Some of the city’s most devoted residents have been nominated for the 2019 Wagga Australia Day Awards.
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There are three nominees for Citizen of the Year, three for Young Citizen of the Year and seven for the Walk of Honour.
Alan Lean, David Mundy and Michael Georgiou are up for Citizen of the Year.
Mr Lean is a long-serving member and past president of the Rotary Club of Wagga, who has worked on countless local service projects over the past 30 years.
Along with his late wife Kaye, Mr Lean was one of the driving forces behind establishing the regional Camp Quality Centre and founding of Country Hope.
Mr Mundy is the founder and president of the Wagga Community Band, a life member of the Wagga City Rugby Club, president of the Wagga City Rugby Choir and in ukulele group Strum.
Mr Georgiou has been on various school boards, was a foundation member of the Wagga Ethnic Community Council, is a life member of 2AAA, is a Greek language interpreter for Centrelink, president of the Wagga Greek Orthodox Church and Community, and is a former deputy mayor.
Isaac Cornell, Matthew Lennon and Mia Bowcher are the Young Citizen of the Year nominees.
Since the age of 11, Isaac has been championing cancer-related issues.
Dr Lennon, 25, has been described as a leader in rural health and high school education.
Now 15, Mia Bowcher voluntarily runs a weekly radio show at Life FM, has written a children’s book with her mother and brothee and volunteers at charity events.
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The Walk of Honour category recognises the contributions of past and present residents of the city.
Citizen of the Year award nominee Alan Lean has also been put forward in this category, as has his late wife Kaye, in recognition of her contribution to Camp Quality, Country Hope and Rotary.
Cecil ‘Bob’ Scott has been nominated for his 60 years of service to the community through the Wagga District Highland Pipe Band.
The late John Wilks has been nominated in recognition of his efforts to keep Wagga safe when he served as the city’s flood advisor in the 1950s and 1960s.
Nominee Karenne Connors was devoted to a number of charities and events, including Ronald McDonald House, the Golden Gown and the Lake Albert RFS unit before her sudden death in May 2018.
Ryan Lock volunteers his time to youth through the PCYC and the Juvenile Justice Centre.
William Prest has dedicated many years to Rotary, Kurrajong, Riding for the Disabled and other groups.
The awards ceremony will be held at Wagga Civic Theatre on Friday, January 25.
It is in the middle of three days of Australia Day events, which kick off with the free outdoor picnic and movie screening at the Oasis Aquatic Centre on Thursday, January 24.
On Australia Day itself, there will be a free community breakfast in the Victory Memorial Gardens, along with Aussie activities and entertainment.
There will also be a special citizenship ceremony in the Civic Centre area, with 26 people from nine countries becoming Australian citizens.