Residents, friends, family and visitors celebrated everything that’s great about living in Australia at this year’s Federation Council Australia Day celebrations in Howlong last Sunday.
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A crowd of more than 300 people were joined by Australia Day Ambassador Andrew Heslop and Federation Council celebrate Australia Day.
Andrew Heslop delivered an inspirational address, speaking about his experiences and views on the importance of community and advocacy.
Mr Heslop is an award-winning keynote speaker and community leader with a global reputation as a social entrepreneur for founding Australia’s annual celebration of community, Neighbour Day. Neighbour Day actively builds social capital, promotes social cohesion, integration and positive relationships between neighbours of all ages and from all cultural backgrounds, all year round.
Today Andrew is an ABC broadcaster best known for founding Neighbour Day in 2003 after Elsie Brown, an elderly woman who lived alone, died at home yet wasn’t discovered for more than two years. Andrew has spoken at the United Nations about his initiative and been honoured for advocating stronger connections between residents of all ages, with awards including NSW Volunteer of the Year and the Westpac Prize.
Mr Heslop said it was a privilege to join the Federation community as their Australia Day Ambassador and described Australia as “a truly diverse and evolving country”.
“Our understanding of what it means to be Australian and our place in the contemporary world continues to be defined by 60,000 years of continuing culture - that of First Nations people – our Indigenous Australians,” he said.
“Every year is an amazing window into how people of all ages connect, reflect and acknowledge that collective experience.”
In his welcome address, Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said each year Australia Day provides us with a day to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history.
“On Australia Day we celebrate all the things we love about Australia; land, sense of fair go, lifestyle, democracy, the freedoms we enjoy, and particularly our people.”
“Today we celebrate our people, the people of Federation Council who go above and beyond in their respective areas to ensure our communities thrive and grow. Our nominees are very special people, whose donation of time and effort warrants this type of special celebration. The commitment to our communities shown by our nominees is truly heart-warming, and these people along with many others throughout the Federation Council region make me so proud to be mayor of this great region,” he said.
Council congratulates all the award recipients and nominees for the 2020 Federation Council Australia Day Awards.
Citizen of the Year - Mulwala: Elizabeth Dale Seeliger
Elizabeth has been a committee member of the Yarrawonga- Mulwala Art Council for over 20 years, holding positions of president, secretary, treasurer and Membership Officer. She was an active committee member of the Lake Mulwala community Action Group and the Yarrawonga-Mulwala Chamber of Commerce and has most recently taken the role as Ageing Ambassador for Federation Council. Elizabeth volunteers delivering meals on wheels to residence in Mulwala and also runs three sessions a week of exercise classes for the older adults in both Mulwala and Savernake.
Community Project of the Year: Mulwala Community Christmas Day Lunch hosted by Mulwala Football and Netball Club.
The Mulwala Community Christmas day lunch hosted by volunteers from the Mulwala FNC is held annually on Christmas Day at the Mulwala clubrooms. The event is for people 55-year-olds and over who would normally be home alone during the festive season. The lunch is a way of providing an avenue to assist the older community who can become isolated and to encourage making new connections and friendships. The event has been running for three years and continues to be a highlight for each and every guest as well as always encouraging new guests to attend. This project has been a positive way to deal with a number of sometimes unspoken issues that can impact communities, especially small towns.
Community Event of the Year: Rand Football & Netball Round Robin Carnival
The Rand P&C Association has been organising and coordinating the annual Football/Netball Round Robin Carnival for more than 35 years. The event caters for age groups from under 8s to under 12s in football and, under 10s to under 16s in netball, attracting teams from a large geographic area - including but certainly not limited to Albury, Yarrawonga, and Deniliquin football/netball clubs as well as being supported by local clubs from the Hume league. The event is focused on inclusion, socialisation and opportunity rather than winning. 2019 was the biggest carnival to date with more than 75 teams participating across both football and netball. Each year the local community of Rand, volunteer their time prior to and during event day. It is a day where the population of Rand swells, and where true community spirit is showcased to the wider area. Funds raised, whilst providing new and varied opportunities to the students of Rand Public School, are also put back into the local community and have provided support to organisations such as the local Rural Fire Brigade, Rand Sportsground and Town Improvement committees.
