Congratulations to our 2019 Australia Day Award Winners

Published on 26 January 2019

Mildura Rural City Council has announced the recipients of its 2019 Australia Day Awards at today’s celebrations at the Nowingi Place.

Mayor Simon Clemence presented the awards to the winners in the three categories during this morning’s official ceremony.

“All three award recipients demonstrate the selfless and tireless drive to improve the communities in which they are working or living and are fantastic examples for us to look up to,” Cr Clemence said.

“We should be very proud to call these people, and the people involved in our Project of the Year, citizens of the Mildura Rural City Council area.”

Citizen of the Year – Dr Anne Webster

Dr Webster is the founder and Executive Director of Zoe Support Australia, a not-for-profit organisation providing community-based parenting support to disadvantaged young mothers aged 13 to 23.

In 2018, the program engaged with more than 190 young women in Mildura and the Wentworth Shire, creating pathways for these mothers to connect with community and re-engage with education, training and employment through access to transportation, education, housing, counselling and healthcare.

She is highly respected by both her clients and Zoe Support staff for her hands-on approach and her tireless dedication to breaking down the complex social, political and economic barriers surrounding teenage pregnancy across the municipality.

Dr Webster’s work helps to create transgenerational change that has positive implications for these young families and the broader community.

Young Citizen of the Year – Tanika Thorne

Tanika has coordinated and led teams of volunteers to Kenya and Uganda to deliver Days for Girls kits to local schools and community healthcare centres.

During these trips she also volunteered in major projects that deliver essential infrastructure and equipment for schools such as providing desks, building latrines and installing secure school fencing.

Tanika has undertaken a number of significant fund-raising activities to support her overseas volunteer work, including leading a walk from Federation Square to Red Cliffs, and volunteered as a camp leader for secondary schools during school holidays.

She also volunteered for six months in Kenya as part of the World Youth International Service Program, teaching English to primary school students and tutoring orphans at a local community resource centre.

In 2017, Tanika was a guest speaker at a Global Leadership Conference in Mildura, speaking on ‘What is Compassion?’ and has also assisted with the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal and Red Shield Appeal, collecting donations for the Wishing Tree Appeal and the Black Saturday Bushfires Appeal.

Community Event or Project of the Year – Ouyen Lake Project

The Ouyen Lake Project is the Mallee community’s largest project, spanning more than 20 years.

This extraordinary project now provides the Ouyen community with a recreational lake and has brought the entire Ouyen community together.

The community itself contributed over $3 million in in-kind contributions from local businesses and community members, and the working parties successfully lobbied local, State and Federal Government for $1.38 million in investment.

The Ouyen Lake is a vital community asset that plays an important role in maintaining and developing the long-term social fabric of the town, and has become a focal point for locals to exercise, and families to spend quality time together.

It also contributes to economic development and environmental sustainability, benefitting future generations, and the Ouyen Lake working parties have identified broader, long-term benefits across the community.

Media enquiries  Ben Piscioneri p) (03) 5018 8689  e) [email protected]