Congratulations to our 2018 Australia Day Award winners
26 January 2018
Tweed Shire’s top Australia Day honour has gone to a Vietnam Veteran who has spent three decades raising funds for a wide variety of local charities.
Kevin Palmer, who friends describe as an ordinary man and a hard worker, has been named 2018 Tweed Shire Citizen of the Year. The Murwillumbah local is well known for conducting weekly raffles at various venues to benefit charities including Legacy, Tweed Palliative Care, Riding for the Disabled and the State Emergency Service.
Mr Palmer was one of a number of local heroes honoured at the official Australia Day ceremony this morning, where 42 citizens from 12 different countries also became Australian citizens. The awards were presented by Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne and her fellow Councillors.
The Volunteer of the Year Award has been shared between two recipients, Tumbulgum Community Association President Jenny Kidd and Pat Tate from the Banora Point and District Progress Association.
Ms Kidd has been honoured for her work in the Tumbulgum community following the March 2017 flood when she worked to coordinate the efforts of Council, Rural Fire Brigade, the SES and other organisations. Nominated twice, she is well known in her local community as a tireless worker who devotes significant time and effort to her role.
Ms Tate has been honoured for many decades of service in a variety of volunteer roles. Known for her dedication and tenacity, she was awarded Lifetime Membership to the Banora Point and District Residents Association in tribute to her service.
The Young Achiever in Community Service Award (under 25 years) has been awarded for the second year in a row to Sam Smith. In the past year he organised the second Kids in Need (KIN) School Day, raising $3850 and organised a fundraising lunch with author and former Wallaby Peter Fitzsimons which raised a further $3000.
The Australia Day Award for Sporting Achievement goes to a young athlete who has represented the Tweed nationally and internationally in two different sports. At just 16, Anthea Warne has represented Australia in surf lifesaving at the Commonwealth Life Saving Championships in South Africa and in canoeing at the Olympic Hopes International Regatta in the Czech Republic.
The Community Event of the Year Award has gone to the Charity Cup Touch Football Tournament. The Charity Cup was run for the first time in Cabarita six years ago and is organised by a group of young men who saw a need to assist those in the community who are less fortunate. In that time the tournament has raised more than $100,000 which has been distributed to more than 40 local individuals and groups.
The Arts and Cultural Achievement Award goes to a local high school which is becoming known for a consistently high standard of creative output. Staff and students at Wollumbin High School have won the award for their annual MADD Concert highlighting music, drama and dance performances and involving more than 150 students from Years 7 to 12. The concerts provide students with professional level experience, in both onstage and backstage roles, and have inspired a number of former students go on to seek careers in various creative industries.
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Photo 1(JPG, 119KB)
Caption: The 2018 Tweed Shire Australia Day Awards recipients
Photo 2(JPG, 108KB)
Caption: Mayor of Tweed, Cr Katie Milne with the 2018 Tweed Citizen of the Year, Kevin Palmer