Ian J Cooper Awards - Access & Inclusion in Our Shire

Mayoral Column

I’m proud that we’re an inclusive community that celebrates diversity and choices for all, which is why it’s so important that we continue to work together with local businesses and organisations to improve our understanding of how we can better support people with different abilities.

Also, I think it’s important that we take the time to acknowledge the legacy of those who have come before us, and celebrate theirs and our community’s continued efforts to improve our understanding of the challenges faced by people with different abilities.

That’s why every two years we celebrate the life of Ian J Cooper, who was a disability pioneer that worked tirelessly on behalf of people with a disability, and advocated for their rights to social inclusion and access to the services and facilities that most of us take for granted.

So now we are calling on you to nominate local groups, businesses, organisations and individuals for the Ian J Cooper Awards for Access and Inclusion, which celebrate our community’s efforts to champion Ian’s legacy of supporting people with different abilities.

The awards also recognise that there’s a broad range of ways that we can all make a difference, so they’re open to anyone who has endeavoured to promote social inclusion and access to all that our Shire has to offer, which as I said, most of us take for granted.

Winners of the awards will be announced on Thursday 03 December 2020 at the Raleigh Hall on Water Street to celebrate the achievements of nominees and the United Nations sanctioned International Day of People with a Disability which also happens to fall on the same day.

Nominations will remain open until Friday 13 November 2020 and Nomination Forms are available at Council’s three Branch Libraries in Urunga, Bellingen and Dorrigo, or you can simply go to the Ian J Cooper Awards page on Council’s Create Engagement Portal and download a form by clickig here.