Australia Day Awards

Each year, Council calls for nominations from the community for the annual Australia Day Awards.

The awards recognise individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the Yarra community whether through community service, or service in the fields of sport, arts and culture, environment or business and economic development.

The winners are announced each Australia Day.

Here is some information about Yarra’s 2010 Australia Day Award winners:

Citizen of the Year - Barnabus Bol Kuot

Barnabas is a key leader in Yarra’s rapidly-expanding Sudanese community. His achievements include establishing the Fitzroy Sudanese Community Association and forming the Southern Sudanese Community of Australia. He was also responsible for securing funding to have the All Saints Parish Hall in Fitzroy refurbished, which is now heavily-used by members of the Sudanese and Vietnamese communities and Catholic parishioners in general.

Young Citizen of the year - Ayel Akot

At 15 years of age, Ayel is a mentor, role model and leader to many young people in Yarra. Ayel is involved in numerous programs that are run through Yarra Youth Services and other community organisations. She is a volunteer dance instructor for the Junior African Dance Class, helps teach basketball skills to children with special needs through the Collingwood All Stars basketball Program, and is a mentor to participants in   the Young Women’s Basketball program and the Teenage Holiday Program.

Community Service of the Year - Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House

Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House provides critical community support services to the Richmond community, with a particular focus on providing support to residents from disadvantaged backgrounds. The house supports playgroups, friendship groups for women, market groups for people with limited access to transport, computer and literacy classes, music-making classes, community lunches, and community empowerment initiatives such as the Cultural Catering program (which develops employment prospects and skills for disadvantaged women by providing training in food handling and catering.)

Community Event of the Year - Gertrude Street Projection Festival

The week-long Gertrude Street Projection Festival took place in July 2009. Various sites along Gertrude Street were converted into an outdoor art gallery with animations, digital stills and videos projected onto pavement, buildings and walls. Entry was open to artists – both local and international - as well as to the local community. Many local businesses and artists volunteered their time, space or services to the festival to ensure its success.

 

 

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Further information

Michael Ward
Community and Civic Events Officer
Telephone 9205 5086
Email Michael.Ward@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site

 

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Victoria Online

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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