Local Achiever Award - Mulwala: Elizabeth Dale Seeliger
Elizabeth is always willing to become involved, listen and carry out tasks the directly support and have enormous benefit to the local community and beyond. Not only is Elizabeth part of many committees and groups, she readily promotes the activities and supports events being run by other local community groups; such as the recent “looking for Lawson” event held in Savernake.
Local Achiever Award - Lowesdale: Trevor Kuschert. Award received by his wife Kerrie and three children Luke, Rebecca and Cody
Trevor undertook extensive volunteer work throughout the communities of Buraja, Rand, Lowesdale and Corowa for over more than 40 years, he was a member of the Rural Fire Service and volunteered his time to fight fires both locally and nationally, he also volunteered at the Sydney Olympics. His role as a volunteer fire fighter kept the community safe and saved a significant amount of private and community property from catastrophic destruction. Trevor was heavily involved in the committee of the Hopefield-Buraja Football Club, ensuring the survival of the small community based sporting club. He also spent time involved with the Rand Football Club and then following his children to the Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club where he volunteered his services as a trainer for eighteen years. He was so highly regarded as a trainer that he was also appointed the trainer of the Ovens and Murray Inter League squad. Trevor’s caring, charitable nature and willingness for the community continues to live on with his family, who continue to keep many of his life workings alive.
Local Achiever Award – Urana: Jeanette (Jenny) Hearn
Jeanette (Jenny) Hearn has lived in Urana for the past 40 years. She is the President of the Urana Progress Association and Arts & Historical Society and she is involved in the ‘Stepping Out’ exercise program that encourages the elderly community to participate in weekly exercise at the Community Health Centre. Jenny was a major part in the planning and bringing to fruition the Free Flight Bird Aviary at Urana. A huge community project that required a large number of volunteers and manpower. Jenny was the person that brought the community together to make the dream of the Bird Aviary a reality. Jenny organises the Annual Urana Bird Sale that acts as a fundraiser for the Bird Aviary, this sale draws people to Urana from as far as SA. She also cooks cakes and slices to provide for the day. Jenny volunteers her time each week to help keep the Urana Courthouse Museum open to the public and is a driving force behind the ever growing family history information that is collated and provided to families from near and far. Jenny organised and executed the recent “Hat’s off to Freddie Fox, the boy from Urana” display at the Courthouse Museum. The opening of the Freddie Fox collection was attended by over 100 people and was a huge success for Urana and Federation Council.
Local Achiever Award- Howlong: Tex & Sheila Smith
Tex & Sheila are the couple who have accomplished so much for the betterment of the Howlong community. They work tirelessly and volunteer their time to save and run the local Op Shop as the community of Howlong relies on the stores affordability. They are both volunteers at Howlong Meals on Wheels and have been a pivotal part of starting and continuing the newly formed Table Tennis & Croquet Clubs. They also contribute to keeping the Howlong Mechanic Institute Hall in good repair as well as being active members of their local Lions Club. Tex & Sheila are quiet achievers; with their energetic and helpful nature as they continuously strive towards a positive future for the residents of the Howlong district.
Local Achiever Award - Corowa: Florence Hudson
Florence has been volunteering her time at the local op shop in Corowa, for over 10 years, now working there numerous hours throughout the week and on the weekend. Florence has volunteered her time at both the public and local high schools over the years, as well as putting in numerous hours at Corowa Golf Club, Corowa Squash Club, Wahgunyah Football/Netball Club and Judy O’Malley’s dance studio. Florence has also organised the food for countless years at the annual debutant ball as part of the Deb committee. She assists those who are less fortunate than others, helping the younger community as well as always willing to offer help at numerous sporting events.
Student Achievement Awards:
Boree Creek Public School: Hayden Westblade & Grace Routley. Corowa High School: Ellen Lavis & Ruby Van Ree. Corowa Public School: Jay Lavis & Bella Green. Corowa South Public School: Mackenzie Phillis Bunt St Mary’s Primary School, Corowa: Clodagh Blain Howlong Public School: Lily Conn & Tyler Farnsworth Lowesdale Public School: Edie Tomlinson & Eric Wood Mulwala Public School: Ruby Thomas & Van Kreeck Oaklands Central School: Halle Robb & Connor Fenton Rand Public School: Edward Kreutzberger & Hayley Potter St Francis Xavier Primary School, Urana: Phillip Coghill & Angus Coghill Urana Public School: Reyen Smith & Ashleigh Ferguson.
