Local heroes recognised at 2022 Community Citizen of the Year awards

Local individuals and groups that have made outstanding positive contributions to the Mandurah community have been awarded during the Australia Day ceremony and celebrations recently.

 

Local champions who give outstanding service to their community were recognised for the 2022 Community Citizen of the Year Awards, which celebrate significant contributions to community life in all local government areas of Western Australia.

 

Mayor Rhys Williams said this year’s winners had shown immense community spirit by helping to make Mandurah a better place and uplift the people around them.

 

“Our winners have all played outstanding roles within our community, and are very deserving of these accolades,” Mayor Williams said.

 

“I’m continually impressed and proud of how people step up to help others and come together to support this great community,” he said.

 

The 2022 Community Citizen of the Year Award winners are:

 

Jeremy is the paramedic who attended the scene of a tragic accident where a local school boy lost his life. He turned this tragedy into an opportunity for the community to promote road safety for all children. Jeremy has worked tirelessly with schools to promote road safety awareness. He has attended road safety meetings, still wearing his uniform, directly from his night shift and his passion and drive for promoting road safety is unparalleled.

 

Dylan’s volunteer contribution to the Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club has made a significant impact on the successful year of not only the club, but also it’s members. He is a tireless volunteer who never hesitates to step up to help out the club and his fellow members. Having achieved a Cert II in coaching, Dylan volunteers to help with surf sports support and providing swim coaching from Little Nippers through to Masters.

 

Gary reaches out to residents with special needs, breaks down barriers and helps to improve their quality of life. Involved with local organisations Fishability and Sail into Life, Gary has lent his expertise to helping residents access fishing and sailing opportunities, learning new skills and connecting with their peers.

 

Mandurah Starfish Nippers is an inclusive, modified lifesaving program that develops and enhances Surf Lifesaving skills with children who have limited abilities and disabilities. It’s run through the Mandurah Surf Life Saving Club. The program’s major aim is to ensure that participants do not feel excluded on the beach or feel like they’re in a separate Surf Lifesaving program. The Club achieves this by running the Starfish Nippers program at the same time as Woodside Nippers.

 

The Community Citizen of the Year Awards are organised by Auspire – the Australia Day Council of Western Australia, and have been running since 2003.