Lake Macquarie Australia Day Award Winners Announced
Date Posted: 27 January 2010
Citizen of the Year – June Cameron, Warners Bay
A teacher of the hearing impaired for over 30 years, from 1964 to 1972, she was teacher in charge of the Integrated Unit for hearing impaired students in high schools. June has also been involved with Guiding for 26 years now and is currently the Chair of Asia Pacific region World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. In recognition, June was awarded the Red Kangaroo in 2003 and awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for service to youth, particularly in guiding and teaching the hearing impaired.
With extensive involvement with the Uniting Church, a Lay Preacher, Chairperson of the Church Council of Uniting Church North Lake Macquarie, and President of the Women’s Group, her biography has been published in the 2009 edition of “Who’s Who of Australian Women.” She has occupied the following positions in Guides; District Commissioner Cardiff, District Commissioner Sugarloaf Valley, National Trainer Guides Australia Region Commissioner for Greater Newcastle from 1992 to 1998, and State Commissioner NSW from 1998 to 2003.
Volunteer of the Year – Deidre Ham, Belmont South
Deadre’s generosity, dedication, and commitment to the community are well-known. After the loss of her daughter she has been raising her grand daughter from the age of three. Kimberly is now 15 fifteen years of age. Both individuals and community have benefited from Deadre’s efforts, personal contributions, fundraising, and donation collecting over the years.
At 73 years of age, Deadre is dedicated to a number of community organisations. Since 1983 Deidre has cooked for Belmont Wheels on Meals, been the Area Coordinator for Belmont Neighbourhood Watch for 23 years, a volunteer with Friends of Belmont Cemetery, and a member of the Domestic Violence Committee for Belmont Court House. Since 2003 she has been a Belmont High School P/C member, and a School Patron and P/C member from 2000 to 2007 at Belmont Public School.
Community Group of the Year – Delta Society Hunter-Newcastle
The Society’s mission is to promote and facilitate positive interaction between people and companion animals. Currently it pursues this mission through three core projects: the Canine Good Citizen education program; the Delta Dog Safe project; and the Delta Pet Partners program. Teams will visit facilities where re-establishing contact with a companion animal enhances the quality of patients’ and residents’ lives.
The Hunter Newcastle Branch has 75 Pet Partner teams overall with 25 Pet Partner teams visiting facilities within the Lake Macquarie area, which include: children’s and adult’s hospitals, rehabilitation units, mental health facilities, children with special needs and nursing homes. With well-documented evidence that Pet Assisted Therapy benefits a wide spectrum of populations, including individuals with physical, physiological, and psychological issues, Pet Partner teams provide a catalyst for communication and interaction between people and motivational, educational, recreational, and therapeutic benefits.
Community Event of the Year – Rathmines Catalina Festival
The Rathmines Catalina Festival was held to raise funds for restoration of a WWII Catalina flying boat and the construction of a Hanger/Museum in Rathmines Park. A committee of seven helped to make this event happen as well as thirty-four volunteers on the day. An estimated 9,000 people attended the event ranging from young families to WWII veterans.
The building of the Hanger/Museum is to create a significant tourist attraction as well as educate future generations on the role played by the Rathmines R.A.A.F. Base in the defence of Australia during WWII and its historical importance.