Light Up Federation Awards:
Best Decorated House – 8 Hay Street, Corowa. Best Decorated Street - O’Brien Court, Corowa. Best Decorated Business – Corowa Ambulance Station.
Federation Council has also welcomed six new citizens at the Australian Citizenship ceremony held as part of the Australia Day celebration event.
The following conferees became Australian Citizens at the ceremony and were welcomed to our community: Saoud Abdullah, Handhal Al-Mazrouai, Wei An, Helen Baloaloa Bruce, Wafa Ismail Manoj Jose, Arlyn Aleman Medrano.
Federation Council Mayor, Cr Patrick Bourke said there is no greater privilege than our citizenship. It’s a life-long commitment to Australia’s values of freedom, democracy, equality and respect.
“Each year we are privileged to welcome new Australians to our growing community,” he said.
Council would also like to thank the Howlong Pony Club and Barry Bird and Coleen Bell for the musical entertainment that was so well performed on the day. As Ageing Ambassador for Federation Council. Elizabeth volunteers delivering meals on wheels to residence in Mulwala and also runs three sessions a week of exercise classes for the older adults in both Mulwala and Savernake.
Community Project of the Year: Mulwala Community Christmas Day Lunch hosted by Mulwala Football and Netball Club.
The Mulwala Community Christmas day lunch hosted by volunteers from the Mulwala FNC is held annually on Christmas Day at the Mulwala clubrooms. The event is for people 55-year-olds and over who would normally be home alone during the festive season. The lunch is a way of providing an avenue to assist the older community who can become isolated and to encourage making new connections and friendships. The event has been running for three years and continues to be a highlight for each and every guest as well as always encouraging new guests to attend. This project has been a positive way to deal with a number of sometimes unspoken issues that can impact communities, especially small towns.
Community Event of the Year: Rand Football & Netball Round Robin Carnival
The Rand P&C Association has been organising and coordinating the annual Football/Netball Round Robin Carnival for more than 35 years. The event caters for age groups from under 8s to under 12s in football and, under 10s to under 16s in netball, attracting teams from a large geographic area - including but certainly not limited to Albury, Yarrawonga, and Deniliquin football/netball clubs as well as being supported by local clubs from the Hume league. The event is focused on inclusion, socialisation and opportunity rather than winning. 2019 was the biggest carnival to date with more than 75 teams participating across both football and netball. Each year the local community of Rand, volunteer their time prior to and during event day. It is a day where the population of Rand swells, and where true community spirit is showcased to the wider area. Funds raised, whilst providing new and varied opportunities to the students of Rand Public School, are also put back into the local community and have provided support to organisations such as the local Rural Fire Brigade, Rand Sportsground and Town Improvement committees.
Local Achiever Award - Mulwala: Elizabeth Dale Seeliger
Elizabeth is always willing to become involved, listen and carry out tasks that directly support and have enormous benefit to the local community and beyond. Not only is Elizabeth part of many committees and groups, she readily promotes the activities and supports events being run by other local community groups; such as the recent “looking for Lawson” event held in Savernake.
Local Achiever Award - Lowesdale: Trevor Kuschert. Award received by his wife Kerrie and three children Luke, Rebecca and Cody
Trevor undertook extensive volunteer work throughout the communities of Buraja, Rand, Lowesdale and Corowa for over more than 40 years, he was a member of the Rural Fire Service and volunteered his time to fight fires both locally and nationally, he also volunteered at the Sydney Olympics. His role as a volunteer fire fighter kept the community safe and saved a significant amount of private and community property from catastrophic destruction. Trevor was heavily involved in the committee of the Hopefield-Buraja Football Club, ensuring the survival of the small community based sporting club. He also spent time involved with the Rand Football Club and then following his children to the Corowa-Rutherglen Football Club where he volunteered his services as a trainer for eighteen years. He was so highly regarded as a trainer that he was also appointed the trainer of the Ovens and Murray Inter League squad. Trevor’s caring, charitable nature and willingness for the community continues to live on with his family, who continue to keep many of his life workings alive.
