Several volunteers, groups and businesses have been acknowledged for their contributions to the community at a special awards night.
The fourth Annual Fisher Community Awards, presented by Federal MP Andrew Wallace before the three-day lockdown, recognised those who gave back to the region in 2021. The event also addressed the winners from the cancelled 2020 awards ceremony.
Mr Wallace said he was determined the awards would go ahead safely this time, despite impending restrictions.
“COVID-19 did not stop the Sunshine Coast’s volunteers in 2020 and 2021 and it was not going to stop us recognising their life-changing contributions,” he said.
“I want to thank everyone who came along to celebrate the huge role that volunteers have played on the Sunshine Coast during this most challenging time.”
Winners included Jodi Salmond, a marine scientist specialising in coral reef ecology who used hands-on research and community education to encourage everyone to become the best versions of themselves and to look after the planet.
Among those recognised was Lyn Gale, who raised thousands of dollars for Currimundi Special School through her Annual Cocktail Party event.
Local innovator BakSlap was also acknowledged. It’s a company whose founder Raphael McGowan took a personal tragedy and turned it into a positive quest for the goodness of others by creating a new life-saving sunblock applicator product.
“Over the past 12 months we have needed the resilience, the compassion and the energy of our volunteers and community leaders more than ever,” Mr Wallace said.
“As many locals lost their jobs, homes or businesses, and our young students struggled with isolation and learning from home, the dedicated work of our teachers, community groups and business leaders at times made all the difference.
“(The awards night) was about saying thank to you to those unsung thousands in our region, and I hope inspiring even more to do their bit.”
The Andrew Wallace Award, which recognises a significant contribution from a local community group, went to Gateway Care in 2020 and Sunshine Coast Young Veterans in 2021.
Gateway Care provides food rescue and low-cost groceries to families in need, and a Community Café where individuals can connect, show kindness, share their stories and support one another.
Sunshine Coast Young Veterans do life-saving work establishing a community where local veterans, young and old, can connect on a social level, forming essential links to help maintain their mental health as well as making a wider contribution to the community.
“(The) awards were full of inspiring stories,” Mr Wallace said.
“We had more than a few laughs and more than a few tears from winners and audience alike.
“It is a real privilege to learn so much more about some of the local legends, who are our community’s greatest assets, and recognise some of the people who work so hard and ask for nothing in return.”
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Other winners included Sheila Vickery from Currimundi, who collects old cloth to make blankets, toys and more for the emergency services, the local hospital and Salvation Army.
There was also Kate Clark of Halcyon Parks Retirement Village, who kept up resident morale during lockdown by personally delivering pizza, coffee, easter eggs, birthday cakes, library books and even did full shopping trips for residents too fearful to leave home.
“I want our part of the Sunshine Coast to be the place to be for Education, Employment and Retirement, and that’s why I set up these awards,” Mr Wallace said.
“I want to do everything I can to recognise and encourage the people in our schools, our workplaces, health care facilities and community groups who are making that a reality with their work in the community. I am already looking forward to coming back next year with the fifth Fisher Community Awards.”
Initial nominations were called for from the public and more than 100 were received in both 2019 and 2020.
The winners in each category were selected from the public’s nominations by a judging panel made up of representatives of the Fisher Youth Council, Business Council and Seniors Council, as well as Mr Wallace himself.
These councils are consultation groups, drawn from local residents, set up in 2017 by Mr Wallace. Winners received a medallion and certificate.
The 2021 award winners
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Young Veterans Sunshine Coast
- Educator of the Year: Lara Taylor-Hayhurst (Mooloolaba Outside School
Hours Care) - Student of the Year: Charlie Bidgood (Glasshouse Christian College)
- Education Provider of the Year: Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre
- Business of the Year: The Bottle Community
- Employee of the Year: Kate Clarke (Halcyon Parks Retirement Village)
- Innovator of the Year: The Allied Health Team
- Senior of the Year: Sheila Vickery
- Senior Community Group of the Year: Little Village Theatre
The 2020 award winners
- The Andrew Wallace Award: Gateway CareEducation:
- Educator of the Year: Jodi Salmond (Reef Check Australia)
- Student of the Year: Mia Seefeld (Chancellor State College)
- Education Provider of the Year: Sunshine Coast Technical Trade Training Centre
- Business of the Year: Home Care Assistance Sunshine Coast
- Employee of the Year: Lyn Gale (Currimundi Special School)
- Innovator of the Year: BakSlap
- Senior of the Year: Sharon Garrick (Alex Surf Club)
- Senior Community Group of the Year: Maleny & District Senior Citizens
Further details on each winner is available along with more information about the Fisher Community Awards can be found at: http://www.andrewwallacemp.com.au/awards
