Celebrating Australia Day in the shire

2024 Citizen of the Year Award

Carina Severs is an active member of the Eden community and surrounding villages. She volunteers for several organisations, including the Clean Curalo Project, Eden Chamber of Commerce, Eden Recovery & Resilience Alliance and the Department of Primary Industries’ PI Eden Sentinel Bee Hive monitoring.

Carina supports people in need by offering assistance with lawnmowing, shopping, transport and other tasks. She is also known for her various contributions to the community, such as selling cakes on street stalls, coordinating kids' activities, advocating for the use of empty buildings and running first aid and barista courses.

Carina has been a driving force behind the development of community organisations and has supported many locals in accessing support and grants following the bushfires. She is passionate about social wellbeing and helps community groups with their grant applications, budgets, acquittals and governance requirements.

She is currently working on several projects, including the Bega Valley L2P Driver Mentor Program, refurbishing Aslings Beach Rockpool, and establishing a designated Community Hall and Community Centre for Eden. As the chairperson of the Eden Log Cabin Committee, Carina has been instrumental in increasing the cabin's use for the betterment of the local community.

Carina has an attitude that you can achieve almost anything you put your mind to and she will always help where she can. If she sees a need within her community or someone asks her for help, she is there.

2024 Senior Citizen of the Year Award

Flo Young has been actively involved with her local community in Eden and surrounding areas for about 50 years.

She co-established and voluntarily managed the Sapphire Surprise Anglican Op Shop in Eden (part of the Sapphire Coast Anglican Parish) for nearly 30 years.

While in the role, Flo was a key part of an Emergency Relief Office which was operated from the Op Shop, supplying food and essentials to people in need.

Over that time, she also helped plan and manage the annual Eden Combined Churches Deb Ball.

Flo was on the board of the old Nullica Lodge Committee for about eight years. Nullica Lodge was a housing facility in Eden for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Flo has been involved in a myriad of volunteer activities in Eden and surrounding areas, including baking for cake stalls, serving on the P&C, helping out at junior sports clubs, serving on her local Church Vestry and Parish Board and organising the St Johns Christmas Hampers for vulnerable families.

A quiet and dignified person, Flo does what is needed with a no-fuss approach.

2024 Young Citizen of the Year Award

Tarra Glover has volunteered with the Far South Coast Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) for several years.

Tarra has attained her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and is close to finishing her Silver Award. She has been invited back this year to do her Gold Award level.

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a global youth development program, empowering young Australians to develop their skills, attitudes and practical experiences, to make the most of future personal, educational and professional opportunities.

While completing the Duke of Edinburgh, Tarra had to complete a set number of hours volunteering at PCYC. She did this by helping organise three teams from Bega Valley and Eurobodalla shires to compete in the Nations of Origin rugby league knockout competition.

Nations of Origin is a multifaceted sport, cultural, education and leadership program that culminates around NAIDOC week annually. Each year Indigenous and non- Indigenous young people represent their Aboriginal Nation in rugby league, football fives, basketball, netball and gymnastics.

Through PCYC, Tarra has participated in Bluestar, was invited to a youth leadership camp in New Zealand and also invited to meet the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward. She has also presented Acknowledgement of Country at Anzac Day services.

Tarra now works fulltime as the manager of Eden Aspire outside of school hours care.

2024 Bega Valley Medallions

Bega Valley Medallions are awarded to people who have served within the Bega Valley community for an extended period of time. This year we have 14 outstanding members of the community awarded medallions.

Graham Brown is an active member of the local community. As a member of the Rotary Club of Pambula, he volunteers for catering events, working bees, fundraising activities and monthly markets. Graham has a passion for music and creates opportunities for local musicians around the shire to play live gigs on a mobile sound stage funded by a Black Summer bushfire grant. As a committee member of the Sapphire Coast Youth Development Fund, he supports the development of young musicians, sports and arts students by providing sponsorship assistance through the Fund. Graham also volunteers at the Merimbula Jazz Festival, the Wanderer festivals and is a weekly presenter on Sapphire FM Community Radio, promoting local music and musicians.

Katie Ryan uses her knowledge and insights about the power of relationships to promote inclusion and facilitate positive development of all those around her. She is a Board member of the Tathra Beach Country Club, President of Tathra United Football Club, Coach of the Tathra United U12 team, a member of the Far South Coast Football Association, Co-coach of the Far South Coast 18+ Women’s Representative team, Assistant Coach of the U12's Far South Coast Representative team and a key organiser of the Tathra United Football Club 6-aside football competition and she is hoping to add Accessible Football and Walking Football for Seniors. Although Katie is passionate about soccer, her contribution to the community extends more broadly, helping out wherever she can.

