Several residents from across Wingecarribee Shire have been nominated for the Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year Awards for their significant contribution to the community.
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This year's ceremony will be live-streamed via Wingecaribee Shire Council's website from 10-11.30am Wednesday, January 26. The council extends an invitation to any resident to watch and be part of this event.
Find out who's been nominated below:
Citizen of the Year nominees 2022
Mr Alex Baturnsky
Alex Baturnsky is a committed social worker and has given a significant part of his life helping others. He is dedicated to enriching the lives of young residents during in need.
Alex is passionate about his role and provide support and advocate to achieve the best care possible for a young person requiring assistance.
As a workers' delegate for many years he has also provided support to many staff members and faced numerous challenges with great composure and always a supportive attitude. He has maintained a high profile in the community and is respected by many.
Mrs Natalie Block
As a resident of Berrima, Natalie has been instrumental in the promotion and unity of the Berrima Business Community. Natalie launched the Explore Berrima Brochure with over 40 business contributing. The results saw the business and community come together.
Natalie was instrumental in assisting local shops throughout the Bushfires and COVID. She actively promotes the township via social media and is always assisting others in the village to ensure the town is getting the promotion and image it deserves.
Natalie is passionate about the town of Berrima and works tirelessly to promote and organise events locally for the business and community. She never asks for anything and only gives back to her community.
Mr John Lineker
It is because of people like John Lineker that Harbison can support its residents and continue to provide our community the wonderful service that it has over more than 60 years.
In 2010 John's late wife became a resident at Harbison and it was during this time that his involvement with Harbison commenced. He began to spend time in "Alpine" where he identified that "another pair of hands related to the care" would not go astray. He helped by doing small things - serving meals, helping to keep an eye on people living there, and so on.
John says that the carers were very helpful to him and taught him that the secret of looking after people in aged care, particularly those living with dementia, was to really get to know them. John found that the carers he worked with knew all about the residents. They encouraged John to do the same and he embraced that advice as he increased his involvement, to the point where he attends Harbison's Moss Vale facility as a volunteer Mondays through to Fridays, including valuable work manning the "shop" there.
John has been selfless in his volunteering and has never done anything for gain or recognition.
Mr Eric Savage
Eric is an outstanding community member and has demonstrated a tireless devotion to the Shire. He is a long-term resident of Berrima is passionately concerned for the village in which he lives and the wider Shire.
He has shown his commitment to the community while volunteering for the National Trust, and as Chair of the Berrima Residents' Association and his going environmental community activism.
His work with the National Trust includes Chair of Harper's Mansion at Berrima, where this significant historical site is of importance to the whole Shire. He undertakes voluntary work with diligence, professionalism and a strong commitment to preserving this site for generations to come.
As the Chair of the Berrima Resident's Association, he has let the community in important initiatives to ensure the voice of the residents are heard in a range of forums. He has worked extensively to fund raise for the activities of the association and to ensure the community feel included and well represented. Eric played an active role in the campaign to overturn the proposed coal mine at Berrima and worked to ensure that residents were consulted and informed of developments. This successful campaign has enhanced the status of Wingecarribee Shire as a 'Coal Free' community.
Eric is a person of integrity and someone who is entirely devoted to the wellbeing of the community. His selfless devotion and leadership have advanced the standing of the Shire.
2022 Young Citizen Nominees
Miss Grace Howard
Even with the limited opportunities presented by COVID, Grace Howard has still found ways to give back to her school and wider community. She is a valuable member and mentor to her Chevalier College peers.
Grace is an active member of the Chevalier College Cattle Showing Team and shares her knowledge and skills with the younger members. During the 2021 Higher School Certificate (HSC) trail exams, Grace acted as HSC Reader assisting students who needed guidance with reading.
As a recipient of the Illawarra Academy of Sports Scholarship representing Hockey and a Southern Highlands Representative team captain, Grace dedicates her time to encouraging others and sharing her skills and knowledge to guide her team to the State Championships.
She is a regular volunteer at the Bowral Show, where she assists with the set up and the general running of events during showtime.
Grace strives to be a positive role model for her fellow students and enjoys assisting and supporting others wherever possible. She looks forward to continuing to provide her time and service to the local community.
Mr Jeremy Millward
As the 2022 Moss Vale High School Captain, Jeremy is also a R U OK ambassador and is an outstanding advocate for Mental Health and Wellbeing both within his school environment and the wider community. He has developed and implemented several permanent initiatives to assist students with the day to day pressures of school life.
Jeremy volunteers his time weekly encouraging students to take part in positive peer led discussion and has raised funds to assist with research, awareness and programs for Mental Health.
During 2021, Jeremy was awarded the Stephen Jones Active Citizenship Award for his contributions and due to his ongoing efforts in suicide prevention, Jeremy became the recipient on the Young Conversation Champion Award the 2021 Barbara Hocking Memorial Awards.
Jeremy inspires others to be their best and is a support to those who are struggling. He aims to continue working towards his goals and initiatives within his school and wider community.
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