2024 Clarence Valley Citizens of Year Awards

Mark has made significant contributions to the Arts and Culture of the Clarence Valley over the past years. Mark is vital in the operation of Grafton Jacaranda Festival. Over the past five years, the Grafton Jacaranda Festival has seen a great boost in tourism attraction figures, local attendance, variety of activities and its direct and indirect support to local businesses. Mark has also worked to increase the variety of events and activities in the Clarence Valley by collaborating with creative partners to create new events for the community and tourist attraction. Mark’s commitment, passion and genuine concern for the community is remarkable and is an inspiration to many people.

Aneika is an extraordinary young leader who, in the last decade, has already made significant contribution to the Clarence community, with a long list of successful events, grant applications, projects and programs under her belt. She is a business-minded networker with a big heart. Aneika stands as an inspirational role model through her unwavering commitment and transformative impact on our community. Her leadership as the CEO and Founder of Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation reflects a deep sense of responsibility and compassion, making her an exemplar of positive change. Since Aneika has started the organisation Mudyala – it has just grown from strength to strength.

Kaitlyn independently hosted Clarence Valley Celebrates International Women’s Day in March 2021 where she raised a total of $1360.00 for the Clarence River Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Service. This year in October 2023, Kaitlyn participated in Run for Autism clocking a total of 60km while raising over $300 for those on the Spectrum. She opened her business “Kaitlyn’s Starlight Tutoring” in August 2020, where she educated 30+ students in Maths, Reading and Creative Arts.

During the floods, Phil went out of his way, while working for SES, to rescue heaps of people and worked very long hours into the night and fowling day. Phil serves in the SES.

Rex is president of the CP&A Society (Grafton Show) and has been a director for years. He is also chair of the Showground Management Committee. Mr Green as a qualified electrician gives his time maintaining electrical fittings at the Lawrence Museum Hall. He has overseen the upgrade of facilities on Grafton Showground. He has been a volunteer for Lower Southgate Fire Brigades, Grafton Pony Club (president for years) and also acted as an instructor and served on Lawrence P&C and Lawrence & Maclean Rodeos.

Allan works tirelessly for the betterment of people in the Clarence Valley. He has had the role of CRU3a president and also been a constant committee member in one capacity or another for many years. He is the driving force behind the Townsend U3a men’s shed which creates and provides a space that is available not only to the Men’s Shed members but also to other creative groups. Allan involves and avails himself to each group, helping to provide them with what they need to run their group successfully.

Most people have heard or noticed a monthly car meet at Grafton library carpark. Like many I thought it was a bunch of tyre kickers and rev heads. How wrong was I to assume in such a stereotypical manner! This ongoing event “Changing Lanes Changing Lives” initiated and organised by Zak has contributed significantly to the Clarence community across all ages and created a social connection in an inclusive, safe and welcoming environment. Zak has inspired many in the Clarence area by organising a professional event that continues to contribute, promote and nurture our diverse community. Zak’s innovation to expand on he’s personal interests to develop an event combining many local organisations to collaborate and continue to grow is a testament to he’s compassion for the Clarence community.

Sally continues to build a pathway for the future based on the needs of the animals and the community, continually upgrading skills and resources, so new programs can be put in place. Sally has an excellent reputation within the local community and many areas outside the Local Government Area for her business acumen and is often contacted by other animal shelters and people seeking advice about issues and caring for companion animals. Sally is an asset to the Clarence Valley and the wider community. As a fulltime volunteer for over 17 years, Sally has made a huge difference in the lives of animals who have no one else. Her contributions to our community are both seen and unseen.

Sue has done so much for communities all over the Clarence Valley and other areas helping people in need, and is always so friendly to all no matter who they are. She is always on the go to help no matter who they are. Without her we would have nothing to show.

Claire is the driving force behind the Clarence Valley’s ‘The Long Way Home’, an annual anthology in it’s 6th year. Claire is a published writer herself. Claire grew up in Melbourne but has lived most of her life in and around Grafton. Her short stories have been published in a number of collections and several have won prizes, including the Wet Ink/CAL Prize and the Hal Porter Prize. Claire is also an active member of the Friends of Susan & Elizabeth Islands, which is a volunteer bush regeneration group, whose aim is to conserve and restore native vegetation.

