Australia Day honours will take place across the Coorong on 26th January as the district’s standout citizens and community groups are celebrated.

Mayor Paul Simmons said this year’s awards recognise the district’s own heroes who have their communities’ best interests at heart.

“It is an honour and a pleasure to celebrate and say ‘thank you’ to the 2022 Australia Day Award recipients for their dedication to their communities,” Mayor Simmons says.

Michael Holliday and Daphne Hastings have been recognised as Citizens of the Year in Tailem Bend and Meningie, and Coonalpyn's Lachlan Jacobs has been awarded Young Citizen of the Year - congratulations to these worthy recipients for their outstanding efforts and making a positive difference in their communities!

In the Community Event of the Year category, the Meningie parkrun and The Life & Times of Tailem Bend History Exhibition and History Room Opening have been recognised as deserving winners.

The community-driven Tailem Topics, along with the Tintinara Oval & Recreation Association Redevelopment and Meningie Area School’s Year 4/5 Letter Writing project have all been recognised as Community Projects of the Year.

The Meningie Skate Park Committee have been awarded the Mayor’s Award, for their efforts in turning the idea of a community skate park into reality.

The Australia Day Awards are proudly presented by the Australia Day Council of South Australia in partnership with the Coorong District Council. Council is delighted to welcome Kate Swaffer, independent researcher and author, and award-winning campaigner for the rights of people with dementia and older persons, who will join the Coorong celebrations as 2022 Australia Day Ambassador.

Four events will be held on 26^th January honouring the 2022 Australia Day recipients at Tailem Bend, Meningie, Tintinara and Coonalpyn – the community are encouraged to join in the festivities and celebrate their own outstanding citizens. Further information about the Australia Day events can be found on Coorong District Council’s website: www.coorong.sa.gov.au/australiaday.

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Contact:

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

A bit about the winners …

Citizen of the Year – Tailem Bend: Michael Holliday

A resident of Wellington East and long-time supporter of local Tailem Bend community groups and clubs, Michael has been recognised for selflessly donating his skills in drafting and design to clubs and community groups. Michael’s expertise has enabled many community-led projects to be achieved, and his willing, generous and capable spirit is a true asset to the community.

Citizen of the Year – Meningie: Daphne Hastings

Daphne’s commitment through her nursing profession has meant that she has positively impacted the lives of many in the Meningie community. A role model for many younger nurses, Daphne’s care and support has been given to three generations of Meningie residents.

Young Citizen of the Year - Coonalpyn: Lachlan Jacobs

At just 16 years of age, Lachlan has demonstrated a passion for his Coonalpyn community that is difficult to surpass. Lachlan is an active member of numerous local sporting and community groups, showing initiative, care and compassion for any task he sets his mind to. Lachlan’s achievements include fundraising for the Border Downs Tintinara Football Club auction, and organising a highly successful Hay Run in 2019 for struggling farmers.

Community Event of the Year – Meningie: Meningie parkrun

Demonstrating a commitment to community health and wellbeing, the Meningie parkrun has been encouraging locals and visitors alike to keep active since its inception in 2018. The free volunteer-run event has continued to attract visitors to Meningie each week from other parts of SA and interstate, and provided valuable opportunities for social connection.

Community Event of the Year – Tailem Bend: The Life & Times of Tailem Bend History Exhibition and History Room Opening

Members of the Tailem Bend Historians Association Inc. paid tribute to Tailem Bend’s own early history by organising and curating an well-researched exhibition through the months of March to May in 2021. Capped off with the opening of a dedicated History Room in the historic railway station building, the project showcased the town’s own unique story and provided education opportunities for new generations of Tailem Bend residents which will help to preserve the town’s history into the future.

Community Project of the Year – Tailem Bend: Tailem Topics

Always reliable, informative and entertaining, the Tailem Topics has served as Tailem Bend’s community newsletter since 1992. With a distribution of over 2,000, every month the volunteer-driven Tailem Topics provides the regional community with local human-interest stories and articles. With many papers now shifting to digital platforms, publications like the Tailem Topics have become even more highly sought-after and appreciated.

Community Project of the Year – Tintinara: Tintinara Oval & Recreation Association Re-development

The Tintinara Oval & Recreation Association’s dynamic volunteers have successfully completed their much anticipated and extensively planned clubroom and facility renovations by attracting $500K in grant funding. The funds were matched by the community, and their efforts have now been rewarded with a rejuvenated facility that will serve as the community’s hub for social gatherings and events.

Community Project of the Year – Meningie: Meningie Area School’s Year 4/5 Letter Writing Project

In 2021 the Meningie Area School Year 4/5 class tackled the issue of loneliness and isolation by developing a ‘pen pal’ program with the elderly residents of Jallarah Homes. The project proved to be a great success, which encouraged intergenerational relationships and friendships to grow and reduce the impacts of social isolation.

Mayor’s Award: Meningie Skate Park Committee

This group of energetic young individuals from Meningie have shown exceptional drive and passion for creating a space in Meningie that serves the recreational needs of the town and wider community’s youth. The Committee have been integral in developing the skate park concept, campaigning and fundraising for the project. Now becoming a reality, a community skate park will be constructed at the Meningie town oval in 2022.