Australia Day award recipients for Mid Coast

David is a former president of the Rotary Club of Taree, member of the Friends of the Gallery, board member of Manning Valley Anglican College, warden at the St John’s Anglican Church in Taree, a past president of the Old Bar Men’s Shed and an active member of the Taree Arts Council.

David is joined in the Manning region by Marylyn Sendah, Young Citizen of the Year, motorcyclist Josh Hook who was awarded the Ken McDonald Memorial Sportstar of the Year Award, and Taree Quota Club’s ‘Red Umbrella Appeal’ as Activity of the Year.

According to MidCoast Council’s Australia Day organising team, the selection panel had an incredibly difficult task selecting the winners for this year’s awards, with so many worthy nominees being brought to their attention.

At today’s Australia Day Awards, 11 very special local community members and event organisers from across the MidCoast Council area were acknowledged for their contribution to our region.

From tireless volunteers to incredible young role models, sporting heroes to cultural events for the whole community, this year’s winners are to be congratulated for helping to make the Mid Coast region a better place.

Gloucester’s Citizen of the Year for 2019 is Jade-Marie Spencer, an active volunteer for a range of organisations and groups that assist the Gloucester community including Gloucester Rotary, Gloucester Showground Committee, Gloucester Prostate Cancer Support Group and the Gloucester Country Pullers Association.

Andrew Hughes was named as Gloucester’s Young Citizen of the Year, Courtney Webeck as Gloucester’s Sportsperson of the Year, and the Lions Club of Gloucester took out Activity of the Year for its ‘Need for Feed’ fundraiser providing valuable drought relief.

Citizen of the Year for the Great Lakes region is Peter Craig, a former Apex member, a long term Glaica House committee member, a volunteer with the IronMan event when it was held at Forster, and part of the management committee at Cape Hawke Hospital. Peter has also been logistics director for Relay For Life, tutored for adult education, and volunteers for the Tuncurry Hall Committee.

Other award-winners in Great Lakes include accomplished footballer Riley Van Haren as Sportsperson of the Year, and the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Motor Club as Activity of the Year for its ‘Motorfest’ event.

“It was great to see everyone come together to help celebrate Australia Day, and to acknowledge our local heroes,” MidCoast Council mayor, Cr David West said.

“A big thankyou to all those people who took the time to nominate their fellow Aussies in this year’s awards. Seeing so many nominations submitted is a terrific reminder of the community spirit that remains alive and well across the Mid Coast.”

Official Australia Day ceremonies were held at Taree, Forster and Gloucester. Citizenship ceremonies were also part of the local Australia Day program, welcoming 37 new citizens to the Mid Coast region.

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