Locals recognized at awards evening

LOCALS RECOGNISED AT AWARDS EVENING

Worthy local recipients were recognised at the North Sydney Community Awards held in late September.

Larry Boyd accepting the North Sydney Individual Community Award, presented by Trent Zimmerman MP and Annabel Crabb, ABC commentator and journalist

The awards, which are organised by Trent Zimmerman MP, acknowledge people who volunteer and work in our community. Mr Zimmerman and Annabel Crabb, ABC commentator and journalist, presented the awards to each winner.

The overall winner was Larry Boyd and he was presented with the North Sydney Community Award Individual Award for his work in founding the Different Degrees Theatre Ensemble, a drama group for people with disabilities, with the support of Lane Cove Council. This great community initiative makes our entire community richer. Hunters Hill resident, Alanna Fisher, received the North Sydney Sport Achievement Award for her achievements in futsal, including at an international level. Alanna’s award also recognised her contribution to the sport and our community by mentoring girls in Western Sydney whose financial or family circumstances don’t provide support for them to play. Local recipients of the North Sydney Community Group of the Year Award included the Hunters Hill Bushcare Program, which has been actively restoring local bushland for future generations over the last 20 years. The Mamas and the Mamas Choir also received an award in this category. Formed in 2008, this choir has over 40 members and has raised over $50 000 for community causes. There were two local recipients of the North Sydney Older Person of the Year Award. Dr Ray Kearney was recognised for his substantial contribution through his studies on endangered fungi in Lane Cove Bushland Park, together with his voluntary contributions to public health. Stewart Begg was recognised for his work in generating publicity to promote the work of the North Shore Prostate Cancer Support Group. Local North Sydney Community Award recipients including Jacky Barker, for her work as Founder of ‘In the Cove’; Robert Chambers who drives the seniors bus for the Meeting House in Lane Cove; Paul Johnson, Chair of the Pottery Gardens Board; Martin Lobo, retired Head of Junior School at St Aloysius’ College; local student Benjamin Jones, for his community work including with disabled students and charities; Jenny Jackson-Nylund for her contribution to music in our local area; Jill Regnis for her contribution to the Hunters Hill Probus Club; and Brian Samson for his work as Administrator of Pottery Gardens. In addition, individual members of the Willoughby-Lane Cove SES unit received a North Sydney Community Award for their service to the community, including Chris Bird, Michael Cheng, Andrew Dowley, Darren Hannah, David Lowe, Brad Nathan, Jeffrey Ng, Alistair Quek, Marc Smith and Jonathan Yen. 