently she took part in the 2018 Arts South Australia Delegation to the 2018 National Association for the Visual Arts: Future/Forward Conference in Canberra; and was a finalist for the Arkaba Youthscape Special Project, Royal SA Society of Arts, 2018.

“Amber’s entrepreneurial and creative talents led her to co-found The Mill in 2013 and this co-working environment has gone from strength to strength since then,” said the Lord Mayor.

“It’s attracted hundreds of individuals to increase their business capabilities, artistic skills and creative connections in the city and Amber should be very proud of her role in this.

“Amber is also involved with numerous other businesses and boards based here in the city, demonstrating her strong commitment to Adelaide and our arts and creative industries.”

This great event provides South Australians with the opportunity to step out and show their support for people experiencing homelessness during National Homelessness Prevention Week.

For the event’s 10th Anniversary in 2018, nearly 13,000 people walked a mile across Adelaide and McLaren Vale and at ‘Walk a Mile in My Boots At My School’ events, in a tremendous show of support for Hutt Street Centre and people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

As a result of South Australians’ support for the Walk a Mile in My Boots event over the last 10 years, the Hutt Street Centre has been able to keep its doors open to provide essential and professional services in order to enable people experiencing homelessness to rebuild their lives.

“Anyone who has attended ‘Walk a Mile in My Boots’ will know what a positive impact the event has in our community and how funds raised on the day directly assist people in need,” said the Lord Mayor.

“It is such an important event on the calendar in terms of raising awareness about homelessness but also about the vital work carried out by the Hutt Street Centre.

“This event really is a worthy winner of the award and I congratulate the Hutt Street Centre team and look forward to this year’s event.”