Give recognition to good Samaritans who go unnoticed
Each year you have the opportunity to nominate someone in the community for the 2019 Citizen of the Year Award and nominations are now open.
The Citizen of the Year Award recognises an individual who has achieved something extraordinary, is an inspirational role model to others or who has made a contribution to the local community.
Everyone knows somebody worthy of this award, especially when 1 in 5 people in Orange volunteer. There are also a number of other award categories including;
The Young Citizen of the Year Award which recognises an individual under 25 years of age who has achieved something extraordinary, is an inspirational role model to others or who has made a contribution to the local community.
The Community Group of the Year Award recognises a group who has made a valuable contribution to the Orange community throughout the year.
The Community Event of the Year Award recognises an event that has made a valuable contribution to the community. This will be determined both in relation to the quality of the event and the scope of impact on the local government area.
Local Legend Award recognises a person who has moulded the Orange local community with outstanding, illustrious, or renowned achievement.
Business Philanthropy Award recognises a business that seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money or services to the community and good causes.
Orange Mayor Reg Kidd said he always looks forward to the annual awards ceremony held on Australia Day in Cook Park.
“It’s one of the highest honours we can give out and I always look forward to hearing about the worthy things people are doing to get themselves nominated.
“These are always those people who just go about their day, volunteering, sharing knowledge, caring for others and making the lives of other’s better. But you’ll never hear them blowing their own trumpet so it’s up to us to do it for them.
“The wonderful thing about living in Orange is we all know someone who is worthy of recognition. The most recent Census results showed 20 per cent of people in Orange were volunteers and more than 11 per cent provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability.
“So, take this chance now and nominate them for an award,” said Reg.
You can nominate by filling out a form located at the Civic Centre Office and return by 5pm, Wednesday December 5 or you can enter online here:
Let’s make a special effort for 2019!
The sad truth about these awards and many like them, is that although there would be a great number of people who could and should be nominated, only a handful ever do. That’s our fault!
Folks, let’s all make a super effort this year to make sure that at least the field of nominations is huge. Please take the time to think about those people you know who do both the little and the big things that make the lives of others better, and then take the time to put a formal nomination in. It doesn’t matter who wind and who doesn’t, what matters is that we recognise and acknowledge a lot more people who willingly provide volunteering and other services in our community each year. Such people rarely want any acknowledgment but when it does comes, I bet they love it!