Nellie Pryke is a volunteer with the Bega Valley Seed Savers, working for hours in their garden each week and setting up the stall at the SCPA markets. At Ricky's Place in Bega, she sets up, manages volunteers, waits tables, cleans up and more. Nellie also contributes to the Two Sheds Workshop, where women and children can learn woodwork and building skills in a supportive, safe and fun environment.

Robyn Thorpe has been a resident of Eden for about 35 years. She has volunteered on Community Radio in Eden for more than 20 years and is part of the Eden Combined Churches Drop-in Centre, opening weekly to assist her local community. Robyn also helps where she can at the food pantry and is one of those quiet people who go about these things without thinking that much about her contribution to society … she just does it.

Steph Lazzaro is a valued community member who joined the Bermagui Rural Fire Service when she was 17. Throughout the Black Summer bushfires, she spent countless days and nights on the front along with her town crew to help protect the Bermagui community.

Vera Clark has given more than 10 years of service to the Eden and surrounding community through her volunteer work at the Eden Community Access Centre. She uses her many skills (IT, bookkeeping, grant writing, computer skills, training) and can-do attitude to ensure everyone who walks through the Centre door is assisted. Vera steps up into the supervisor’s role as required and is a member of the Board of Management. She organises the Be Connected program and events for seniors, heads up the production of the Eden Connection, manages the Centre’s website and its Facebook page.

Colin Dunn places his community first, without any fanfare and simply works to make the place we live, better for all. He has been President of the Pambula Rotary Club several times, a board member/treasurer/ambassador and chairman of Pambula Community Development Ltd (Bendigo Community Banks) for the past 15 years, treasurer of the Pambula Show Society, treasurer of the Merimbula Jazz Festival, member of Council’s Access and Inclusion Committee, committee member of the BOAT (Bureau of Accessible Tourism) and presenter with and Board member of Sapphire FM 97.5 Community Radio in Merimbula.

Kate Liston-Mills is a young mother and published author based in Pambula. She has helped raise funds for the Social Justice Advocates, which has included picking up and showcasing rubbish from the local walking tracks to raise funds for affordable and emergency housing. Kate works tirelessly to raise issues for her community and supports many charities and social projects.

Stan Soroka is President of the Eden Mountain Bike Club who has dedicated at least 2,000 volunteer hours advocating for and working on the recently opened Gravity Eden Mountain Bike Park in Nullica State Forest. He has been involved in every step of the development from finding grants, planning, building and testing some of the rides. The Park’s development has taken much effort from a dedicated crew including hundreds of hours of research and grant applications. With more than 58 kilometres of mountain bike trails spanning a 300-metre elevation, Gravity Eden is a thrilling destination for riders of all skill levels.

Heather Sobey has been volunteering for Meals on Wheels since 2013. In this time, she has coordinated other volunteers for the Bermagui area and has delivered countless meals. Heather's hard work and dedication to her local community has helped and touched many senior citizens.

Kevin Cox has been volunteering for Meals on Wheels since 2015. In this time, he has delivered meals to countless clients in the Bermagui area, assisted staff and clients for the Meals on Wheels social groups and helped clients with individual social support. Kevin’s dedication goes above and beyond, making a positive impact on everyone he meets each week.

Peter Sheales has been one of the main sporting photographers for many local sporting clubs in the shire for many years, including the Bega Pony Club, Bega Show Jumping Club, Bega Football Club, Bega Softball Club, and local cricket clubs and various dressage clubs in the local area. He also assists with ground maintenance and other activities for the regular events held by the Bega Pony Club and the Bega Show Jumping Club. Peter provides all photos at no expense, and he covers any travel and other associated costs himself.

Prue Kelly has been a tireless volunteer for the Clean Energy for Eternity community group since about 2007. She is the engine room of the group, organising fundraising activities for the purchase and installation of solar panels on the roofs of town halls, churches, preschools, 20 rural fire sheds and all six surf clubs. Prue is also driving force of the Imagine Solar Farm – sewerage works at Tathra.

Wendy Cook has been an active volunteer with Animal Welfare League Far South Coast since February 2009. She was the volunteer Welfare Officer from October 2009 to July 2010 and then again from July 2012 to July 2023. During this time, she worked seven days a week for between 10-12 hours a day, assessing animals for rehoming, inspecting the homes of prospective owners, and transporting animals to and from new owners, vet clinics, pounds and carers. Wendy’s area covered the Bega Valley Shire as well as Mallacoota and the Snowy Mountains (after Cooma RSPCA folded).