Local Achiever Award – Urana: Jeanette (Jenny) Hearn
Jeanette (Jenny) Hearn has lived in Urana for the past 40 years. She is the President of the Urana Progress Association and Arts & Historical Society and she is involved in the ‘Stepping Out’ exercise program that encourages the elderly community to participate in weekly exercise at the Community Health Centre. Jenny was a major part in the planning and bringing to fruition the Free Flight Bird Aviary at Urana. A huge community project that required a large number of volunteers and manpower. Jenny was the person that brought the community together to make the dream of the Bird Aviary a reality. Jenny organises the Annual Urana Bird Sale that acts as a fundraiser for the Bird Aviary, this sale draws people to Urana from as far as SA. She also cooks cakes and slices to provide for the day. Jenny volunteers her time each week to help keep the Urana Courthouse Museum open to the public and is a driving force behind the ever growing family history information that is collated and provided to families from near and far. Jenny organised and executed the recent “Hat’s off to Freddie Fox, the boy from Urana” display at the Courthouse Museum. The opening of the Freddie Fox collection was attended by over 100 people and was a huge success for Urana and Federation Council.
Local Achiever Award- Howlong: Tex & Sheila Smith
Tex & Sheila are the couple who have accomplished so much for the betterment of the Howlong community. They work tirelessly and volunteer their time to save and run the local Op Shop as the community of Howlong relies on the stores affordability. They are both volunteers at Howlong Meals on Wheels and have been a pivotal part of starting and continuing the newly formed Table Tennis & Croquet Clubs. They also contribute to keeping the Howlong Mechanic Institute Hall in good repair as well as being active members of their local Lions Club. Tex & Sheila are quiet achievers; with their energetic and helpful nature as they continuously strive towards a positive future for the residents of the Howlong district.
Local Achiever Award - Corowa: Florence Hudson
Florence has been volunteering her time at the local op shop in Corowa, for over 10 years, now working there numerous hours throughout the week and on the weekend. Florence has volunteered her time at both the public and local high schools over the years, as well as putting in numerous hours at Corowa Golf Club, Corowa Squash Club, Wahgunyah Football/Netball Club and Judy O’Malley’s dance studio. Florence has also organised the food for countless years at the annual debutant ball as part of the Deb committee. She assists those who are less fortunate than others, helping the younger community as well as always willing to offer help at numerous sporting events.
Student Achievement Awards:
Boree Creek Public School: Hayden Westblade & Grace Routley. Corowa High School: Ellen Lavis & Ruby Van Ree. Corowa Public School: Jay Lavis & Bella Green. Corowa South Public School: Mackenzie Phillis Bunt St Mary’s Primary School, Corowa: Clodagh Blain Howlong Public School: Lily Conn & Tyler Farnsworth Lowesdale Public School: Edie Tomlinson & Eric Wood Mulwala Public School: Ruby Thomas & Van Kreeck Oaklands Central School: Halle Robb & Connor Fenton Rand Public School: Edward Kreutzberger & Hayley Potter St Francis Xavier Primary School, Urana: Phillip Coghill & Angus Coghill Urana Public School: Reyen Smith & Ashleigh Ferguson.
Light Up Federation Awards:
Best Decorated House – 8 Hay Street, Corowa. Best Decorated Street - O’Brien Court, Corowa. Best Decorated Business – Corowa Ambulance Station.
Federation Council has also welcomed six new citizens at the Australian Citizenship ceremony held as part of the Australia Day celebration event.
The following conferees became Australian Citizens at the ceremony and were welcomed to our community: Saoud Abdullah, Handhal Al-Mazrouai, Wei An, Helen Baloaloa Bruce, Wafa Ismail Manoj Jose, Arlyn Aleman Medrano.
Federation Council Mayor, Cr Patrick Bourke said there is no greater privilege than our citizenship. It’s a life-long commitment to Australia’s values of freedom, democracy, equality and respect.
“Each year we are privileged to welcome new Australians to our growing community,” he said.
Council would also like to thank the Howlong Pony Club and Barry Bird and Coleen Bell for the musical entertainment that was so well performed on the day.