Kempsey Shire Council is set to add a new honour to it’s annual Australia Day Awards to recognise the efforts of its “COVID heroes”.
After another year of lockdowns, event cancelations and social distancing, the people of the Macleay are being asked to celebrate those groups and individuals who overcame these restrictions to help out their community, Council said in a statement.
Each yea, Council recognises the amazing contribution of many great residents with the Citizen and Volunteer Awards at the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony.
This January, in addition to the esteemed Citizen of the Year Award, Council will present new awards – the Local Hero Awards – carrying a different name to reflect the different times.
Kempsey Shire Mayor, Liz Campbell says she hopes the new awards will inspire people to think of those who have managed to provide any assistance in a tough year.
“We have so many champions in our Shire who just don’t think of themselves as heroes, but in a year like 2021 giving any kind of help took a superhuman effort,” said Mayor Campbell.
“But like comic book heroes, we won’t know these local heroes real identities unless they get nominated.
“We want to recognise the quiet achievers who do wonderful deeds in their community, who work quietly around our villages, in our neighbourhoods and across our Valley. Maybe it’s the parent who still managed to coach a kids sport team this year, or the volunteer who delivered meals-on-wheels, or the CWA organiser who figured out how to make virtual meetings work. These people are the heroes we want to learn about.
“We also know there are community organisations who have made a huge difference just by still working with their members without actually meeting. We want the 2021 Australia Day Awards to be an occasion for our community to thank these organisations and people.”
Kempsey Shire Council will celebrate the Awards at a ceremony in the Slim Dusty Centre on 26 January.
