WONDERFUL to see all the award nominees and recipients from our Australia Day Awards.
Congratulations to John Turnbull from Modanville who was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his services to secondary education, Alan Hoskins who also received an OAM for his services to the Uniting Church and Ian Grimwood who was recognised with the Australian Fire Service Medal.
I would also like to congratulate all the winners and nominees of Lismore’s Australia Day awards, including Barbara Boorman (Citizen of the Year), Caitlin Bargwanna (Young Citizen of the Year), Julie de Nardi (Individual Community Service), Anthony and Belinda Smith from Lismore Parkrun (Group Community Service), Belinda Smith (Senior Sportsperson) and Courtney Linton (Junior Sportsperson).
Also, Barry Fisher of the Lismore Kart Club (Sports Organisation) and John and Margaret Hildebrand (Sustainable Environment) and Julian Louis from NORPA (Arts/Culture).
You are all inspirational people to others in our community and I thank you.
Welcome also to our 15 new citizens who came from Britain, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Thailand.
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MY OFFICE was recently named Electorate Office of the Year by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. This is quite an achievement, given there are over 100 offices.
I would like to congratulate my office staff.
The annual award is determined by how well an office responds to enquires from members of the community.
It also recognises my second electorate office in Grafton which I pay for out of my salary.
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IT WAS back to school this week.
I would like to wish all students and teachers the best for the school year.
