Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Every year I conduct the Shortland awards, and last year was no different. I give awards for health and disability, education, to a junior under the age of 17, youths between 18 and 25, seniors, environment, emergency management, long-term commitment to community, volunteering, community group of the year and volunteer of the year.

Last year the health and disability award nominees were Allan Kay, who has been involved with disabled children; George Sinclair, riding for the disabled; Val Austin, for providing holiday care for young people; Jordan Strong, who has been a volunteer with children for seven years; and the winner was Shauna Abrahamson, who was nominated by Redhead Surf Life Saving Club for her work as director of education at the club.

For the junior volunteer of the year award we had Jackson Harvey, who was given an encouragement award for his work at Belmont High School; Gemma Johnstone, who was involved in the first Budgewoi-San Remo Neighbourhood Centre; and Samantha Hallett, who was involved with Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club, for all the work she had done there. Gemma and Samantha were joint winners.

In the youth volunteer of the year award we had Peter Wilson, who was vice-captain of Swansea High School and was involved with Lake Macquarie Soccer Referees Association; and Stef Brown, nominated by the Globe Church, for work as a volunteer swimmer for the Special Olympics. The winner was James Callender, who had been a surf life saving club member since he had joined the nippers at five years of age. He has done a lot of work in leadership and mentoring in a number of areas. He is a very positive role model.

Senior volunteer of the year we have Nance Adams, who has previously won the Shortland award and has been involved in numerous volunteer groups in the electorate; Stan Ostle, South Beach Rugby Union, John Loss, who has been involved with Meals on Wheels at Swansea; Elizabeth Gibson, who was nominated by Probus for the work she has done at Hunter Sports High School; Rob Diamond, who has volunteered with Marine Rescue; Gwen Curry, who has been volunteering in aged care with Whiddon Homes; and Lin Clee, who since 2001 has been volunteering with the Salvation Army. The seniors winner was Mavis Kannar, who joined Swansea RSL Women's Auxiliary in 1956. She is still involved, but she is 94 years old. The joint winner was Allan Lumsdaine, who has been involved with the Globe Church prison program, and also with helping kids at Dudley Primary School.

The environment award went to John Le Messurier. He has been involved in so many environmental activities in Lake Macquarie. Adam Rees was one of the nominees for the emergency awards, as was David English, who was successful for his work during the fires last year. Other nominees included Elaine Shepherd, from Redhead library; Neil Bowd, for his enormous amount of work in Redhead; Betty Gladdish, for her work with the Whiddon Group; and Coral Burnham, from Mannering Park Progress Association—who was the winner. She has done an enormous amount of work in the community.

The Community Group of the Year nominees were Catherine Hill Bay IRB Rescue, Charlestown Caring Group, Mannering Park Progress Association and Belmont Neighbourhood Centre, which was the winner. It has a habitation community garden, a Men’s Shed and Playstations and is involved in a lot of community activities in the area.

Nominees for Volunteer of the Year were Jenny Benson from Mannering Park, for her work at the school and the P? Collette Delore for the Southern Beaches Rugby Union and her work at the club over 20 years; Karen Devlin, for her work with the learning assistance program; Leigh Foran, a volunteer with Charlestown Meals on Wheels; Gareth Lewis, from Swansea Meals on Wheels; Pam Slade, from Buff Point; Andrew Whitbourne, from Mannering Park Precinct Committee; Rob Wilkinson, from Charlestown Caring Group; Darren Williams from Catherine Hill Bay; and Carol Ryan from Globe Church. But the winner was Kerry Groves from Lake Haven for her activities with San Remo Neighbourhood Centre. She is a legend in the area and has done enormous work. I seek leave to table this list of names.

Leave granted.

See this speech in context