Lake Mac Awards

• Read the eligibility and criteria of your chosen category before applying.
• Register an account.
• Start your nomination and then submit when completed and ready for judging.
• You may edit your nomination after submitting, up until the nomination deadline of 17 November 2023.
• You are eligible to enter more than one category, as long as the nomination submitted meets the criteria.
• An organisation, association or club may submit more than one nomination. Each nomination will need to be submitted separately, addressing the reasons for the nomination. 

Age eligibility and criteria

• Lake Mac Young Sports Star - nominee must be under 19 years at 31 January 2024
• Lake Mac Young Citizen of the Year - nominee must be under 21 years at 31 January 2024
• Lake Mac Ambassador - nominee must be 21 years or older at 31 January 2024
• Lake Mac Senior of the Year - nominee must be a senior and aged 65 years or older or 50 years or older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at 31 January 2024

General eligibility and criteria

• Individual nominees must reside in Lake Macquarie and nominated businesses/groups must be located in Lake Macquarie.
• Community groups, events or organisations must be based in the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area (LGA) and primarily support the Lake Macquarie community.
• An organisation, association or club may submit more than one nomination. Each nomination will need to be submitted separately, addressing the reasons for the nomination.
• Employees of Lake Macquarie City Council can only be nominated for work outside their job with Council.
• Nominees must be Australian Citizens at 31 January 2024.
• Councillors and politicians are not eligible to be nominated and are not permitted to nominate someone.
• Recipients of previous awards are eligible to be re-nominated but can only win the same award for three consecutive years, and if successful, will qualify for the Lake Mac Awards Hall of Fame.
• Individuals can self-nominate.
• Unsuccessful nominees and winners from previous awards may be re-nominated in subsequent years.
• Nominee must not be a judge in the current Lake Mac Awards program and cannot have been a judge last year.

Community Group of the Year eligibility and criteria

• An eligible group may be an informal entity or an organised association that is not-for-profit
• Work carried out and achievements made must be on a volunteer basis

Community Event of the Year eligibility and criteria

• The event must have been held within the Lake Macquarie Local Government Area (LGA).
• The purpose of the event is to be community focused and not staged for personal or private reward or financial benefit.

Environmental Leader eligibility and criteria

• Not-for-profit groups and associations, individuals operating alone or as part of a private enterprise or not-for-profit may apply.
• A group nomination from a private enterprise will not be accepted (although a business may submit a nomination for an individual from the organisation).

Open with the important information.

Start with a clear and specific statement that outlines why your nominee (or yourself) is worthy of this award. Ask yourself the following questions:
• What activities or actions has the nominee undertaken that stand out?
• What has the nominee accomplished that goes above and beyond their job description?
• How has the nominee changed their community, city or nation?
• Why are you motivated to nominate this person?

Share their story
Strengthen your nomination by painting a picture of the person.
• What motivates them to make a difference?
• What personal challenges have they overcome in their life?
• Why do they inspire others?

Think about additional relevant information
• Personal, academic and professional achievements
• Contribution to benefit others in the relevant field
• Demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity
• Degree of difficulty of the achievement and sacrifices made
• Previous awards and recognition
• Nature and length of activity or service

Consider your audience and avoid using jargon.

Don’t just say it, prove it. Use examples, facts and statistics.

Aim for quality responses and ensure you use the word limit effectivity.

Support your nomination with images, promotional items or a video.

• Nominations will be considered by the Lake Mac Awards Committee or a panel appointed by the Committee.
• The Committee may determine there is not a suitable winner for an award category.
• The Committee reserves the right to transfer nominees to other categories.
• The decision of the Awards Committee will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• The judging of candidates will be based on the information provided in the award submission.
• Finalists will be announced in February 2024.
• Winners will be announced at a gala event in March 2024.

• Nominations open 13 October 2023
• Nominations close on 17 November 2023
• Finalists announced and ticket sales for gala evening February 2024
• Awards gala night will be held in March 2024

Check back regularly for updates to dates and times. Finalists will be notified directly.

Please phone us on 4921 0333 or email [email protected].