Bland Shire Council has added a special new category to the 2022 Australia Day awards.
As well as the traditional categories including Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year, community and sporting awards, Council is now calling for nominations for the COVID-19 Community Champion award.
The new award aims to recognise the large number of special individuals who have helped the community navigate COVID-19 over the last two years either through their paid employment or as a volunteer.
Bland Shire Council General Manager Ray Smith said COVID-19 has presented a number of unique and unforeseen challenges and interruptions to normal life and the special individuals who have led the community response deserve special recognition through the Community Champion award.
Mr Smith said the Australia Day awards are also an important opportunity to recognise the many outstanding recent and long standing achievements and contributions to local sport and community life.
“2021 has thrown up a whole new set of unique challenges which have once again highlighted the spirit and resilience of this incredible community,” Mr Smith said.
“By taking so many things away, this year has highlighted the integral role that local community groups and sporting organisations play in community life and the special volunteers who keep them going.
“It would be fitting to see each of these individuals and groups recognised with an Australia Day award nomination so we can collectively as a community say thank you and well done.”
Nominations are now open for the 2022 Bland Shire Australia Day awards in the categories of Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Achievement in Sport, Contribution to Sport, Community Event of the Year, Community Group of the Year and the COVID-19 Community Champion.
The Australia Day awards have attracted some outstanding nominees in recent years which have presented the judging panel with some agonising decisions when choosing award recipients.
For those people who may have narrowly missed out on receiving an award in previous years, Mr Smith is encouraging people to consider nominating them again.
“Each year judges have a tough time deciding between some excellent candidates and unfortunately we don’t often see those who narrowly missed out nominated again in future years,” Mr Smith said.
“This is the perfect time to nominate anyone who has made a positive contribution to the Bland Shire and celebrate their achievements.”
People can nominate online via Council’s website at www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au, collect a hard copy nomination form from Council’s offices at 6 Shire Street, West Wyalong or call Council on 0269722266 to arrange to have a nomination form or link sent out.
