Being a positive role model in the lives of young gymnasts has earned Millicent’s Fiona McDonald much deserved recognition.
The 23-year-old has been announced as the 2022 recipient of the Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award for the Corcoran Ward of Wattle Range Council.
Mayor Des Noll personally informed Fiona she had been nominated for the prestigious award.
“I was at the gym doing some work when I got the call.
“I was very shocked to get a call from the Mayor,” Fiona said.
“I had no idea he was going to inform me that I had been named the Young Citizen of the Year.
“I thought to myself, ‘Oh wow, it is so great to have this recognition in the community’.”
Introduced as the club’s new head coach at the start of last year, Fiona has been an asset to the gymnastics community.
Fiona’s long held desire has been to oversee a gymnastics club.
When the opportunity at her old stomping ground arose, she jumped at the chance.
“My overall goal coming into the role at the start of 2021 was to touch people’s lives in a positive way by providing a variety of different gymnastics classes to all ages and abilities,” she said.
“To see the development and growth within individuals and help them achieve their goals.
“I did not enter the role expecting to receive awards.
“It has been an extra bonus for me to get this type of recognition.
“The reminder that I must be making a difference in the community and in people’s lives.
“As there is still so much more I’d like to offer and do for the members, I sometimes forget how far I have come.
“I have always wanted to give others the opportunities that I was lucky enough to experience within the sport.”
In a committed effort to accomplish this Fiona has graduated a Bachelor of Business, Sports and Recreation Management at the University of South Australia.
She also has an Intermediate WAG (Women’s Artistic Gymnastics) GFA (Gymnastics for All), FFL (Fitter for Life) and KG (KinderGym) coaching accreditations, a certificate in fitness, along with Intermediate WAG and MAG judging accreditations.
Currently she is studying for advanced coaching accreditation and further intermediate accreditations in a variety of related fields.
A level eight gymnast, Fiona has been involved in five different gymnastics clubs, which included volunteering her time as a coach and mentor.
There has been no shortage of hard work in the past 12 months, with new classes including parkour, birthday parties and the return of men’s gymnastics.
“I would like to especially thank all my past coaches over 23 years for the experiences I have been lucky enough to have, which has led to myself offering similar opportunities in my current role.
“As well as family and friends for their continued support,” she said.
Fiona attributes her deep passion for gymnastics to her mother Gaye and father Greg who first introduced their daughter to the sport from a young age.
Mayor Noll said he was impressed with the calibre of this year’s nominations.
“Each of the 2022 award winners has made a valuable contribution to the Wattle Range community and are worthy of such recognition,” he said.
As part of the yearly rotation, Mayor Noll will be attending the Millicent function to present the Corcoran awards and officiate a citizenship ceremony.
Other awards will be presented by respective ward councillors at the respective council ward breakfasts.
Wattle Range Australia Day breakfast functions will begin at 8am on January 26 at Jubilee Park in Millicent, Penola War Memorial Park, Beachport at Lagoon Reserve in Beachport and at the Kalangadoo Institute.
In addition, Tantanoola will have a community lunch at the railway lands from 12.30pm while Southend will have an Australia Day event on the western beach from 2pm.
