Citizen of the Year Awards

One of the roles of the Cultural Creative Advisory Committee is to select the recipients for the City of Clarence Awards and oversee the promotion and presentation of the awards each year.

The current committee members are:

• TBA

The winners of the 2024 Citizenship Awards are: 

Community Event of the Year – The Richmond Bicentenary

The Richmond Bicentenary event was a significant commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Richmond’s proclamation as a town. ​It was a community-driven initiative, which was supported by the Clarence City Council. ​Events spanned over four months and featured a diverse program, including major celebrations, music concerts, exhibitions, and special projects. ​ 

The program attracted an estimated 29,000 visitors and bookings, showcasing the rich history, culture, and community spirit of Richmond. ​ 

The event brought together the entire community, and highlighted the town’s historical importance, promoted tourism, local businesses, and community pride in Clarence. 

Young Citizen of the Year Award – Grace Williams

Grace has made significant achievements and provided exceptional service to Clarence. ​ As a member and chair of the Youth Network Advisory Group (YNAG) in Clarence, Grace has been actively involved for four years. ​She has planned and organized a youth summit for youth groups across the state and recently planned an event in Clarence for Youth Week. ​Grace is known for her organisational and planning skills, and her contributions to YNAG have helped raise its profile in the community. ​ She continues to be dedicated to giving the youth of Clarence a voice and works tirelessly to make a positive impact – she wins this prize for the second year in a row. 

Senior Citizen of the Year – Barry Ford

Barry’s contribution to the Clarence community has been extensive and impactful. ​As an active member of the Freemasons, he has played a vital role in fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among its members. ​  

Through his involvement in the Lindisfarne Scouts, Barry has helped shape the lives of young individuals, instilling important values and skills.  

​His dedication to the Lindisfarne Garden Club has not only beautified the local area but also created a space for gardening enthusiasts to come together and share their passion. Additionally, as a member of the Eastern Shore Ramblers Club, Barry has organised regular walks and outdoor activities, encouraging community members to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle. ​His involvement in the Clarence Tracks and Trails Committee has been instrumental in the development of new trails in the region. 

 Citizen of the Year – Jodie Presnell 

Jodie has been an active member of the Pipe Clay Coastcare group since its inception in 2007. She has also played a key role in establishing the Pipeclay Playgroup. ​ 

Jodie has organised and coordinated various community events over the years, including children’s Christmas parties and annual community Quiz nights. ​ She has been a mentor for ongoing community events and has organised the popular annual community bonfire. ​ 

Jodie’s involvement extends to environmental conservation efforts, grants for community projects, and promoting clean-ups and plantings. ​

Jodie’s dedication, leadership, and ability to connect people has had a profound and positive impact on both the Cremorne and wider Clarence community. 

The winners of the 2023 Citizenship Awards are as follows: 

Community Event of the Year 

• The Rosny Library – Clarence Reads Twilight Reading Fair
  This exceptional event took place during the first-ever Tasmania Reads Week, held on March 5 to 11. 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 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 is a great community event encouraging active living for all ages and is an excellent asset to Clarence. 

Young Citizen of the Year Award 

• 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. 

Senior Citizen of the Year 

• Alan and Annette Richards
  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!   

Citizen of the Year 

• Lewis Taylor
  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. 

There have been numerous City of Clarence Australia Day Award recipients since the awards began in 1981.

A list of all recipients can be found below.

City of Clarence Australia Day Award recipients