Access awards launch has proud stories on display
24 May 2017
Nominations now open for fifth annual Tweed access and inclusion awards
The Tweed’s proud stories of an inclusive community were on display when the 2017 Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion awards were officially launched on Monday.
The official opening of nominations for the fifth annual awards – held to recognise achievements and innovation by individuals and groups to make the Tweed more accessible – was held amid the stories of 11 Tweed residents with disability, told as part of a new exhibition at Tweed Regional Museum Murwillumbah.
The Untold Stories: Living With Ability exhibition provided a wonderful setting to kick start this year’s Access and Inclusion Awards, according to Councillor Warren Polglase, a delegate on the Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee.
Cr Polglase, who officially opened the 2017 awards, said the personal accounts depicted in the exhibition and the achievements of individuals, businesses and community groups recognised by the awards were all stories that needed to be shared with everyone in the Tweed community.
“The award recipients and all the nominees are leaders in our community. They are setting the pace for important changes in our community and it’s fantastic that these awards are recognising their efforts,” he said.
“As the awards continue to grow in size, having the launch here brings community attention to the Untold Stories exhibition and the important insight it provides.”
Monday’s launch was attended by several of the people featured in the exhibition, including access advisory committee members and awards organisers Suzy Hudson, Milena Morrow and Una Cowdroy.
Ms Hudson told the launch ceremony the level of accessibility and inclusion in the Tweed had improved considerably and much of that progress could be attributed to the access committee and initiatives such as the awards.
“The difference between the Tweed and places that do not have an access committee is just incredible,” she said.
“Untold Stories will bring even more understanding in the Tweed because each of the people featured have been given the chance to tell their stories in their own words.”
Further information and nomination forms for this year’s awards are now available at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/AccessInclusionAwards, with printed copies available at Council’s Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah offices.
The form has a new format to help guide people through their nominations.
More details are also available by emailing kcollins@tweed.nsw.gov.au or by phoning (02) 6670 2442.
Downloads
Photo 1(JPG, 133KB)
Caption: Back row: Tweed Regional Museum Director Judy Kean, Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee Chair Wendy Gilbett and Community Development Officer – Ageing and Disability Karen Collins. Front row: Alzheimer's Australia NSW Project Officer Christine Vannucci, Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion Awards Patron Billy Chaffey, Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee member Suzi Hudson, who is featured in the Untold Stories exhibition, and Barbara Carroll from Murwillumbah Community College, which won the overall award at the 2016 Access Awards
Photo 2(JPG, 140KB)
Caption: Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee member Suzi Hudson, who is featured in the Untold Stories exhibition, Barbara Carroll from Murwillumbah Community College, which won the overall award at the 2016 Access Awards, and Awards Patron Bill Chaffey.