Coorong District Council’s standout citizens have had their achievements and dedication recognised as the 2021 Australia Day Citizens of the Year.

This year Tintinara’s Keith Harkness was awarded Citizen of the Year for his many years of volunteering; particularly with the Tintinara Golf Club and Tintinara Lions Club.

Sherlock will celebrate their own community hero, Kevin Poole as Citizen of the Year. Known as Sherlock’s unofficial repairman, Kevin has been actively involved in numerous community and local organisations for many years.

Meningie’s Peter Doolette was also named one of the deserving award recipients; Peter is an avid recorder of local history in addition to his volunteer activities with Meningie’s Lakelander publication.

And Tailem Bend’s Angela Tomkinson has been recognised for her unwavering commitment to the Tailem Bend Netball Club as well as her integral role in establishing the Tailem Bend Historians Association.

In the Community Event of the Year category, the Tintinara Lions Club’s Corona Cup Trivia Night (held in October 2020) was recognised as a deserving winner. The community-driven Tintinara Cinema project has been recognised as Community Project of the Year.

The Australia Day Awards are proudly presented by the Australia Day Council of South Australia in partnership with the Coorong District Council.

Lynn Hill, Co-founder of Dragon Boat Racing for survivors of breast cancer, will join the celebrations at Tintinara and Tailem Bend as the 2021 Australia Day Ambassador. Lynn will draw on her own experiences as a volunteer and highlight the importance of recognising volunteers on Australia Day.

Mayor Paul Simmons said this year’s awards recognise those who inspire us with their achievements.

“Our recipients are everyday people who strive to make their communities better places to live. It is an honour and a pleasure to celebrate their efforts and say ‘thank you’ to them for their dedication to their communities,” Mayor Simmons says.

This year the awards will be formally presented at four Australia Day events to be held in Tintinara, Sherlock, Tailem Bend and Meningie on Tuesday, 26 January 2021. Further information about the events can be found on Coorong District Council’s website: www.coorong.sa.gov.au/australiaday.

A bit about the winners …

Citizen of the Year - Tintinara: Keith Harkness

Keith is described as a man who ‘wears many hats for his community’. Having mentored students through his groundskeeper work at the Tintinara Area School and cared for elderly Tintinara residents, Keith has left a lasting positive impression on the young and old. Keith has been an active member of the Tintinara Lions Club for more than 20 years and has been awarded life membership of the Tintinara Golf Club for his 30+ years of service. Keith has also been an active member of the Tintinara CFS Brigade, the Culburra and the Tintinara Tennis Clubs.

Citizen of the Year – Sherlock: Kevin Poole

Kevin is a highly respected member of the Sherlock community. Kevin undertakes a lot of his work in an unofficial capacity and can often be found conducting repairs or maintenance behind the scenes. Having served as a Committee member of the Sherlock Hall for almost 50 years, Kevin has also been an active member of the Sherlock and the Peake & District Tennis Clubs, as well as the Peake & District Football Club, the Sherlock Community Centre, Coomandook Kindergarten and the Coomandook Area School as well as the Baptist Church.

Citizen of the Year - Meningie: Peter Doolette

Peter is a dedicated historian, whose extensive knowledge and skillset has led him to record the history of the Coorong and surrounding area. Peter has self-published three local history books and has catalogued the historical record collection at the Meningie Area School library and the Meningie Museum. Peter is an active member of the Lakelander, the Friends of the Coorong, the Meningie Cheese Factory Museum, and a Lake Albert Golf Club volunteer.

Citizen of the Year - Tailem Bend: Angela Tomkinson

Angela has committed herself to her Tailem Bend community in a number of ways, including being a member of the Tailem Bend Netball Club since its inception, playing an integral role in the establishment of the Tailem Bend Historians Association, and her duties at the Tailem Bend Primary School and community library. Angie’s propensity to go the extra mile for her community in her quiet, understated way is admired and appreciated by many community members.

Community Event of the Year – Tintinara: Corona Cup Trivia Night

In a year plagued with event cancellations and restrictions on public gatherings as a result of COVID-19, Tintinara Lions Club’s efforts in delivering a trivia night should be congratulated. Held on 10 October 2020, the event enabled participants to meet and socialise while raising over $2,000 for the Women’s and Children’s Auxiliary.

Community Project of the Year – Tintinara: Tintinara Cinema

This project is a great example of what can be achieved when individuals and community groups come together to deliver on a great idea. Tintinara’s TRADE group, along with the Tintinara Action Club and Tintinara Lions Club lead the fund-raising and installation of the new fit-for-purpose audio and visual upgrade in the Tintinara War Memorial Hall. The community will now reap the rewards of their efforts for years to come at events (of all types) to be held in the Tintinara Hall.

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Contact:

Bridget Mather
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER | COORONG DISTRICT COUNCIL
Phone: 1300 785 277 | E: bmather@coorong.sa.gov.au