Published on 26 January 2023
OUR INCREDIBLE CITIZENS
2023 Joint Citizens of the Year: Jock Garven and Ben Cudmore
2023 Young Citizen of the Year: Jorja Schofield
2023 Living Treasure (formerly Senior Citizen of the Year): Tin Hta Nu
2023 Environmental Citizen of the Year: Access Community Education Services
2023 Community Group of the Year: Self Seen
The 2023 Port Macquarie-Hastings Australia Day Award recipients have been announced, recognising dedicated people in the community for their efforts in cultural, environmental and social progress.
Mayor Peta Pinson congratulated the recipients, saying their contributions exemplify Australian values – and the spirit of the Port Macquarie Hastings region.
“This year we received some outstanding nominations in the five award categories: the Environment Award, Community Organisation of the Year, Young Leader of the Year, Living Treasure and Citizen of the Year.
“I want to take this opportunity to commend all of our nominees and congratulate all of the winners who have shone so brightly during 2022.
“It is through your compassion and determination that you make our community a better place to live, work and play.”
Joint Citizens of the Year
Jock Garven
It would be impossible to overstate the hours of volunteer work and the positive impact Jock as the Principal of Lake Cathie Primary School has had on the Hastings and Camden Haven communities.
Demonstrating a dedicated ethos of giving to and enriching community, while encouraging and educating others, particularly the youth to do the same. Cleverly ‘value adding’ to the important work he and other educators have achieved with youth in our region.
Achievements include:
• Establishing the out of hour’s school youth bands – HATCH and HATCHlings.
• Creating the Big Band Blast in 2013 with jazz musician James Morrison.
• Giving 17 years to Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf LifeSaving. Nippers, training programs, patrol and fundraising.
• Working collaboratively to determine the facilities for the new Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills sporting grounds.
What a generous and impactful community citizen Jock Garven is – he moves from what the kids see as “rock star status to garbage collector with ease” all the time instilling community mindedness and going the extra “mile”.
Ben Cudmore
The not-for-profit local organisation Self Seen, founded during the COVID lock down in 2020 by Ben Cudmore and Greg Smith, had the idea and the ambition of creating hope and connection in our community through their Men’s walks, circles and workshops.
Ben has shared openly with the community about his own struggles with mental health and addiction, leaving nothing out and being completely honest and vulnerable.
He started with a podcast called ‘Happy Days’ which was incredibly popular, and from there realised he wanted to give more back to his community…the Self Seen programs for men were born out of this passion.
The benefits of Ben’s Self Seen men’s circle and support group is to give others a healthy outlet to share and get things of their mind through a safe space, in confidentiality, in private. This is a great way to start healing the generation culture and stigma around how men should show up. You couldn’t ask for a more positive Role Model.
Young Citizen of the Year: Jorja Schofield
A remarkable and persistent young leader who contributes to her school and the broader community through promotion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) studies and careers for girls.
At 13 years she competed in the international FIRST Robotics Competition in Houston, Texas, as a member of the Colleges’ robotics team, which won the Australian Championships.
She’s now in Year 12 and the School Captain at Hastings Secondary College continuing to live her passion for STEM growing her skills and helping others.
Jorja spoke in Port Macquarie at the Luminosity Summit for Young People on leadership and gender prejudices inhibiting girls from pursuing careers in science. She is passionate about closing the gap between genders.
An empathetic citizen and inspiring young leader doing her part to increase the level of representation of girls and women in STEM study and careers.
Living Treasure: Tin Hta Nu
A political refugee who fled Myanmar (Burma) in 1990 after her commitments to human rights during her university days meant her life was in danger.
“Australia saved my life, given me a place to stay, so I would like to give back knowledge and services in appreciation”. Living to this promise, some of Tin’s achievements include:
• She established the Kendall-Kadaw friendship School project.
• A Volunteer at the Kendall Community Op Shop, CWA, and Kendall Garden Club.
• Founding member of The Meeting Place Cafe, initiating the Kendall Global Food Garden.
• For many years she taught Burmese language, Asian and Middle East cooking at the Community Colleges.
• In 2010 she initiated the Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group (MNCRSG).
The values she developed in Burma of going out of your way to help someone else and the importance of community has guided Tin to encourage people to work together for the greater good of others.
Environment Award: Access Community Education Services (ACES)
In 2009 ACES established their Envirogang program removing barriers for people living with a disability to get involved in volunteering.
This wonderful program has brought about friendships and town pride. It’s helped to keep our environment and parks looking clean and tidy.
Perhaps you’ve seen the crew in Hi-Vis picking up litter along Town Green, enjoying a coffee after their shift, or had a chat and understand how much pride they take in their work.
Congratulations ACES on your disability friendly environmental volunteering program.
Community Group of the Year: Self Seen
A not-for-profit charity run entirely by volunteers targeting social isolation, mental health stigma and who are creating powerful connections and support lines in the community through their weekly Men’s Meet-ups and Women’s Connect groups and support events.
Self Seen is helping people through their personal battles with mental health by creating connection and encouraging vulnerability through safe spaces.
Helping individuals understand the reasons behind behaviours and addictions, releasing stories and trauma they have been carrying in their lives, enabling them step back into healthy self-regulation and empowerment.
E: council@pmhc.nsw.gov.au
Ph: 6581 8111
17 Burrawan Street
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
49 High Street
Wauchope NSW 2446
9 Laurie Street
Laurieton NSW 2443
ABN: 11 236 901 601
We acknowledge the Birpai people, the traditional owners of the land in which we work and live, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who choose to call Port Macquarie Hastings home.
02 8005 6525
info@aktengineering.com.au
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