Kevin Hogan (Page, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I had the great pleasure to go to many Australia Day celebrations on Australia Day a few weeks ago. I would just like to mention some of the recipients from my community. OAM recipients included Stan Gilchrist, who is Adam's father; Edna Fuller; Barry Nash; Sister Anne Gallagher; and Bob Harbord. Patricia Crowe also won an emergency services award.

There were some wonderful recipients of Citizen of the Year Awards, including Robin Spruce and Rhonda O'Connell from the Richmond Valley area; Dr Austin Curtin from Lismore; Brian Hoffman won the Kyogle award; Greg Butcher the Clarence Valley award; and Mary O'Brien the Ballina award.

Many other winners in many other categories in the Richmond Valley Council area were Michael Pontefract for the Richmond Valley Council Volunteer of the Year award; Todd Johnson as Sportsperson of the Year; and 13-year-old Maddison Morrissey, a great tennis player, won the Young Sportsperson of the Year award.

In Lismore, Jacob Botha won the Young Citizen of the Year; Reverend Dorothy Harris-Gordon, the Aboriginal Citizen of the Year; Margaret Lord, services to the community; U3A, the community group award; Paul Leadbetter, senior sportsperson; Samantha McKenna, junior sportsperson; Lismore Storm under-18 team, sports team of the year; Lorraine Vass for sustainable environment; and Karen and Ian Bowles for arts and culture.

From Ballina, Rachel Hughes, Ian Duncan, Mike Rushby, Margaret Ryan, Wally Mulgrave, Robyn Mostyn, Karen Rantissi, the Ballina Seagulls, Geoff Jacobs, Josh Brown and Skullcandy Oz Grom Open.