Nominee for Young Citizen of the Year

o Emily Hamilton

* Emily has just completed her Higher School Certificate at Gloucester High School demonstrating a strong commitment to her academic studies and her constant striving to achieve good academic results.

* School Captain for the 2011 year – utilising her strong leadership skills Emily led a number of activities which engaged other young people in important community events particularly the McQueen “Generation Y” presentations and with fund raising.

* Member of the High School SRC since year 9 taking leadership roles.

* Guest speaker at the 2011 Women’s Gathering held in Gloucester choosing to speak on the challenges and benefits of growing up in a rural community

* Assisted in the establishment and conduct of last year’s Spirit Day which involved gaining participation and commitment from students, local business houses and teachers in events that ranged from sporting to culinary and social. This event is now firmly established at the school which in future years will act as a great catalyst to bring the school even closer to the community.

* Participated in an Ancient History Trip to Rome and Pompeii and played a positive role in the efforts to co-ordinate the tour.

* In her part time employment at a local café, Emily is considered a “valuable employee” and an important member of “the team” who displays great customer service and management skills.

* Awarded junior Soccer Association Clubman of the year 2008.

* Ongoing volunteer with the Shakespeare Festival.

Displaying her strong pursuit of excellence and self belief, Emily is a popular member of the local community who is widely considered to be a good communicator, drawing others along by her example and often provides confidence for others in what can be achieved when you try.

Nominations for Project of the Year

o The Gloucester Mountain Man Triathlon Challenge

The Gloucester Mountain Man Tri Challenge has been operating for the last 21 years and is widely acknowledged as the longest continuous running adventure race in Australia. The Tri Challenge Committee consisting of local community members organises this annual event on a voluntary basis. The Committee is committed to returning funds earned from this event to the community and over the years, in excess of $25,000 has been donated to beneficiaries such as Hillcrest Nursing Home, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, The Men’s Shed, SES and local Fire Brigades.

* From humble beginnings 21 years ago, the event has now grown to such a size that over 350 competitors enter and some 300 volunteers offer their services to assist with the organising and running of the event.

* The event provides excellent tourism coverage for Gloucester generally and this year, was covered by NBN television.

* Growing competitor and attendee positive feedback after recent events.

The regular core coordinating committee who drive this event consists of 14 people meet regularly well before the event to ensure success.

Overall, the local economy receives a huge boost by the running of this annual event and the natural beauty of the Gloucester region and the spirit of its community is showcased in a manner to invoke great pride.

o The Gloucester Project

The Gloucester Project is a regional development solution aimed at creating self-sustaining regional communities. This project is a community-developed economic growth model which focuses on food production was established in 2008 and coordinated by Ken and Marnie Johnson who have been the driving force of the project.

* The Group obtained funding of approx $300,000 (to be expended over a 3 year period) under the NSW Government Community Builders Program

* Part of those funds was used by the Group to establish “Tuckers Garden Patch”, which is located on a small area of land on the outskirts of Gloucester town. Tuckers Garden Patch aims to educate community members regarding the growing of nutritional food, efficient watering methods, trialling of crops with commercial potential and provide a model based on reducing risk to growers and guaranteeing market access. “Hands on” demonstrations are offered to interested members of the community on a regular basis. Ultimately, it is proposed the site will be open to bus groups, schools, tourists, research and work experience groups.

* Project members participate in the sale of the produce grown at “Tuckers Garden Patch” at a Community Stall located at the Gloucester Farmers Market which is held bi-monthly throughout the year.

* Awarded the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal and ABC best regional development project in 2010.

* Volunteers have logged 5000 hours in 2011.

Ultimately, the Project Group aims to secure its own land within the Gloucester region for the purpose of a model farm which will include employment opportunities and the opportunity to tap into wider, commercial market for food and crops grown locally.

o Gloucester Police – Gloucester Blue Light Branch

Gloucester Police (Senior Constables John Broadley, Shaun Forrester and Scott Chester) have demonstrated initiative, determination and dedication to the establishment of the Gloucester Blue Light Branch in an endeavour to break down barriers between Police and youth while at the same time fostering positive relationships between police, youth and the local community.

As part of this project’s activities the following events have offered local youth various opportunities throughout the year:

* 6 junior dance parties for primary school students , years 3 to 6 with an average of 221 students per event and 1329 students in all.

* 2 senior blue lights (120 high school students in attendance)

* 20 high school students taken to one of the largest Blue Light Dance parties held at Bateau Bay

* Other holiday activities offered under the Blue Light banner include camps, movie nights, footy trips, tenpin bowling, rock climbing, laser shotting, horse riding, go karting, ice skating, flying foxes and rope courses. Luna Park visits, education programs, bike safety campaigns and visits to participate in shark and sting ray swimming and feeding opportunities are provided to Gloucester youth.

* Awarded the “Most Outstanding Initiative” in August by the NSW Blue Light due to the range of activities offered.

To date, a total of 1861 local youth have experienced and enjoyed what Gloucester Blue Light has to offer. The organisation is non-profit – community support, donations and patrons through the door charges to attend scheduled activities are the only source of income. Any surplus of funds generated from the dance parties are put back to the local youth through subsidised blue light school holiday activities.

The Local Police in their own time complete media information relating to activities held by their Branch and community and organising upcoming events. They also provide relevant media releases to the National Blue Light Magazine.

Encouraged by the benefits Police are seeing as a result of the operations of Gloucester Blue Light Branch including building a partnership with the general community, improving relationships, promoting safety, preventing youth crime and enhancing relationships through local and drug free entertainment, plans are currently under way to expand the range of activities offered under the program in future years.

Police, youth, parents, schools and the community benefit from the Local Blue Light Branch activities.