The recent announcement of Cowra’s Australia Day 2015 Award nominees recognises the fabulous voluntary contributions made in our community, Cowra mayor, Councillor Bill West said.
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“The nominations highlight the fantastic range of volunteer service being carried-out in the Cowra community; I congratulate all nominees for their selfless contribution to our Shire,” Cr West said.
The Cowra Community Australia Day celebrations will take place on Monday 26 January at Cowra Civic Centre from 8.15am. Award winners will be announced following the free community breakfast kindly hosted by Rotary Club of Cowra. Prizes will also be given for School Literary Awards and Morning Tea with the Inner Wheel ladies will follow.
Cowra High School Student Representative Council
2014 was not only a busy year, but also an extremely successful year for the Student Representative Council (SRC). The group held three socials, student welfare days and actively assist with Transition and Orientation days for Year Six students. The SRC also hosted Mufti Days for specific fundraising events such as ‘Jeans for Genes Day’; ‘Footy Colours Day’ and even planted trees for ‘National Tree Day’.
Cowra Youth Council
The reach of Cowra Youth Council (CYC) grows each year. In 2014, CYC moved from coordinating the local movie nights and Youth Week activities into hosting a Community Cinema group, running the annual “Home Grown” musical concert and participating in sports days, fundraising events, and local markets.
CYC hosts drug and alcohol-free events for young people with a focus on providing engaging opportunities for Cowra’s youth. Leadership roles taken-on include running their own meetings and delivering activity information to school groups and media.
Cowra Jockey Club Committee - With more than 200-years of voluntary service between its six committee members, it is hard not to recognise Cowra Jockey Club Committee for its dedication. Course and facility maintenance are priorities for this group to ensure that the race environment is always safe and welcoming to families with this emphasis recently culminating in securing funds for a safe running rail. Cowra Jockey Club Committee also offers race days as fund-raising opportunities for local charitable organisations with sales stalls and donations.
Ernie Burgers
Nominee Ernie Burgers needs little introduction with residents of Cowra having seen and heard Ernie perform at many local events ranging from Cowra Musical and Dramatic Society productions to Seniors Week concerts, Cowra Country Music Club evenings, and at Bilyara Hostel, and all for free.
Ernie is a member of the Cowra Breakout Country Music Festival Committee and the Cowra Eisteddfod Committee where he coordinates the vocal sections.
Ernie loves to sing and, more importantly, Ernie loves to share his talent with our community.
Tobie Gilmore
As President of the Cowra High School Student Representative Council, Tobie has proven leadership skills. He has made consistent improvements to student welfare at Cowra High and is a respected member of the school. Tobie is responsible and well-organised during student meetings, offers to assist teachers with all tasks, and always shows initiative. Tobie does not seek accolades but sees his school community role as its own reward.
Meggan Ellison
Meg has been an active community member for several years, in particular during 2014. Meg represented Cowra Lion’s Club as a Youth Ambassador for the Festival of International Understanding, has been a School House Captain, has played netball for Cowra and umpired senior levels, participated in the St Vincent de Paul Winter Sleepout fundraiser and been involved in Catholic Parish activities. Meg contributes to all facets of school life be it sporting, cultural or academic and is a recognised leader amongst her peers.
Brody Hannan
Brody was Cowra High School Captain in 2014, an achievement in itself. His year took an interesting twist when he was invited to attend the London International Youth Science Forum after attending the Rotary Youth Science Forum earlier in the year. Brody was rewarded with this invitation for his notable scientific and mathematic interests and accomplishments. Brody’s community work continued with the Leo’s Club, Cowra Hockey and Cowra High School Anti-bullying workshops. The anti-bullying contribution extended into facebook monitoring through a School Prefect project called “Face It - Don’t facebook It”. Brody has long been recognised as a role model and mentor to younger students.
Jess McLean
Jess plays a significant role in many youth organisations within Cowra Shire. She is the VicePresident of the Cowra Youth Council, President of the Leo Club, school photographer, Youth Council photographer and active fundraiser for youth mental health projects. Jess became a Festival of International Understanding Youth Ambassador representing the Cowra Youth Council and followed this with a Youth Ambassador role for the Cowra being saw her receive an invitation to be guest speaker for the recent anti-bullying dinner and fundraiser held at the Lachlan Hotel. Jess’s nomination notes her leadership role, team work and organisational skills as second to none.
Kaye Chapman
Kaye is a familiar face in Cowra Shire since moving here 23 years ago. In that time, Kaye has offered help and support in many ways such as becoming a volunteer worker for the Cowra Grief & Loss group in 1992 and conducting self-esteem courses as part of this role. From this work, Kaye discovered that financial situations had limited the medical support available to some patients and that others had a good support network to raise much-neededfinance. Kaye elected to bring this to the attention of the Shire and held public meetings to decide how to overcome this issue. As a result, the Cowra Community Chest was formed in 2003. Kaye took on a Board of Management role and Publicity Officer duties for the Community Chest. She can be regularly seen selling tickets, cooking barbecues and generally spreading the word to raise money for the Community Chest. More than 160 individuals have been assisted by Cowra Community Chest since inception and the voluntary tasks adopted by Kaye continue 11 years on.
Jayarna Cook
Jayarna has been quietly helping others for many years. She has been a supporter of Holman Place School by fundraising through raffles and voluntarily assisting art classes. Her own art is also a source of giving by donating paintings for charity organisations to raise money.
Jayarna’s most known community contribution is in the Vision Impaired Support Group of Cowra. Jayarna hosts the monthly meeting to share new products available from Vision Australia with those in need. She researches the devices and demonstrates their use to the group, all on a voluntary basis. Jayarna lives by the motto “whatever you give out will always come back”.
Harry Williams
Since June 2011 Harry has been working at Cowra Information & Neighbourhood Centre, recently progressing to Coordinator of the Indigenous Community Links Program. Harry’s employment is only a small component of his community contribution. He has initiated an Aboriginal Elders group to allow Aboriginal Elders a forum for sharing views with the wider community and each other. Harry is also an active member of the Miyanmunga Board, a group placing Aboriginal children in out of home care with Aboriginal families. Harry runs ‘Community Yarn-Ups’ for all community members and was awarded the Inaugural Mr NAIDOC of Cowra. Harry also helps out at Cowra PCYC, school reading programs and community sports days.