Justin has always advocated for the local business community within his business as a Design and Marketing professional, quite literally changing the visual face of Grafton’s business community. Justin has provided numerous supports for local business with Seminars and Local Radio shows giving listeners helpful tips and advice for business in the town of Grafton and surrounds. Justin was also an active member of the Gallery Foundation for some time, being apart of the work and fundraising for the Gallery redevelopment and extension.

Tom came to my home and assisted me to evacuate before a wild fire destroyed my property. He is a hero. He saved my life.

Vicki has made an impact on many young lives within the Clarence Valley. Each of the roles Vicki plays, have involved countless hours of work and have been undertaken in a voluntary capacity. However, her dedication to Girl Guides has not stopped at just being a leader on site once or twice a week. In Vicki’s 20+ years involvement in Guides she has forgone untold weekends and school holidays to train, plan and supervise camps for girls across the country. From planning a weekend light weight camp at Jackadgery for the Grafton girls to being one of the sub camp leader at an International Jamboree, Vicki has always undertaken the job with a smile and without complaint.

Aidan’s journey into fundraising for cancer patients began over two years ago after loosing his father the cancer. He knows the cost incurred by patients for treatment on a regular bases, visiting oncology sites, travelling out of the district for pet scans and radiation treatment etc. All money raised is distributed by the nurses in the oncology ward in the way of petrol, gift or food vouchers. Aidan is a kind, remarkable thoughtful young man. His generosity and love to help others is unmeasurable and he does all this with a very shy smile and an extremely big heart. I believe Aidan is amazingly generous and he is the epitome of what we should all aspire to.

Madeleine has made a significant contribution the Clarence community by working in a voluntary capacity in the organisation and implementation of the Grafton Jacaranda Festival events. Madeleine has volunteered in this capacity for the last 2 years. This year she has given up many hours of her time to assist with mentoring and supporting the Junior Jacaranda party. She has attended their fortnightly meetings for the past 12 months offering support and guidance to all Junior candidates. Madeleine has maintained excellent academic results whilst volunteering so much of her time and plans to continue her deep involvement in volunteering with the hope of one day being a Senior Candidate and being further involved in the community.

Scott embodies the spirit of resilience, dedication, and positivity that makes him a truly exceptional candidate for the Clarence Valley Council’s Young Citizen of the Year award. In addition to his professional achievements, Scott’s positive influence extends beyond the culinary world. At just 20 years old, Scott has demonstrated remarkable tenacity and an unwavering commitment to his craft as an apprentice chef at The Yamba Bowling Club. His exemplary teamwork and willingness to go above and beyond makes him a valuable asset to any community. Recognising Scott would not only honour his personal accomplishments but also celebrate the inspiring journey of a young individual who has turned challenges into opportunities, showcasing the limitless potential within us all.

Tom is an active member of the Rural Bush Fire Service. Tom assisted my neighbours to evacuate prior to the 2023 fires at Nymboida, saving older persons’ lives. He then came to my home with the Rural Fire Service and saved my rebuild and my life. He was active and kept visiting me for the entire period of the fire. Tom’s knowledge and expertise of fire control and management is exceptional and his care and commitment to saving lives is extraordinary. The values and traits he clearly has needs to be acknowledged and promoted in the community.

I find Kaitlyn to be a most caring and supportive person when it comes to community’s events. Kaitlyn is a very giving person when it comes to her supportive role in various charity work events and fundraisers, she is kind and a very sincere person to all the people she cares for and organisations. She participated in the run for Autism and hosted the community Christmas Party. I have known Kaitlyn for 3 years and I would definitely nominate her in this role.

