Local Heroes Recognised in Your Local Community
SELFLESS VOLUNTEER REWARDED WITH CITY OF NEWCASTLE'S HIGHEST HONOUR
More than 50 years of service to the community has earned Father Nicolaos Zervas OAM the honour of becoming the 17th Freeman of the City of Newcastle. Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes bestowed the award on the 90-year-old late last month during the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church's annual celebration for Greek Independence Day.
Cr Nelmes said Father Nicolaos’ selfless acts have benefitted multiple generations, from teaching scripture to children to volunteering with senior citizens.
"Father Nicolaos' list of achievements spans decades, with a remarkable breadth of service to the community. He has contributed to initiatives that have advanced not only the local Greek community but also across sectors of health and wellbeing, peace and justice, sport, and aged care for all Novocastrians," Cr Nelmes said.
Born in Greece in 1934, Nicolaos Zervas came to Australia in 1955. He initially opened a
restaurant in Victoria, then one in Sydney, but his real dream was to become a priest. After marrying his beloved wife Christina (Nina) in 1965, he was given an opportunity to move north, where he was ordained by the Newcastle Greek community in 1973.
Twenty years later, he was awarded the Order of Australia medal for his spirit of giving, volunteering with Meals on Wheels at Hamilton, the Northern Settlement Services, the Ethnic Communities Council and Lifeline. Father Nicolaos is a founding member of Greek Day Care and a life member of Hippocrates Aged Care, Fronditha Aged Care Nursing Home and Newcastle Olympic Football Club. Despite retiring from his role with the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in July 2021, he still regularly visits people in nursing homes and hospitals.
"It is emotional to be recognised by the City of Newcastle in this way. The support of my wife Nina, my four children and ten grandchildren has enabled me to keep giving back to the community of St Demetrios and the people of Newcastle and now, even in retirement, it has been my absolute privilege to do so," said Father Nicolaos.
TOP GUN MATT HALL NAMED LAKE MAC AMBASSADOR FOR 2024
Red Bull Air Race World Champion and successful Lake Mac businessman Matt Hall is flying high after taking out the city’s top civic honour. Named Lake Mac Ambassador at a gala evening at Belmont 16s, Matt takes the reins from the 2023 winner, cancer researcher Professor Matt Dun.
“I’m a Lake Macquarie guy through and through, and I’m super-proud of our city. I bring international guests over all the time, and I take them up in the plane or the helicopter and show them the lake, and they just can’t believe it,” said Matt.
The former RAAF Top Gun pilot was unable to attend the ceremony due to Red Bull commitments at the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, but in a taped acceptance speech, Hall said he grew up in Lake Macquarie “hanging out at Morisset Park on water skis and paddleboards back in the 80s.”
He later joined the RAAF and served with distinction at home and on deployment overseas. Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser commended the 52-year-old for competing in eight Red Bull Air Race championships, culminating in winning the competition’s final year in 2019 and continuing to run Matt Hall Racing from Lake Macquarie Airport.
“Beyond that, Matt supports many charitable causes and tirelessly champions Lake Macquarie and what our city offers. He has served his country and his home city with distinction, and I know he will continue to fly our flag wherever he can in his new role as Lake Mac Ambassador,” Cr Fraser said.
Teenager Sophie Berude was named Young Citizen of the Year for the second year running for her continued work raising money for John Hunter Children’s Hospital. The leukemia survivor has raised over $40K over the past seven years and was recognised as ‘One to Watch’ at this year’s NSW Women of the Year Awards.
Hunter Mountain Bike Association took out the Community Group of the Year award for its work making the Awaba Mountain Bike Park one of Australia’s premier mountain-biking destinations, while ABC presenter and author Scott Bevan was named Lake Mac Artist and Creator for 2024.
Bevan’s enchanting book The Lake charts his journey around Lake Mac aboard a kayak and its colourful history and characters. Visit www.lakemac.com.au for a complete list of winners.
