Maitland is Looking for Nominations for Awards and Recognition

Maitland is looking for nominations for its Annual Awards as part of Council’s Awards and Recognition Program.

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Maitland City Council is calling for nominations for six annual awards to recognise those who significantly contributed to the Maitland community, broader society or achieved in the fields of creative art and sport.

This is the first year of the Sportsperson and Creative Arts Person of the Year. Also, the first time the Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year and City of Maitland Award and Medal are all being presented together on Australia Day.

For Mayor Philip Penfold, the inclusion of the Sportsperson and Creative Arts Person of the Year is a positive inclusion that will open the Annual Awards to a broader section of the community.

‘Sports and the arts are two things that Maitland is well known to punch above its weight for,’ Mayor Penfold said.

‘We’ve got a lot of high achievers in the community from these fields, and we want to hear about them.’

Well known for his community service, Cr Bill Hackney volunteers as Hunter Region Coordinator and New South Wales President of Neighbourhood Watch. He was recognised as a Maitland Citizen of the Year in 2015 for his work with local football clubs and Metford Neighbourhood Watch before becoming a Councillor.

Talking about the Annual Awards, Cr Hackney said, ‘volunteering is what makes Australia the great place it is, with almost six million volunteers in Australia. Maitland has such a strong volunteer base that truly reflects its success.

‘As a previous recipient of the Citizen of the Year award, I was honoured to be added to the outstanding list of previous recipients.

‘Volunteers never do what they do for recognition but receiving an accolade like this reminds you that people appreciate the things you do.

‘I strongly urge individuals, clubs and or organisations to nominate that special person who needs to be recognised’.

The six awards look to recognise a broad range of people across Maitland who contribute to the community, broader society or their field:

• Citizen of the Year: awarded to an individual for their contribution to Maitland or broader society in a single year or across multiple years of service.

• Young Citizen of the Year: awarded to an individual under the age of 25 years as at 26 January 2023 for their contribution to the Maitland or broader society in a single year or across multiple years of service.

• Sportsperson of the Year: recognises an individual for their significant achievement and contribution in a non-professional sporting field within the Maitland community for the previous 12 months.

• Creative Arts Person of the Year: recognises the creative expression of an individual through art, writing, music or movement within the Maitland community.

• City of Maitland Medal (Volunteer Group or Organisation): awarded to a Maitland focused organisation or group for outstanding voluntary service to Maitland and its citizens as a whole.

• City of Maitland Service Award (Individual volunteer): awarded to an individual who has provided outstanding voluntary service to the Maitland community.

The winners of each award will be presented at a special Australia Day function on 26 January.

For more information or to nominate someone for award, visit www.maitland.nsw.gov.au/annual-awards and fill out the digital form or email executive@maitland.nsw.gov.au

Nominations close 27 November 2022.