Time to recognise our finest citizens

Warrnambool is the centrepiece of Australia’s most liveable region.

Along with its superb location and great educational and employment opportunities, the city’s liveability is built on the efforts of the people who call Warrnambool home.

The annual Warrnambool Australia Day awards provide an opportunity to recognise the people who make Warrnambool such a great place to live and work.

Nominations for the 2020 awards are now open.

“These awards are a wonderful opportunity to recognise and pay tribute to the people who help make Warrnambool such a liveable place,” Warrnambool Mayor Cr Tony Herbert said.

“We all know people who, in their own time, go about helping other people in our community.

“Here is your chance to have them recognised.”

Categories include Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Event of the Year and the Local Achiever Award.

Chair of the Australia Day Awards Committee Bronwen Levett said it was easy to nominate someone and encouraged people to make nominations.

“Every year there is plenty of online discussion about worthy potential nominees – we want to see those discussions turn into nominations.

“So go to www.yoursaywarrnambool.com.au and make a nomination.

“We have a range of award categories which provides plenty of scope to have people honoured for the work they do.

“We find those who receive awards are really pleased and it means something to have the recognition of a nomination coming from within the community.”

The 2019 Warrnambool Citizen of the Year Janet Macdonald said she received plenty of positive feedback after being presented with her award.

“You don’t volunteer to do things hoping you will be recognised. You are doing it because you enjoy it and you enjoy working with the people around you,” Ms Macdonald said.

“So when you are recognised it is very pleasant.”

Nominations close on November 18, 2019.

The categories explained

Citizen of the Year: must live in the Warrnambool municipality and be an Australian citizen; must have demonstrated significant involvement in the broader Warrnambool community; demonstrated leadership and given outstanding community service over a number of years that has improved the quality of life of others in a predominantly unpaid capacity.

Young Citizen of the Year: must live in the Warrnambool municipality and be an Australian citizen aged between 16 and 30 years; must have demonstrated significant involvement in the Warrnambool community, demonstrated leadership and given outstanding community service.

Community Event of the Year: must be held in the Warrnambool municipality and the groups or individuals organising the event must be based or reside in Warrnambool; event will have benefited the community or a community charity or project.

Local Achiever: must be an Australian citizen who has made a significant contribution to a specific Warrnambool area or activity that has benefited the community; must have demonstrated leadership.

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