Australia Day 2004 Winners

Celebrating our top citizens on Australia Day
While many enjoyed the fun and entertainment laid on for Australia Day, it was also an opportunity to recognise our top Shire citizens.

The Australia Day Awards are always hotly contested and this year’s top award – Wyong Shire Citizen of the Year – went to Peter Hollier.

Peter was the local Fire Controller with Wyong Rural Fire Service for eight years from 1994 to 2002, and was Deputy Fire Controller for the six years prior. He served a total of 18 years in the RFS during which time he worked on a number of new safety programs and training facilities.

Always working with professionalism and integrity, Peter is also seen as a mentor. He is pictured here receiving his top award from Wyong Mayor Greg Best.

Young Person of the Year
Alissa Anne Smith, 15, was declared our Young Person of the Year for her community work and creative talent.

Alissa, from Gwandalan, has taken part in the Red Shield Appeal, Relay for Life and Planet Ark Day. She is undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh Award at silver level, and has received many awards in Air League, academic, sporting and the performing arts fields.

Alissa was presented with her Australia Day award by last year’s winner, Chloe Abdilla.

Sports stars shine
Council presented two sporting awards this year – Sports Person of the Year to Michael Lewandowski, and Young Sports Person of the Year to Teigan Vanroosmalen.

Michael, 16, of Long Jetty, is a national-level swimmer and has also been the under 16 age-group Champion at Terrigal Surf Club, Surf Competitor of the Year for the Central Coast, Junior Age Champion for Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, and Age Champion for Central Coast Swimming.

Teigan, 11, of Bateau Bay, is deaf and visually impaired. She has broken 15 national swimming records in her age group and won more than 150 medals. As a member of the Shelly Beach Surf Life Saving Club, she rescued two boys caught in a rip off Shelley Beach last year.

Environmental Carers
This year’s Environment Award went jointly to the Shire’s 30 Landcare, Dunecare and Coastcare groups which comprise more than 200 volunteers (see picture below).

Together, the groups have contributed more than $3 million in labour during the past 10 years and have raised more than $1 million in grants and sponsorship funds.

They have recently formed into a Wyong Shire Landcare Network known as Wycare Inc, which has established a resource centre based at Hopetown School in Wyong.

Recognising local businesses
Council presented the Small Business Operator of the Year Award to Mitchell Cowan (left) of Twin Lakes Air Condition in Toukley.

Mitchell has grown his business from three staff in 1998 to 14 staff now.

He has also sat on the Boards of Central Coast Soccer and Toukley Chamber of Commerce.

Council’s Corporate Citizen Award went to Chris Logan, (right) Managing Director of Tuggerah-based window company Wideline. Chris has overseen the growth of Wideline from four to 220 staff, 12 of whom have disabilities.

Celebrating our culture
The Wyong Shire Cultural Award recognised the hard work and dedication of recipient Gwen Clarke.

Gwen has donated an extensive amount of time and effort to cultural projects in the Shire and is a foundation member of the Wyong Museum and President of the Coordinating Committee which operates out of Allison Homestead.

Mayoral awards
Wyong Mayor Greg Best also presented three special Mayoral Awards to residents who deserve public recognition for their community work.

Veronica Graf was recognised for her huge contribution to the local Aboriginal Community and her establishment of the Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Centre in Wyong.

Julie Misfud was recognised for her voluntary work with the Summerland Point / Gwandalan Tidy Towns Committee and her collection of 600 cubic metres of litter in the past five years.

Sue Anne Sanig was recognised for her work with Meningococcal Disease following the death of her seven-year-old son Stephen from the disease in June 2001.

Aboriginal flag to fly
A further step towards reconciliation was made on Australia Day when Council received an Aboriginal flag from the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council. Betty Hammond presented the flag to Wyong Mayor Greg Best during the Australia Day civic reception.

The flag now hangs in the Wyong Council Chambers to ensure the Aboriginal community is recognised at all Council meetings and functions.

Return to Australia Day main page

Page last updated: 04/02/04