By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) approved the opening of the Australia Day Awards for 2022 and appointed Councillors to form the Australia Day Awards Assessment Panel at the recent Ordinary Council Meeting.
Nominations for Australia Day Awards 2022 are now open, with Councillors discussing when they should close during the meeting.
Councillor Stephen Tancred stated that “we’re coming into a very busy time of the year, and I know that some organisations won’t be meeting and they may not have the opportunity to nominate people”.
“I checked the records from last year and we were still taking nominations on the 11th of January.”
He stated that the report indicated they would keep nominations open until the end of November, and asked to extend that “to give organisations a chance to meet and to get back to us”.
A staff member stated they were “more than happy” to make that change on Council’s advice.
Councillor Tancred suggested they stay open until the first week of January.
Mayor Vic Pennisi asked if anyone would like to nominate to be on the Australia Day Awards Assessment Panel.
Councillor Tancred stated he was on it last year so someone else should be nominated this year.
Councillors Andrew Gale and Cameron Gow nominated themselves, with Councillor Gow joking the last time he was on it was 20 years ago.
Councillor Marco Gliori joked he was “assessment panelled out” for the year.
Councillor Cynthia McDonald was also added to the panel, after a discussion concerning whether more people could be added.
The motion was moved by Councillor Ross Bartley and seconded by Councillor McDonald.
The categories for awards are drawn from both the Northern and Southern areas, and include:
– Citizen of the Year Award
– Junior Citizen of the Year Award
– Sportsperson or of the Year
– Junior Sportsperson of the Year
– Cultural/Community Person/Event of the Year Award
From the recipients of the abovementioned awards, a region-wide award will then be presented to the Southern Downs Citizen of the Year.
