Mount Gambier City Council has announced its 2022 Australia Day Award winners.
Citizen of the Year will be awarded to Adam Smith, Senior Citizen of the Year will be presented to Joan Osmond and Lorraine Musgrove, Young Citizen of the Year will be awarded to Julia Dangerfield, the Community Event of the Year will be presented to Blue Lake Carols and the Active Citizenship Award will be given to the Mount Gambier Men’s Shed ‘Toy Boys’.
Mayor Lynette Martin said the awards recognised individuals and community groups that have made a noteworthy contribution to the community during the past year, and/or have provided outstanding service over many years.
“There are many members of our community who consistently go above and beyond to help others and it is a real pleasure to highlight their efforts to give back to the community as part of the annual Australia Day Award honours,” she said.
“We certainly have very deserving winners this year and I look forward to meeting with and congratulating each of the award recipients on Australia Day.”
The Australia Day Awards are administered by local government authorities throughout the state on behalf of the Australia Day Council of South Australia.
Due to a surge in local COVID cases, Mount Gambier’s Australia Day celebrations will be modified to reduce risk to the local community.
The council’s Australia Day Awards will be presented to recipients at an invitation only event to be held at City Hall on January 26 between 9am and 10am.
Mayor Martin said award recipients and a very limited number of guests will be invited to attend to ensure attendees were able to socially distance from one another and minimise the risk of the spread of COVID.
“It saddens me to announce that council will not hold the much-loved annual community event in its usual format,” she said.
“Due to concerns around the spread of COVID, we have cancelled the public breakfast and program of music and will relocate the Australia Day Awards presentation to include a small gathering of invited guests.
“The safety of our community during these uncertain times is at the forefront of our minds in making this decision.”
The awards ceremony will be livestreamed to council’s YouTube channel for those who would like to tune in at www.youtube.com/user/CityOfMountGambier/live
