Liverpool City Council’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony goes online

The 2021 Australia Day Ambassador for Liverpool will be Simon Chapman, pictured far right with Australian Olympic rowing colleagues.

Liverpool City Council will be hosting a virtual Australia Day Awards Ceremony to recognise the outstanding contributions made by individuals and small businesses to the broader Liverpool community.

“Within a community as culturally diverse and vibrant as Liverpool, Australia Day always holds a special place in our annual events calendar,” said Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller.

“However, due to the continuing impacts of COVID-19 and with the safety of the community as our primary concern, Council’s Australia Day outdoor community celebration has been cancelled.”

“While this year’s celebrations will be different to previous years, we are pleased to still be able to come together as a community virtually to celebrate some of our best and brightest.”

The virtual ceremony will be hosted by radio presenter of Saturday Night Live Pete Graham and streamed on Liverpool City Council Australia’s Facebook page from 10.30am on Tuesday, 26 January.

Joining Mr Graham will be Liverpool’s 2021 Australia Day Ambassador, James Chapman, an Olympic medallist who competed in rowing for Australia at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics.

“We are thrilled to welcome an Australia Day Ambassador of such a high calibre as James Chapman,” said Mayor Waller.

“Rowing at the highest level for many years, James has exemplified passion, teamwork and, above all, perseverance. These are characteristics which not only embody the essence of our Australia Day Awards but are reflected in this year’s award recipients.”

“I look forward to joining Pete, James and the broader community in awarding these remarkable individuals and small businesses who are making a difference across areas including the environment, sports, health and culture and arts.”

The 2021 Australia Day Awards categories include:

Council will also host a private Citizenship Ceremony on the day to welcome 19 new citizens into the Liverpool community.

To watch the 2021 Australia Day Awards Ceremony, visit the Liverpool City Council Facebook page.

About James Chapman

Elite rower James Chapman was part of the senior Australian Rowing Team for more than 15 years, representing Australia at 15 World Rowing Cups, seven World Rowing Championships and the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games.

Born in New South Wales, Chapman started his career rowing out of Sydney Rowing Club, UTS Rowing Club and Mosman Rowing Club with the support of the New South Wales Institute of Sport and the Australian Institute of Sport.

Chapman was first selected to compete for his country in the men's VIII who took the silver medal at the under 23 World Championships in Copenhagen in 2000.

One of the biggest achievements of Chapman’s career came when he won silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games alongside Josh Dunkley-Smith, Will Lockwood and Drew Ginn in the Men’s Coxless Four.

Throughout this time, Chapman balanced a career in elite rowing with professional banking, having been employed by Westpac for more than 16 years as a bank teller and later as an associate director in institutional banking.

Chapman retired from the sport in 2017. He continues to be a positive role model and leader to many young Australian rowers at a domestic, university and international level in his capacity as a Sydney Rowing Club Youth Coach and high school rowing coach, roles he has held for more than a decade.