Australia Day Awards Highlight Local Heroes

Community Event of the Year was awarded to the Nation’s Youth Program, run by the SouthCity Church, for providing safe activities to young people; Melville Bridge Club was awarded Community Group of the Year for its diversity of membership and inclusive environment; and Hazel Gough received Citizen of the Year for her distinguished service of 37 volunteering years with Scouts Australia.

A Highly Commended in the Youth Category was presented to Joshua Knuiman for strong leadership skills including being elected to the Murdoch College Student Guild and for coaching young people with disabilities in a basketball team.

Praising the “local heroes” City of Melville Mayor Russell Aubrey said the winning individuals and organisations were, “The quintessential essence of all that it means to be Australian. These people demonstrate that a fair go, community spirit and mateship are alive and well in our wonderful land and no more than in the City of Melville.”

“These worthy winners will serve as outstanding role models in our community and I congratulate them wholeheartedly.

“Today we also welcome and congratulate Australia’s newest citizens who have affirmed their allegiance to Australia on this special day, committing their loyalty to this nation, their support of our democratic process and our liberties and beliefs.

“Importantly, on Australia Day, we recognise the Noongar people as the traditional custodians of the City of Melville and the unique status of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” 

The City of Melville holds an annual Australia Day award ceremony and regular citizenship ceremonies, with all new citizens officiated by His Worship the Mayor.

For further information visit www.melvillecity.com.au or contact 1300 635 845.

Community Event of the Year - Nations Youth Program coordinated by SouthCity Church
The Nations Youth Program is a safe, fun and engaging program for high school aged teenagers which runs every Friday night. It is an alcohol and drug-free event and encourages young people to engage in activities in a safe environment. The Nations Youth Program includes live music, thrilling entertainment and interactive games as well as a mentoring component where students are mentored through the challenges of life by young adult leaders throughout the school terms. The mentoring program is entitled Shine and Strength and provides a safe alternative to the other options that teenagers are presented with today.

There are other elements of the program that play a large role in enhancing community life and it runs a high school breakfast program every Friday morning in several City of Melville high schools where volunteers cook pancakes for students at no charge, thus providing a good start to their school day.

Nations Youth Program is also involved in providing activities and engaging the community at the open days at local high schools also runs parent nights throughout the year to inform parents about the program. 

Community Group of the Year - Melville Bridge Club
The Melville Bridge Club is one of the largest bridge clubs in Australia and is a registered company with its own board of directors.

It has been an active Club for over 40 years and the Club currently has over 360 active members ranging in experience from those who have just started playing through to grand masters and internationalist. The Club is recognised for its diversity of membership and its inclusive and welcoming environment and is engaged in an energetic training program for beginners and actively recruiting new members.

The initial group established in 1970 at the Melville Civic Centre building and, in 1978, moved to the Tompkins Park Hall. As the Club grew they sought assistance from the City of Melville who provided the Applecross site which is currently leased to the Club. The present building was opened in 1983 built from grant funds and assistance from members. It was the first community building in the City of Melville to include wheelchair access and this was recognised by ACROD. The Club initiated further improvements to the building in 1996 and, in 2008, further grant funding from Lotterywest purchased software and computer technology.

The Melville Bridge Club operates six days a week with two sessions running on Monday to Thursday and the Club organises collection for those without transport.

The Club is a significant part of the community and is well-respected throughout the City of Melville.

Citizen of the Year - Hazel Gough
Hazel has been a volunteer Cub Scout Leader with the Willagee Kardinya Scout Group since 1975, transferring to the Bateman Winthrop Scout Group in 1991. Hazel has been an outstanding Leader in that Group for the past 20 years.

As Cub Scout Scout Leader, Hazel's role requires her to deliver the program to around 35 male and female Cub Scouts ranging in age between seven and 11 years. Hazel is also responsible for the other adults assisting her to deliver the program.

In addition to her substantial role, Hazel has been responsible as acting Group Leader on three separate occasions which requires her to lead twelve uniformed adult Leaders and seven committee members of the group. The membership has grown to 99 youth members under her leadership.

Over the past three years, Hazel has also held the position of District Cub Scout Leader, responsible for the delivery of the Cub Scout program across 14 Scout Groups in the Coastal Plains District which extends from Subiaco to Kwinana. The District Cub Scout Sections includes 35 adult Leaders and 320 youth members.

Hazel was awarded the Scout Associations Silver Koala Award in 2005 which is awarded for distinguished service to the Scout Association for a period of at least sixteen years and approved by the Chief Scout of Australia.
Hazel is well-known and highly respected in the scouting community.