Members of the community congregated at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre last Friday for the annual Australia Day awards ceremony.
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The awards ceremony served as an official recognition of Bathurst’s Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year as well as announcing the recipients of Community Event of the Year and Destination Event of the Year.
The winners of the Youth Arts Award and Jo Ross Memorial Award were also announced.
Bathurst Citizen of the Year Genevieve Croaker was honoured for her extensive community work in the field of health, notably as a volunteer at Daffodil Cottage.
“Community volunteering provides us with the opportunity to give back in a variety of beneficial ways,” Ms Croaker said.
Young Citizen of the Year Holly Davis was recognised for her outstanding efforts in leadership and sporting programs.
“My platform for this year is to aim to eliminate bullying in schools and the workplace,” Ms Davis said.
Three immensely creative students contested this year’s Youth Arts Award.
The award went to Anna McPhail for her virtuosic talents on the piano.
“I’d like to thank my amazing teacher Elena Day-Hakker and my family for all their support,” Ms McPhail said.
For the Community Event of the Year, recognition went to the stunning effort the Bathurst RSL Sub Branch put into organising the 2018 Rememberance Day celebrations.
“It was a popular community event right from the time the ladies of Bathurst started to knit the 10,000 poppies that appeared on the Carillon,” Bathurst RSL Sub Branch president David Mills said.
The Bathurst Outdoor Expo and Christmas Markets were the proud winners of Destination Event of the Year.
“We started off as a small craft fair 25 years ago, and the event has now expanded into a truck show, swap meet and a Christmas market,” event organiser Debbie Campbell said.
In recognition of 60 years of service to Bathurst’s environmental sector, Daryl and Norah Taylor were awarded the Jo Ross Memorial Award for their efforts.
The award is named after the late Jo Ross, who passed away in 2006.
“I was not expecting this award, and all I can say is thank you,” Mr Taylor said.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
