MEDIA RELEASE
24 January 2014
Strict EMBARGO until Sunday 26 January 10am
Council celebrates Australia Day
This Australia Day, the Alice Springs Town Council will confer a record 111 new citizens and announce the winners of the 2014 Australia Day Awards.
“What better way to celebrate Australia Day than to welcome new citizens to our town, as well as to acknowledge those members of our community who contribute so much,” said Mayor Ryan.
The Alice Springs Town Council in conjunction with the Australia Day Council NT has coordinated the 2014 Australia Day Awards. The winners of the four categories are:
Centralian Citizen of the Year – Peter Lowson
Peter is the Coordinator of Tangentyere Council’s ‘Drum Atweme’. He began this group in 2004 to meet the needs of at-risk Aboriginal town camp youth. Since then they have performed at over 300 events locally and interstate. He has spent many of his 29 years in Alice Springs working with Aboriginal youth.
Young Centralian Citizen of the Year – Jacilyn Lindner
Sixteen-year-old Jacilyn noticed a need in the Alice Springs Community and set up her own business with her mother, “Jac’s Coffee and Cakes”. She takes her portable coffee shop to markets, events, the library and local shopping centres. She is an inspiration, juggling her business with school and a hospitality course.
Event of the Year – 2013 NT & Australian Dirt Kart Titles
The Dirt Kart Titles featured two three-day events, bringing 270 nominations for the NT Titles and 340 for the Australian Titles – the highest number ever. Competitors travelled from across Australia to compete and took advantage of the week in-between the events to visit attractions in Central Australia. About 500 people attended the NT Titles presentation night and about 600 attended the Australian Titles presentation night.
Volunteer of the Year – Michelle Thomas
As well as holding down a busy career as an Intensive Care Unit nurse at Alice Springs Hospital, Michelle devotes almost all her free time to the NT Emergency Service Volunteer unit. She joined the service in 2008 and has taken membership from 8 to 32. She has represented the NT Emergency Service at the National Disaster Rescue Competition, coordinated volunteers for major events, oversees the training program and was voted the service’s Most Valuable Volunteer in 2012.
The Alice Springs Town Council Australia Day Ceremony starts at 8am on Sunday 26 January and includes flag-raising, citizenship ceremony, award presentation, cake cutting for the “26ers” and finishes with a free community barbecue thanks to Woolworths and Apex.
Prior to the ceremony the Alice Springs Running and Walking Club 3km Family Fun Run & Walk will begin at 6:30am at the southern end of the Todd Mall.
To further celebrate Australia Day on Sunday 26 January, Alice Springs Town Council is holding a free open day at the Alice Springs Aquatic and Leisure Centre, where all entries for the day are free.
Ends
For further information contact:
Damien Ryan (Mayor) M: 0428 825 392
Penelope Bergen (Media & Communications) M: 0408 857 167
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Civic Centre, Mon-Fri, 8am – 5pm Cnr Todd Street and Gregory Terrace
Phone: (08) 8950 0500 Fax: (08) 8953 0558
Email: Website: www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au