2020 Australia Day Award Winners

26 January 2020 - Media release

Outstanding local individuals and groups have been formally recognised and awarded at the 2020 Campaspe Shire Australia Day Awards.

A tireless Kyabram volunteer, an inspirational youth, an umpire and coach, a music festival, a Tongala arts group and a talented young sports star were today named as award winners.

Campaspe Shire Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said the awards are a great opportunity to honour committed individuals and groups in our community.

“Campaspe is very fortunate to have many selfless and talented community members working hard and dedicating countless hours to increase opportunities and improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and we thank them all”, Cr Weston said.

Awards were presented in the following categories:

With the support of the eight committees that he has been involved with, Dale Denham was awarded Campaspe’s Citizen of the Year. Dale is a talented draftsman who has donated countless hours supporting the Kyabram Community Bank, Warramunda Village, Kyabram Lawn Tennis Club, Kyabram Football Netball Club, Kyabram Fauna Park, Kyabram District Health Services, Kyabram P12 College, Haslem Street Primary School and is a member of the Kyabram Development Committee together with the ‘One Town, One Voice’ Steering Committee.

Awarded Campaspe’s Young Citizen of the Year, 17 year old Jasmin Malham is an active member of the Rochester Community. She represents the student body on the Rochester Secondary College executive and has accolades in debating, cross country, Campaspe Academy of Sport, VET programs including being a finalist in the Murray River Culinary Challenge, Camp Awakenings and Campaspe Shire Young Leaders.

Cory Nexhip, Campaspe’s Sportsperson of the Year, was awarded for his passion and contribution to junior development in netball, football and tennis. He was vice-captain of the 2019 Tongala senior football team, current netball committee member and umpires coordinator. Cory plays an important part of the Tongala Tennis Club, being the junior coach and previous section one premier.

Kyabram local, Olivia Cartwright was awarded Junior sportsperson of the year for her outstanding achievements in local, district, regional, state and national lawn bowls. This 15 year old superstar is a current member of the Under 18 Victorian squad and has recently finished third in Australia’s most competitive junior tournament. Olivia won the 2018/19 Kyabram Ladies Club Championship, beating very experienced and talented senior bowlers and made history by become the youngest ever winner of the Goulburn Valley Ladies Champion of Champions event.

Campaspe’s Community event of the year was awarded to the Winter Blues Festival, which has been running since 1999. The 2019 event focused on equality with a 50 per cent gender balance of leading and up and coming blues performers. While the event is completely free to attend, it was calculated to have attracted $10 million of economic return for the region.

The Tongala Street Art Group was awarded the Arts Group of the Year for the beautification of Tongala, with more than 50 paintings illustrating the town’s unique history and culture. The project has increased the pride of locals and has attracted visitors which has supported the Tongala traders.

“In addition to the winners and on behalf of Council and our community, congratulations to all who were nominated for the awards. Campaspe is lucky to have such inspiring and generous community members,” Cr Weston said.

2020 AUSTRALIA DAY AWARD WINNERS

CAMPASPE WINNERS Citizen of the year - Dale Denham Young citizen of the year - Jasmin Malham Sportsperson of the year - Corey Nexhip Junior sportsperson of the year - Olivia Cartwright Community event of the year - Echuca Winter Blues Festival Arts person/group of the year - Tongala Street Art Group

ECHUCA Citizen of the year - Lena Vicary Young citizen of the year - Not Awarded Sportsperson of the year - Echuca Football Netball Club Junior sportsperson of the year - Echuca Football Netball Club Under 18’s Football Team Community event/group of the year - Echuca Winter Blues Festival Arts person/group of the year - Not Awarded

ROCHESTER Citizen of the year - Maree Traill Young citizen of the year - Jasmin Malham Sportsperson of the year - Sarah Ingram Junior sportsperson of the year - Teal Hocking Community event/group of the year - Rochester Sports Museum Arts person/group of the year - Rochester Business Network – Community Christmas Decorations Committee

KYABRAM Citizen of the year - Dale Denham Young citizen of the year - Not awarded Sportsperson of the year - Kyabram Football Netball Club Seniors Football Team Junior sportsperson of the year - Olivia Cartwright Community event/group of the year - Kyabram Blue Light Inc Arts person/group of the year - Not awarded 

TONGALA Citizen of the year - Barbara Dureau Young citizen of the year - Not Awarded Sportsperson of the year - Corey Nexhip Junior sportsperson of the year - Harley Reid Community event/group of the year - Tongala Fitness Hub Committee Arts person/group of the year - Tongala Street Art Group

RUSHWORTH No nominations received