Australia Day nominees named

CARDINIA Shire Council has announced its nominees for this year’s Australia Day Awards.
Cardinia Mayor Bill Pearson said it would be a very difficult task for the council’s Australia Day Committee to select winners from such a worthy field.
“We have had a record number of nominations this year with 52 people and groups nominated and it will be great to celebrate and recognise their contributions to the community on 26 January,” Cr Pearson said.
“It is terrific to see community spirit is alive and well in Cardinia Shire and I thank everybody who nominated a citizen or event and congratulate the nominees.”
Categories include Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Event of the Year and the Community Service Award.
Nineteen people have been nominated for Cardinia Shire Citizen of the Year, seven nominations were received for Senior Citizen of the Year award and eight nominations were received for the Community Event of the Year.
Fourteen residents were nominated for the Young Citizen of the Year and four people were nominated for the new category, the Community Service Award.
The Community Service Award has been introduced to acknowledge people living outside Cardinia Shire who have made a significant contribution to the municipality.
The nominations are: Citizen of the Year: Ron Banbury, Maree Burden, Rudy DeJong, Bernie Dingle, Katrina Doughty, John Glazzard, Pam Glover, Leigh Johnson, Rosie Keane, John Marsh, Jeni Mathieson, Jenny Mattingly, Brian McComskie, Jack Mitchell, Steve Moloney, Rob O’Connor, Michael Schimizzi, Elsie Thomason and John Wilson.
Senior Citizen of the Year: Margaret Anderson, Bev Cottle, Elma Drayton, Duncan Holman, Betty Holman, Frank McGuire, Paul Wheeler. Young Citizen of the Year: Damien Astbury, Natasha Boloski, Bronwyn Brough, Rebecca Cooper, Grant Elliot, Michael Galea, Christopher Hunnan, Sarah Mackenzie, Stephen Marks, Eugene Mackinnon, Timothy Russo, Shonna Williams, Amber Thompson, Frazer Wilson.
Community Event of the Year: Back to Bayles Primary School, Pakenham Carols by Candlelight, National Youth Week, Pakenham Racing Club Oaks Day, Pakenham RSL Anzac Day, Push Start Battle of the Bands 2008, Go Country – Pakenham, Kooweerup and Lang Lang Rotary Clubs, Yakkerboo Festival Art Show.
Community Service Award: Vince Bucello, John McLean, Terrona Ramsay, Andrew Swift.
Various events to celebrate Australia Day will be held throughout the municipality on Monday 26 January.