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

On Thursday, 28 January, I held my annual Shortland awards, and I would like to share with the House the winners of the awards and some of the nominees. Codie Bone from Belmont South and Charli Vale were the joint winners of the under-17 years award. Codie has been delivering newsletters, working with senior citizens, attending concerts and things at Belmont Bowling Club and local nursing homes. She has cared for her five brothers and sisters since the death of her parents in 2015.

Charli Vale is an exceptional young woman, who is only in year 6. She has strong social conscience. Her grandmother died of ovarian cancer. Charli cut her hair short and donated her hair to the Princess Charlotte Alopecia Program and they made it into wigs for young children.

The winner of the youth of the year award—for youth 18 to 25—was Curtis Yates. He was nominated by the Charlestown Caring Group for his work with that group. Sailability nominated Barry Clarke. The Belmont Men's Shed nominated Tony Diabel. The Whiddon Group nominated Janice Widgrim. The winner was Col Mondy from Redhead for the work that he has done in the Redhead Sustainable Neighbourhood Group.

The emergency management winner was Michael Mottley for his service to surf lifesaving. He has been with Caves Beach Surf Life Saving Club and has done a phenomenal job in work there. The environment award was won by Brian Hilton. He was nominated by Lake Macquarie Landcare for his hard work in the Redhead area.

There was a health and disability service award and the nominees included Mandy Hartland, Jarrod Smith and Michele Taylor, from Charlestown Caring Group. The joint winners were the wonderful Carolyn Bear for the work that she has done in ovarian cancer and Rose Molloy, who has also done a lot of work in the area of ovarian cancer. The winner of the award for long term commitment to community service the winner was Maureen Adams for the work that she has done for Swansea Meals on Wheels.

The community group of the year award was won by Sailability. The volunteer of the year award was won by Mercia Buck. Mercia Bark is a phenomenal woman. She has brought arts to Lake Macquarie. She has been volunteering in the arts area for 33 years. She has organised hundreds of concerts and gives her time freely.

Congratulations to all the award winners. I ask leave to table the list and names of the people that I was unable to read out, because their contribution has been enormous too.

Leave granted.

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