The search for Lake Macquarie’s artistic, sporting, environmental and community heroes is on, with nominations now open for the 2024 Lake Mac Awards.
The annual awards celebrate the quiet achievers and unsung heroes who embody the spirit of Lake Mac, inspiring positive change across the city through their everyday actions.
Many of the 2023 crop of award winners have excelled since being recognised.
Ambassador Matt Dun made further breakthroughs in childhood cancer research, Sports Star Jesse Southwell surged to a second consecutive NRLW premiership and Senior of the Year Astrid Hocking continued to champion the need for child protection awareness through Umbrella Hearts.
Ms Hocking, a 2023 NSW Senior Australian of the Year nominee, will take on a role as a community judge and committee member for the 2024 Lake Mac Awards.
“Since being named Lake Mac Senior of the Year, I’ve been even more focused to raise awareness around the importance of child protection; I feel more responsibility that comes with that award as well,” she said.
“I’d really like to see Lake Macquarie be known as a council and city renowned for their passion for child protection.
“I was humbled to be nominated let alone win the award, and I was equally humbled to be asked to join the awards committee to see and understand more about all the wonderful things that are happening in our community.”
The 2024 awards feature a new category – ‘Outstanding Contributor with Disability’ – to acknowledge the valuable work being achieved in our community by people of all abilities.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the new award was a re-imagining of the former Sports Star with Disability category, reprised to include all aspects of community contribution.
“Our city is full of wonderful individuals making Lake Macquarie an ideal place to live through their selfless and community minded efforts, including many who do so while facing personal barriers,” she said.
“It’s important we recognise these outstanding contributions, irrespective of the field in which they are made, and celebrate the work of our diverse and inclusive community.”
Nominations can be lodged online at lakemac.awardsplatform.com before 17 November, with many categories now accepting group and individual entries.
Finalists and category winners will be recognised at a gala ceremony on 22 March 2024.
