The winners will be named on Australia Day 2024 in the following categories: Local Citizen of the Year (26 to 64 years); Local Young Citizen of the Year (up to 25 years); and Local Senior Citizen of the Year (65+ years).
The Local Citizen of the Year Awards – Specialised Categories comprise: Sportsperson of the Year; Environmental Person of the Year; and Young Environmental Citizen of the Year.
This year’s Local Citizen of the Year winner, Haiying Gao, is a passionate volunteer in the Cumberland community.
As well as working as a childcare educator, the Merrylands resident assists local residents who are elderly, disabled and from non-English speaking backgrounds, to carry out their everyday tasks.
She has helped residents with accessing services such as the council’s free Household Clean Up Collection and her kindness and positive attitude has encouraged others to do the same.
She says she doesn’t volunteer her time to the elderly for any reward, just to make the community a better place, but it made her day when she found out a resident had nominated her for an award.
“I was so surprised to actually win the award, it was very nice to be acknowledged and I encourage others if they know of someone who deserves recognition to nominate them,” she said.
“There are many, like me, who care about the wellbeing of the community and the environment and are happy to support and care for others.”
To nominate a worthy individual: cumberland.nsw.gov.au/local-citizen-year-awards
Local Citizen of Year nominations urged
SHINING a deserving spotlight on community heroes, Cumberland City Council is calling for Local Citizen of the Year award nominations but you need to act quickly with the deadline to nominate looming on Friday, November 24.