Sally welcomes school kids, college students, NDIS, people who are interested in a career with companion animals and the wider community, to learn about the importance of responsible pet ownership. Sally continues to build a pathway for the future based on the needs of the animals and the community, continually upgrading skills and resources, so new programs can be put in place. Consulting with Veterinarians, Trainers, Animal Behaviourists and those who have adopted a pet. Sally has an excellent reputation within the local community and many areas outside the Local Government Area for her business acumen, and is often contacted by other animal shelters and people seeking advice.

Ursula and her team of volunteers at the Mend and Make Do Crew have supported many thousands of individuals and families through the fires and floods in the Clarence Valley and beyond in the last few years by providing free kits of goods to those in need. To date, 20,000 kits of all kinds have been distributed. Ursula and her helpers work tirelessly to run this not-for-profit social enterprise in South Grafton by repurposing donated items, and also selling some donated goods through her Op Shop to raise funding for some of her kit components. As well as being totally independently run, the venue is a safe haven for those seeking friendship and conversation.

Holly is an incredible survivor and truly brightens the days of all who cross her path. She is worthy of much recognition as most people are simply unaware of the challenges she faces each day. Holly has endured much adversity over the years, yet she has accomplished many wonderful things and continues to bring joy to the lives of all that she meets. Holly is the absolute epitome of a ‘Hero’ in my eyes and is a very worthy candidate!!

John is an inspiration to others who are considering becoming a volunteer by showing just how rewarding it can be and the satisfaction a person can achieve by knowing their unselfish efforts and willingness to freely give their time to others can change the lives of others. To others he is a role model in respect and how genuinely to be a kind, considerate and a giving person helping vulnerable members in the community. These sentiments are shared by all participants of the weekly Grafton Community Bus trip outings, where John is held in very high regard by them all.

Jan advises that she ‘just loves people’ and will do anything at anytime to help others – it is just part of her makeup. Jan tries to hide in the background, she does not like people putting the ‘spotlight’ on her because she truly believes its about the people/families in need not herself. Jan constantly amazes us with her drive, generosity of spirit , humanity and decency of being. Jan has also been out with the smaller communities of Malabugilmah delivering Psychological First-Aid skills to ensure First Nations communities are able to assist in evacuation centres and gathers information from our First Nations communities for much needed advice and direction (community led) in terms of emergency management.

Carolyn is an 81 year old volunteer, who has for more than 10 years now spent many days looking after people who are younger than what she is, all the nursing home staff love to have her around, she is cheeky and fun to be around.

From the time I met Lloyd in 1966 he has amazed me with his helpfulness. He helped my mother-in-law when her husband was working on the sick department, and we were in the army. He helps people around Copmanhurst all the time. Since my husband passed away Lloyd has helped me with mowing my lawns, taking out my garbage and will do any job I ask him without complaint. I believe Lloyd is deserving of being a local hero. He is a valuable carer for his family yet still puts his life aside to help others.

The Lions Club of Maclean has over the last 12 months successfully operated the Return and Earn Facility at Townsend. They have counted and sorted over 1,340,000 recyclable items and have paid out over $134,000 in cash to the members of the community for their 10cent refundable items. The club has been assisted by 12 ‘Friends of Lions’ who work with us at the facility on a rostered system every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday between 9.00am and 1.00pm. Many volunteers have said that the experience has contributed positively to their wellbeing and that they look forward to the camaraderie and social experiences, knowing that they are valued and appreciated.

Warm Touch members make and provide items (for free) such as rugs, beanies and bed socks to nursing homes, hospitals, people with special needs and the homeless. They also send out gifts and food boxes to drought affected farmers and bushfire victims. They provide “Knitted Knockers” to ladies who have undergone mastectomies.

These Juniors have been committed to training for the past 3 years that has seen some very impressive results for the valley. Last year September 2022 at state championships the team competed against 12 other junior teams from the state. This seen them with a great result of 3^rd overall for the state. This year in September 2023 they travelled to Douglas Park in Sydney for Australian Cadet Championships where the competed against 22 other teams in the nation. There were 8 events that tested their skills, knowledge and teamwork. This seen the Juniors come away with 1^st place in 3 events, 2^nd in 1 event and 3^rd in 2 events.

