2012 Ballina Shire Australia Day Award Winners
Citizen of the Year - Colin Lee
Colin Lee has made it his personal duty to approach the local community, clubs and organisations to inspire and motivate many fundraising initiatives for the Our House project. Through Colin's vision, hard work and dedication to the project, the committee have raised more than $170,000. Throughout his life Col has contributed an extraordinary amount of time and energy to community service and consequently the Ballina Shire has benefited greatly from his presence.
Young Citizen of the Year - Jason Sines Jnr
A proud descendent of the Bundjalung nation, Jason is one of Ballina Shire's impressive young students. In 2011, Jason was president of the Student Representative Council and LEO, the young lions club and was awarded dux of Ballina High School, being the first Aboriginal student to receive such an acclaim. He was also nominated and chosen on the North Coast's Student Equity Advisory Team, where he travelled to Sydney on a number of occassions and was involved in video conferencing each month to discuss what the individual schools had achieved towards equity. In November last year Jason completed a pre-medical clinic with the University of NSW and is going on to study medicine in March. Jason is a wonderful role model and we wish him all the best for his studies.
Volunteers of the Year - Richard Lutze, Dawn Sword, Christopher Cook
Richard Lutze is a man who epitomises community spirit. Richard, since joining the Alstonville Apex Club in 1993, has been instrumental in setting up and coordinating the Alstonville New Years Eve Family Festival and a number of other Alstonville based not for profit community events. Richard also uses his profession as a building designer to provide advice to various community organisations. Richard has been a leading light in the Alstonville community and for a young man has shown that you can raise a family, run a successful business and also give generously to the community.
Dawn Sword is an active member of a number of community organisations including the East Ballina Lions Club, Lennox Head View Club, Meals on Wheels, Relay for Life, Southern Cross School Leos Club and the Combined Services Club. Dawn brings dreams for the Ballina Shire to fruition through determination, dedication, self discipline and effort. The community service Dawn provides to the Ballina Shire is second to none. Dawn is much more than a volunteer, she is someone who creates positive change wherever she goes.
Christopher Cook is a true inspirational role model. Christopher, who carries his own disability, has overcome a number of personal struggles to become both a successful athlete and founding member of Northern Rivers 'Sailability', an organisation who teach sailing to profoundly disabled persons. Chris has had an outstanding career himself, with a number of Australian and World Championship honours. He has and continues to be a leader in his field. A truely fitting accolade.
Sports Person of the Year - Jacqueline Freeney
With a string of gold, silver and bronze medals. paralympic swimmer Jacqueline Freeney received the award for sports person of the year. An outstanding achievement for a young lady who has overcome difficulties experienced by cerebal palsy. Currently training hard Jacqueline has her sights set on the London olympics. Blessed with an ability to take on the world, Jacqueline is one Australia's future stars.
Community Event of the Year - Ballina Shire Our House Fundraising Committee
Formed in October 2010, the Our House committee, which houses representatives from all major service clubs in the Shire, was established to build 'Our House', a Ronald McDonald style low cost accommodation facility for cancer patients and their families. The committee, with a fundraising goal of $100,000, has now raised over $170,000, an unprecedented success. Our House will be built on the corner of Hunter Street and Shepherd Lane, opposite Lismore Base Hospital.