Awards for our finest
THE Surf Coast Shire and Borough of Queenscliffe will celebrate people who are enriching their communities at Australia Day Awards.
Julie Stevens is the Surf Coast Shire Australia Day Award Citizen of the Year winner, and was recognised for a list of community contributions.
Among her contributions, the Torquay resident sells homemade items at the Spring Creek Community House, with the money going towards MOTHERS (Mothers Offering Time, Hope, Engagement, Refugee Support), a group which assists refugee families in Corio.
Volunteer Dan Smith is the shire’s Young Citizen of the Year. The 18-year-old has accumulated 52 lifesaving certificates as a member of Jan Juc Surf Life Saving Club, and did 164 hours of voluntary patrol last season. He has also taken up volunteering positions with Bellbrae CFA and the Torquay Marine Rescue Service.
The Lorne Pier to Pub has claimed the shire’s award for Community Event of the Year.
In the Borough of Queenscliffe, Rob Hurley, who was principal of Queenscliff High School and oversaw its evolution into Bellarine Secondary College, is Citizen of the Year.
Mr Hurley, a resident of the borough for more than 30 years, has been an active member in multiple community organisations, and has continued to volunteer since his retirement from the Department of Education in 2001.
Belle Kidd and Alexandra Scorgie are the joint winners of the Borough of Queenscliffe’s Young Citizen of the Year award.
Belle has been a member of the Point Lonsdale Surf Live Saving Club for more than seven years and was junior club captain in the 2016-17 season. Alexandra is a gifted athlete, whose achievements include being named the most valuable player and highest goal scorer in the Under-16 State Water Polo Championships.
The Queenscliff Primary School’s Biggest Morning Tea is the Community Event of the Year. Last year’s morning tea raised $1300 for the Cancer Council Australia, almost six times the amount raised at its first event in 2015.
Conservation Volunteers Australia, which started its relationship with the borough in 2013 and in following years removed huge amounts of weeds and rubbish, is the Community Environment Project of the Year.
Veteran Geelong CFA firefighter Glenn Jennings will receive the Australian Fire Service Medal for his outstanding commitment to emergency services in Victoria.