The Iluka Community Organisation Planning for Emergencies (ICOPE) have been operating for over 12 months and I believe the team of volunteers needs recognition for the services and the work they have provided for the community.

Adam’s heart is for the poor, the disadvantaged and all who are doing it tough. He is able to surround himself with volunteers and has served not only Maclean but in Glen Innes, the Richmond Valley (eg Kyogole), Grafton and other places setting up food hubs. Maclean Food Hub serves an average of 25 parcels per week. Lately we have been giving out 30 parcels. An additional 5 parcels a week for veggies only. The clients come from Shark Creek, Ilkua, Woombah, Jackie Bulbin, Ashby, Lawrence, Maclean, Harwood and Gulmarrad. Clients are of all age groups, single parents, both male & female and seniors.

Through the tireless work of the two main volunteers and of course the beautiful people of the Uniting Church who not only gifted the Food Bank a home base to start their charity but also have helped immensely with fund raising. Besides feeding countless people the Food Bank provides warm showers and clean fresh clothes all donated even ironed free of charge. They also provide a huge range of both female and male hygiene essential products.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service – Grafton Volunteer Support Group have been hosting events and raising funds for the helicopter service since 2012. In that time the support group has raised over $134,000 through an annual Helicopter High Tea, Barefoot Bowls Days and Bunnings Barbecues. As well as this, the group has assisted other organisations raising funds for the Rescue Helicopter such as the Grafton Sporting Car Club. The group comprises around 15 active members. Some of the Support Group members have been volunteering for the Helicopter Service for 26 years and most have volunteered for over 10 years.

Shayne and Courtney are extremely conscientious & caring members of the Clarence Valley community. Their enthusiasm and passion for the ocean is contagious for all who meet them. They run weekly surf grommets groups that have bought the community’s youth together in a safe and healthy space, where encouragement and support is the key to success; NOT competition. They have become trusted parts of so many families, with children learning not only to surf but to be great mates, support each other and to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. They welcome thousands of visitors to our area each year, and teach/coach surfing to groups & individuals, from beginners to the more experienced.

Gurehlgam Corporation is an Aboriginal-led and controlled, not-for-profit organisation that advocates for positive change and runs vital services and social programs for at-risk people in our community. Having said that, Gurehlgam incorporates programs for people from all backgrounds in all stages of life. They mainly work on Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr country, but this is set to change. They do exceptional work. The run a weekly program for the elderly in their Village Hub program on-site at the Aboriginal Healing Centre. Their Many Rivers program helps to provide legal aid to DV victims and their Tribal Dreaming program helps to support those who have been to jail and want to reintegrate in society. These are just some examples of how they help Close the Gap.

In Christmas 2022, Team Aidan held a huge market event in Grafton. This brought together like-minded people who were keen to assist with the fundraising and over time more business’ got on board to support the local fundraising initiative. Soon after the team took the fundraising to a new level and become Incorporated. As of November 2023, Team Aiden has raised $51,000 and donated it directly to the local Oncology unit at Grafton Base Hospital as petrol vouchers, food vouchers and Coles gift cards. This amount will increase in December 2023 with a huge market day & raffle currently being organised.

Southampton not only supports the Clarence Valley community with emergency responses they also volunteer to help in other ways. In the last 12 months Southampton participated in the Clarence Valley Relay for Life (in a team with Grafton City RFB) where not only did they walk for the whole day they also rolled and bowled fire hoses for 8 hours. Together these 2 RFBs raised over $3000 towards cancer research. They recently volunteered at the South Grafton McHappy day to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House. They also hold regular community education days, such as the recent Koala Awareness Day, where they provide information on bush fire plans and what to do in an emergency.

Happy Paws Haven considers itself to be an essential part of the community that values and respects non-human life. The impacts of animals on our lives cannot be overestimated. Happy Paws Haven wish to develop a facility that will not only be sustainable but will help carry us well into the future, providing ongoing care to our animals and education to those who love them. We also as far as possible, source our business and tradespeople locally. Happy Paws Haven aim take pressure off the pound by not only taking in surrendered and abandoned animals but maintaining our facilities to keep them as long as required.