YOUTH WINNER: Birchip Cropping Group chief executive David Chamberlin and Rupanyup’s Australia Day Young Achiever Award winner Emily Teasdale at Australia Day celebrations on Saturday. Mr Chamberlin was guest speaker at Rupanyup’s festivities. Picture: ADRIAN TYLER
YARRIAMBIACK Shire Council's Australia Day Awards recognised achievements by young women and long-time community volunteers.
Yarriambiack Citizen of the Year was Terence Sheehy, 88.
Young Citizen of the Year was jointly awarded to Kezia and Sophie Hallam, who had volunteered in India and Vietnam respectively during their gap years.
Warracknabeal Community Christmas Carols Committee won Community Event of the Year.
Towns in the shire also hosted separate Australia Day awards.
Winners included people who received awards from Warracknabeal Rotary Club.
Peter Clayton won Warracknabeal Citizen of the Year and Chloe Bibby was recognised for her sporting achievements.
Mikaela Woods and Mikaela George were joint winners of Warracknabeal Young Citizen of the Year.
Rupanyup's Australia Day winners were John and Michael Woods, joint winners of Citizen of the Year, and Emily Teasdale, Young Achiever.
Ms Teasdale, 17, will study for a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ballarat this year.
She completed year 12 at Murtoa College last year.
Ms Teasdale won her award for her community involvement with singing, dancing and
volunteering.
"It was a confidence-booster and will get me even more involved with the community," she
said.
"I've always looked up to my teachers and I definitely want to return to teach at a country school."
Yarriambiack Mayor Kylie Zanker attended Hopetoun's Australia Day awards.
She said she was impressed with the high calibre of award nominees and with the number of joint winners.
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