Citizen of the Year 2023
Winner
Lewis Taylor
Lewis (Lewi) approached Cancer Council Tasmania in 2021 with an almost impossible fundraising proposal, to climb 158 Abels in 158 days and raise $158,0000 for Cancer Council Tasmania, to provide support for Tasmanian impacted by cancer.
Lewi’s inspiration was his mother Jane who had received a second breast cancer diagnosis. The impact of the diagnosis inspired him to do something meaningful, he aimed to improve the fighting chances and living conditions for all Tasmanians with any cancer.
In Tasmania there are a set of 158 mountains coined the Abels – an Abel is a peak that is over 1,100m high and is separated from other mountains by at least a 150m drop on all sides of its summit – making it a prominent and challenging peak to climb.
Lewi took over two years to plan the trip, and successfully achieved it on June 10, 2022, his 30th birthday. And to add to all that, during the climb, Lewi committed to do 158 laps of the 20 hour Cancer Council Tasmanian Hobart Relay for life in March 2022.
He was successful in achieving his goal of raising $1000 per Abel and to date has raised over $164,000 for Cancer Council Tasmania.
Lewi showed a commitment to never giving up and demonstrated that when you believe what you are doing is important, great outcomes can be achieved. His feat (and feet) will inspire others to achieve their goals and will surely become bushwalking folklore.
Lewi is a most certainly a worthy recipient of our highest award tonight, congratulations Lewi!
Nominees
Stephen Bourke
Stephen is nominated for his volunteer work with Neighbourhood Watch in Clarence, he devotes a large amount of time and energy to supporting this important organisation and working towards a safer community.
Andrew Lovibond
Andrew is nominated due to his exceptional dedication to the community through his outstanding leadership and service as President of the Lindisfarne Rowing Club for the past 20 years.
Alan and Annette Richards
Alan and Annette are nominated for their volunteer work for the Clarence Football Club. They have been running the biweekly Club Bingo event for an amazing 36 years.
Anne Bevan
Anne is nominated for her volunteer work several days a week assessing people seeking help at Uniting Emergency Care Hobart. Anne is also on a board which assesses if people institutionalised or homed due to mental illness are receiving the correct care.
Danny Smith and Jordan Gross
Danny and Jordan have been nominated for founding New Chapter, an NDIS provider that organises a suite of tailored programs and services, with an emphasis on promoting positive change and interpersonal growth among a dynamic and inclusive workplace.
Romany Wake
Romany has been nominated for creating the campaign Rachel’s Voice, in response to witnessing her mother’s tragic death. Romany has shown amazing strength in the face of deep grief and is determined to help urge action and change.
Simon Bailey
Simon has been nominated for his tireless work as the Club Captain of Clifton Beach Surf Life Saving Club. He has had a significant role in the success and growth of the club as well as the positive contribution it makes to the community.
Aimen Jafri
Aimen’s nomination is to recognise the amazing volunteer work she has done for multiple organisations. Aimen initially volunteered with her volleyball club, she then worked with the Migrant Resource Centre and Clarence Little Athletics. She is now the Senior Vice Chair of the Multicultural Council of Tasmania and the Vice Chair of the Pakistani Cultural Society.
David Wood
David has been nominated for his inspirational advocacy work for those living with a disability. At the age of 19, he experienced a significant event that affected his mobility. Over the last 20 plus years he has been the coach of the first Tasmanian Wheelchair Rugby Team, a past member of the Paraquad Association and has been an advocacy speaker at schools and other functions.
Brian Ayers
Brian has been nominated for his exceptional contributions as a neighbour and community member. Brian consistently goes above and beyond to make our community a better place. His unwavering kindness, warmth, and willingness to help others are a shining example of what it means to be an outstanding neighbour.
Babajide Olusola Omojola
Babajide is nominated for his exceptional work supporting prisoners in the Tasmanian justice system. Babajide treats all with respect and dignity and gives people hope and a reason for a better quality of life whilst in prison and out of prison.
Senior Citizen of the Year 2023
Winner
Alan and Annette Richardson
Alan and Annette have given hundreds of volunteer hours over an incredible 36 years running the Clarence Football Club bingo!
Every week they organise, set up and run two bingo nights for the local community. These nights are attended by over 120 people and provide the community a safe inclusive social evening. For some patrons this is the only social activity they will have in a week.
Alan and Annette have brought an enormous amount of happiness of to hundreds, if not thousands of Clarence residents over the last 36 years and are much loved members of the community!
Nominees
Trevor Barber
Trevor is nominated for being an outstanding member of the GLAM’d project and a driving force behind setting up the inaugural GLAM’d Pride Parade held in Clarence as a part of this year’s Clarence Jazz Festival Big Parade.
Sally Anne Chester Perry
Sally is nominated in recognition of outstanding community service work. She has been a volunteer at the Royal Hobart Hospital for six years and has volunteered with Meals on Wheels for eight years.
Maureen Newman
Maureen is nominated for her ongoing volunteer work with Neighbourhood Watch in Clarence. She is an important part of the organisation most notably in printing and distributing the Neighbourhood Watch flyers.
Anne Bevan
Anne is nominated for her volunteer work several days a week assessing people seeking help at Uniting Emergency Care Hobart. Anne is also on a board which assesses people institutionalised or homed due to mental illness are receiving the correct care.
Young Citizen of the Year 2023
Winner
Grace Williams
Grace is an integral part of the local advocacy group, YNAG. Grace works tirelessly and is always the first to put up her hand to volunteer, and often gives up the freedom of her weekends.
Grace is dedicated, hardworking, compassionate, kind, inquisitive and empathetic. She is a pillar of the community and known by many due to her great work with YNAG and the Clarence Youth Advisory Committee. Congratulations Grace.
Nominees
Jasmin Woodleigh
Jasmin has been nominated for multiple reasons, being included in the book ‘OK, So a Nest is A Home’ by the Tasmanian Commissioner for Children and Young People, for participating in “Voice in Action’, which advocates for children in Out of Home Care, for being chosen to be a part of the ‘State Life Without Barriers Youth Advisory Group’. Jasmin also became a Young Consultant for CREATE Foundation Australia, she donated her hair to Variety Hair with Heart, and she developed a private system for Bayview Secondary College students to request help for mental health.
Community Event of the Year 2023
Winner
The Rosny Library – Clarence Reads Twilight Reading Fair
This exceptional event took place during the first-ever Tasmania Reads Week, held on March 5th to 11th. Hosted by the Rosny Library, it featured more than thirty exciting and free activities for people of all ages. The event was a true celebration of the wonders of books, reading, and storytelling, bringing people together from all walks of life.
With an impressive turnout of over 900 attendees, the event surpassed expectations and left a lasting impression on the Clarence community. Many participants expressed their enthusiasm for similar events in the future, showing the success of the event in promoting a love of reading and creating a sense of togetherness.
Warrane Community Garden Springfest
On 1 April 1, 2023, the Warrane Community Garden hosted its second Springfest, a harvest festival that built on the success of the previous year’s inaugural event. The recent festival was even more impressive, with a range of exciting activities and attractions catering to people of all ages. Attendees were treated to live music, line dancing, food, workshops, stalls, and various other activities which created a lively and enjoyable atmosphere. It will surely become a much-anticipated feature on the Clarence community calendar.
Bellerive Parkrun
The Bellerive Parkrun is a free, 100% volunteer run community event where participants can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate the 5k course. It takes place every Saturday morning from Bellerive Beach, and features lovely views of Howrah Beach, Bellerive Beach, Hobart City and Mount Wellington. This