Great Lakes Australia Day Awards nominations for 2016 are now announced.

JUNIOR ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
(2 nominations)

Mathew Dunk – Forster
Mathew has been nominated for his photography work in the Forster Tuncurry area.

Nic Parsons – Forster
Nicholas is a trumpet player with the Great Lakes Band and Sinfonia.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES (6 nominations)

Kristie Banham – Forster

Kristie has been nominated for promotion of her Indie art through her shop, Coco’s Closet, in Forster.

Vicki Bullard – Tuncurry
Vicki has been nominated for her art, teaching and promotion of arts at local events, including Lakeside Festival.

Peta Ellis – Smiths Lake
Peta has been nominated for promotion of her art through her shop in Forster.

Stephanie Holm – Forster
Stephanie’s art shows her sense of appreciation of the beauty of the natural world and simultaneously encourages conservation of our natural assets.

Craig Mason – Forster
Craig has been nominated for his photographic work, both within Great Lakes as well as his awards internationally.

Gary Taaffe – Forster
Gary has been nominated for his literary works.

LOCAL CHAMPION OF THE ARTS (4 nominations)

Linda Dade – Forster
Linda believes in making real connections and has facilitated and hosted Forster’s first PechaKucha nights.

Sue Filson – Booral
Sue has been nominated for her work with the Stroud Writers group.

Lakeside Festival Incorporated – Katerina Dobbie – Forster
The Festival Committee has been nominated for its efforts to produce an event for local musicians and artists to showcase their talents. event for the region.

Roberta Pearce – Forster
Roberta is an enthusiastic self-taught ukulele player who leads the Forster Jumping Fleas Ukulele Band.

SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
(4 nominations)

Claire Horn – Forster
Claire has been nominated for her great athletic prowess as well as netball and touch football.

Dane Jeffery – Forster
Dane has been nominated for his swimming achievements both locally and for the State.

Catherine Nelson – Coolongolook
Catherine has been nominated for her playing excellence in women’s wheelchair basketball playing for the Sydney Uni Flames.

Laura Thurtell – Forster
Laura’s achievements are many, based around her Surf Life Saving endeavours. Laura was also successful in being named Myall Lakes Sportsperson of the Year.

YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
(5 nominations)

Joshua Gilbert – Nabiac
Joshua has been nominated for his excellence in agriculture and farming and as one of the Top 50 Young Entrepreneurs in Australia.

Adam Koch – Forster
Adam has been nominated for his all-round skills in both academic and sporting arenas.

Mitchell Basden – Forster
Mitchell has been nominated for ability as a volunteer with the Riding for the Disabled Association.

Claire Horn – Forster (nominated in 2 categories – see also Sportsperson of the Year)
Claire obviously excels both in sports and academics, particularly in citizenship skills, for which she is nominated here, including School Prefect for 2015 at Great Lakes College.

Ruby Keys – Pindimar
Ruby is concerned about homelessness and the plight of those less fortunate than others, extending herself to collecting food and other goods to distribute to homeless people when she was in Sydney recently.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR NOMINEES (7 nominations)

Julie Brady – Coomba Park
Julie has been nominated for her all round success in all areas, from farming, to singing, to fighting fires and more recently, in her role as Founding Member for the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter.

Jacqueline Versace – Stroud
Jacqueline has worked tirelessly for the community, particularly at Stroud, and with the Lions Club. Jacqueline was very helpful during the storms early last year.

Margaret Fens – Wang Wauk
Margaret has great dedication to volunteering for Riding for the Disabled in areas such as fundraising, as well as on the ground assistance.

Irene Worth – Bulahdelah
Irene is well known in the community of Bulahdelah for her work with the Hospital Auxiliary as well as the Historical Society.

Bill Rowntree – Blueys Beach
Bill has been nominated for his volunteer work in securing bike parts to repair old bicycles, and then donating the bicycles to the underprivileged in our area, particularly young children.

Robert Langdon – Nabiac
Robert’s assisted physically, as well as mentally and emotionally, in getting the Nabiac Pool up and going, in conjunction with Council.

Robert McMahon and Samantha Blake – Forster
Robert and Samantha help above and beyond their normal work as veterinarians.