The full list of nominees for all nine Australia Day award categories has been revealed by Edward River Council today (turn to page 8).
The nominees for Citizen of the Year include former Edward River Councillor and longtime Deniliquin Lion Pat Fogarty, recently retired Seniors Gentle Exercise Group instructor Kaye McCabe and Deniliquin Riding for the Disabled founder and president Luke Harrington.
Bruce Simpson has also been posthumously nominated for Citizen of the Year for his efforts in the agriculture and education spaces, and in local advocacy.
While there is always traditionally a good field of nominees to choose from in the Citizen of the Year category, many of the other categories have quite a strong number of nominations too.
Also with four nominees is the is Junior Arts & Culture Award, while there are five for Community Event or Initiative of the Year.
With only one nomination for the Environmental Citizen of the Year Award (also known as the Bill & Elwyn Hermiston Memorial Award), it will be presented to Andrew Jefferies.
Mr Jefferies is co-ordinator for the Edward Kolety Fishing Challenge, and was instrumental in its establishment.
All other winners will be announced at the Edward River Council Australia Day ceremony at the Deniliquin Town Hall on Sunday.
As is tradition, it will commence with a free community breakfast in Civic Plaza from 8.30am, followed by the official ceremony at the Town Hall from 9.45am.
Giving the Australia Day address will be local author and former Deniliquin Pastoral Times managing editor Garry Baker.
Attendees will also enjoy performances from the Sing Australia Choir and The Edward River Concert Band.
Following the ceremony, guests are invited to the Deniliquin Waring Gardens and the Rotary Club of Deniliquin will be opening the 2000-2025 time capsule and distributing its contents.
For more information about the council’s Australia Day event, contact the customer service centre on 5898 3000.
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