All the Australia Day award nominees were worthy recipients of the honour, Melton mayor Sophie Ramsey said as she announced this year’s winners.
At Melton council’s Australia Day celebrations last Thursday, there was lots to celebrate – many people who’d worked selflessly to help others, and the 180 who were being welcomed as new Australian citizens
This year’s top gong – citizen of the year – went to Alan Perry for his dedication to his community and many volunteer organisations.
Ten-year-old Amy Bell was named young citizen of the year. The pint-sized star rallied 38 riders for the Steer North Bike Ride, raising more than $800.
Melton’s woman of the year award was given to Joy Lawn – a tireless volunteer at the L2P program.
She’s mentored 16 young people and clocked up 960 driver training hours.
The Western Emergency Relief Network – which helps people doing it tough – was named community project of the year.
The group has only been around for 18 months, but in the past financial year helped more than 500 families and collected upwards of 400,000 items.
Barb and Bob Patterson have been foster carers to children with disabilities for the past two decades.
The duo were named the access and inclusion leaders of the year for their tireless efforts.
Meanwhile in Moorabool, John Molesworth was named citizen of the year for his work with a number of volunteer organisations.
And in the young citizen of the year category, there were five winners – Natasha Ford, Tristan Mair, Brady Dunne, Anthony Young and Matthew Wetherall.
The youngsters trained as junior CFA members in District 15 and were nominated because of their commitment to protecting the community during the Scotsburn fires last year.
The Best Start Literacy Trail was named ‘community event of the year’.
