Media Release: 2023 Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony

Thursday, 26 January 2023

Media Release: 2023 Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony

The West Tamar Council’s Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony was held on Thursday 26th January 2023 from 8am at the Tailrace Centre, with approximately 130 guests in attendance.

The central theme and message for Australia Day 2023 is ‘Respect. Reflect. Celebrate.’ which asks Australians to reflect on our history, its highs and its lows; respect the stories of others; and celebrate our nation, its achievements and most of all, its people.

Our Australia Day Ambassador, Professor Robert Morris-Nunn AM, a nationally renowned Tasmanian based architect who has practised for more than 30 years and won over 50 state and national awards, spoke about what being Australian means to him and the benefits of inclusive multiculturalism.

Australia Day Awards were presented which recognise outstanding contributions to the West Tamar Community. The 2023 winners were:

Citizen of the Year – Mary Machen has been festival director of the Tamar Valley Writers Festival for many years since its debut in 2014. This biennial festival has welcomed some of Australia’s most famed writers, thinkers, and speakers. Mary has also been a board and committee member of a number of other creative groups in the northern region. Young Citizen of the Year – Ella-Jayde Clark is an inspiring and dedicated young person living and volunteering within the West Tamar. Ella has been a member of the West Tamar Youth Advisory Council for over 5 years, supporting countless community events and activities. Most notably, she has been involved in the installation of ‘Share the Dignity’ vending machines and community packing days within the West Tamar. Young Sportsperson of the Year – Damon White has been successful across little athletics and school sports, particularly hockey. He has been selected for both regional and state representation in the Tasmanian Team for the National Hockey Championships, Northern Tasmanian Hockey Championships and Indoor teams, as well as being selected in the Hockey Tasmania Tigers Academy in 2020 and 2021. Community Group of the Year – Launceston Football Club, the oldest football club in Tasmania, was established in 1875. The club has experienced much success, particularly in 2020 where they won all four senior premierships, followed by the Men’s and Women’s teams also winning both premierships in 2021 and 2022. The success and determination of the Club extends beyond the field through community partnerships with social enterprise Jude’s Café, local schools and community groups, and JCP Youth working with At Risk Youth. In addition, the Launceston Football Club have held an annual Pink Day event for almost 10 years, bringing together club and community members, and guest speakers, to help fundraise and build Breast Cancer awareness. Mayor’s Award – James Tyson, a stalwart of the West Tamar Rotary Club for more than 15 years, an active member of the Deviot Community Association and a founding member of the Exeter Childcare Centre. James does all of this without the desire to be recognised, he just wants to help out whenever and wherever he can.

Mayor Christina Holmdahl said “The West Tamar Council Australia Day Awards recognise those in our community who have made outstanding contributions. They represent hard work and selflessness, often over a number of years, and reflect true Australian values. On behalf of the West Tamar Council and our community, I thank them most sincerely for their contributions”.

We also welcomed 21 new citizens from United Kingdom, India, Oman, South Africa, England, China, Canada and Singapore to our municipality, in an important part of the proceedings committing them to being active members of Australian society, joining thousands of other Australians who celebrated their citizenship on Australia Day.

"Citizenship is a life-long commitment to Australia’s shared values, including respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual, the rule of law and democracy, and equality of opportunity for all people,” Mayor Holmdahl said.

"Each year we are privileged to welcome new Australians to our growing community and look forward to sharing in their culture, and paying tribute to the diversity of experiences which we all bring".