Without further ado, here are the winners:

Citizen of the Year: Barbara Adams. 

Young Citizen of the Year: Sarah Young.

Senior Citizen of the Year: Noel Edgell.

Community Group of the Year: Jamberoo Red Cross.

Kiama’s Australia Day Award recipients and their families will attend a combined Awards and Citizenship Ceremony at Jamberoo School of Arts on Friday, January 26.

“We congratulate the recipients of the 2018 awards and all nominees for their significant contribution to our community,” Mayor Mark Honey said.

“Thank you to everyone who nominated and provided the judges with such an outstanding field to select from.”

Auslan interpreters will be provided upon request at the event. If you require an interpreter to participate, please phone Council on 4232 0444 to register your intention to attend.

As President of Jamberoo Red Cross, Barbara is credited with transforming the branch, increasing its membership by over 40. Two years ago, Barbara organised a successful Car Show fundraiser that is now an annual event, and in 2017 the branch was awarded the Margaret Wardell Trophy for fundraising by a country branch.

Barbara is currently President of the Friends of Blue Haven Nursing Home, and her energy has extended to volunteering with the State Emergency Service; forming and organising a local exercise group for people with diabetes; to embracing positions on Jamberoo Football Club’s Executive Committee.

“Barbara is a compassionate member of our community, who contributes tirelessly in both her formally recognised volunteer roles and in the lesser-known contributions she quietly makes to help other locals,” Cr Honey said.

Young Citizen of the Year, Sarah Young’s passion for working with children and helping others has seen her travel to Cambodia twice on house-building projects in which she fundraised for her own travel expenses and building materials. Last year Sarah travelled to Tanzania to volunteer at a remote village school.

Closer to home, for the past two years Sarah has mentored with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Program (AIME) at Lake Illawarra High School, and has volunteered in various roles for the Kiama Show Society.

it also seems the Young family has a long history with the awards ceremony as Sarah’s father, David won Young Citizen in 1988 and her grandfather Robert, won Citizen of the Year in 2011.

Noel Edgell receives Senior Citizen of the Year for his work to enhance the built environment locally and internationally, and for his years of service with Kiama Rotary Club.

Noel coordinated the local Dry Stone Walls Committee when it was set up, and volunteered regularly to restore the walls on Saddleback Mountain Road. He is a former committee member of the Kiama Primary and High School Parents & Citizens Committees, and has been a committee member of the Kiama Show Society since 2000.

A former President of Kiama Rotary, Noel’s involvement with the club continues as a committed member who helps to maintain the club’s vehicle, BBQs and equipment; coordinate its popular ‘Apple Drive’; and run a project to support a community in Papua New Guinea with school furniture, medical supplies, clothing and other necessities.

Community Group of the Year is Jamberoo Red Cross Branch. In 2017 the branch raised $21,000 in fundraising that supported local work in food literacy programs, mental health and homelessness initiatives, emergency response and international support to provide clean water and sanitation.

The branch provides volunteer and catering support to local RFS and football club events. It is responsible for the popular annual Christmas lights in Jamberoo event, and its members provide pastoral care and practical support for local individuals and families.

“The energy and commitment of Jamberoo Red Cross’ members and committee is testament to its continued success. Almost 10 per cent of the Jamberoo community are members,” Cr Honey said.

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