The official breakfast for all residents and visitors starts at 8am with the ceremony concluding at 10.30am, in preparation for an afternoon at the pool from 2 till 7pm. 

Australia Day Citizen of the Year Nominees:

Sandra Twomey has been an outstanding community member and devoted her time to volunteering on many groups in the Gloucester Community. This includes 20 hours per week as treasurer of the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce and being involved in running the Chill Out festival. Sandra is currently integral in the development of a Gloucester Community Prospectus, a project that is designed to attract new residents and businesses to Gloucester. She is also involved in the Gloucester Show Committee and the Gloucester Smocking Guild, charity organisations involved with the Catholic Church, the Board for the School of Arts, RSL Women’s Auxilliary and has been involved with organisational, financial support and welfare of local children within Scouts and the soccer clubs.

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Elaine Maslen is the epitome of generosity and compassion to many as she has given so much of her life to the people and community of Gloucester. She is the unofficial greeter of new residents to the town taking food, flowers and stewed peaches when welcoming them. She has volunteered for many groups including the Gloucester Tourist Committee, Gloucester View Club, Gloucester Garden Club, Gloucester Aero Club, Gloucester Lions Club, U3A, Stroud Choir, Uniting Church and Uniting Church Adult Fellowship and Coffee Morning Mission Group. This year Elaine has been passionate about assisting the Uniting Church Adult Fellowship’s on-going project “Day for Girls” which assists girls and women in third-world countries.

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Robert Sparke has been an outstanding community member and volunteer on many groups since moving to Gloucester in 2007. The impressive list includes the Australia Day Committee, Gloucester Prostrate Group, Probus, Gloucester and Districts Garden Club,  the chairperson of the Anglican Church Parish of Gloucester Men’s Dinner Group, Friends of St Paul’s Chairperson, St Paul’s Op Shop, parish councillor for St Paul’s Gloucester Parish, Synod representative and Samaritans Emergency Relief Team. These groups have been involved in a number of fundraising events including the Pancake Day Celebration lunch, the Cottage Ball, Easter Celebration for people with disabilities, Annual Floral Festival and the Meal and Movies functions.

Young Citizen of the Year Nominees:

Hayley Johns has participated in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program which is a leadership program teaching important life skills, focusing on community involvement and encouraging participants to set and achieve goals. Through this program Hayley volunteered for the State Emergency Services.

She was also a team member representing Gloucester High School in the Law Society of NSW Mock Trial Competition, with the team receiving an achievement award for outstanding performance.

Hayley has been involved in the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal, Anzac Day commemorations and fundraising for Legacy. She is a member of the Student Representative Council of the Gloucester High School and was also a member for the Gloucester Public School.

As a keen pianist she has participated in the Taree and District Eisteddfod. She has a keen passion for art and participated in an intensive HSC Program at the National Art School in Sydney.

Ben Reynolds has volunteered on the Gloucester High School Student Representative Council gaining experience as a leader, a credible ambassador for the school, as a role model for other students by showing courtesy and respect to all throughout the community and helping others express their opinions.

Ben has participated in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program. He was involved in the Mock Trial Competition and has helped Year 12 students during their HSC performances and provided back up guitar. Ben is a keen sports person participating in basketball and cricket, refereeing in both sports.

Coen Durbidge has volunteered on the Gloucester High School Student Representative Council over the past five years and gained leadership skills, showing courtesy and respect to all. He has participated in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program and represented Gloucester High School in the Law Society of NSW Mock Trial Competition. His public speaking skills have seen him represent Gloucester in Rotary’s district public speaking competition, and gained him the Gloucester Lions Youth of the Year award.

Coen represented the Gloucester High School at the Rotary Aviation Careers Expo and local community focus group talks during sporting events. He received the inaugural CARER award in 2014 through his dedication to the CARER expectations of the school. He is currently a member of the Student-Teacher collaborative learning program working with students and teachers.

He is a keen sportsperson and captained both the local cricket and soccer teams. He has also been umpiring junior cricket this season.

Oihanu Barff has participated in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program. Through this program Oihanu has gained leadership skills, communicating well with staff, the school executive and Student Representative Council. He has been an outstanding Ambassador for the Gloucester High School and was awarded 2015’s CARER award.

Oihanu has participated in the 2015 Seussical Musical in the leading role, 2014 Arts Initiatives Boys Vocal Workshop at Merewether High School, New England Vocal Camp in 2015, State Choir at Town Hall in 2014, the Opera House in October 2015 and represented Gloucester High School at CAPERS at Tamworth as a solo performer.

He has performed at the Anzac Day march, Australia Day celebrations, Carol’s by Candlelight, Mid-Winter Luncheon for the RSL Sub-Branch, Chill Out festival, Meals on Wheels and at the hospital and nursing homes.

He has participated at the sports carnivals and assisted on the canteen and time-keeping.

Project of the Year Nominee:

Gloucester Charities Bookshop

The Gloucester Charities Inc. was founded in 1994 by five Gloucester men under the leadership of Grahame Holstein to help local people who found themselves in a crisis situation.

The aim was to ensure no family or resident of Gloucester would go without food, warm clothing and shelter by having a system set up where families or residents could approach Gloucester Charities and be given a voucher which they could redeem for their appropriate needs including groceries, prescriptions, transport to specialist appointments and petrol.

The Gloucester Charities Bookshop was set up to raise funds selling second hand books which were provided by the Gloucester Rotary Club taking part in regular trips to Sydney and bringing back the books from Lifeline for resale.

The group now has a committee of 10 and the bookshop is manned by volunteers and committee members.