Gloucester’s Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Project of the Year will all be announced at the ceremony.

SHIRLEY Hazell has been an outstanding community member and volunteer on many groups over many years.

Shirley is an active member of the Gloucester Garden Club, Gloucester Uniting Church, Gloucester Historical Society and Gloucester Tidy Towns.

She had an integral role in raising funds for the upgrade of the Gloucester Memorial Park Gardens.

Shirley was also involved in the upgrade of the Narraweena Nursing Home gardens.

She was the chairperson and a member of the Gloucester Tidy Towns committee over a period of 15 years.

Shirley continues to volunteer for Meals on Wheels and was active on the Gloucester Public School and Gloucester High School P and C for a combined period of 19 years.

She was also involved in the establishment of the Gloucester Preschool in early 1973.

A keen sportsperson, Shirley enjoys a regular game of tennis and was the recipient of a Sports Queen Award in 1963 for her work in raising funds to build the Gloucester Olympic Pool.

LLEYTON Richards is an accomplished sportsperson who shows great sportsmanship and encouragement to fellow competitors and is a great ambassador for his sport and Gloucester.

Lleyton is a member of the Gloucester Thunderbolts Swimming Club, Gloucester District Basketball Association and the Gloucester District Tennis Club and has excelled in each of these sports.

In tennis, he gained selection for the under 10s 2014 NSW Tennis Country Team and also participated in the Tennis NSW Regional Super 10s competition. 

Lleyton won the under 11s boys’ singles title at the regional Champion of Champions tournament.

He was named Junior Sportsperson of the Year at the 2014 Gloucester Sports Awards.

RYAN Yates has twice raised more than $2000 for Breast Cancer Network Australia’s Pink Ribbon Day. 

In 2012, Ryan raised $2300 for the network thanks to donations from local businesses and raffles run in conjunction with the Gloucester Rugby Cockies Club.

At the conclusion of his fundraising efforts, Ryan shaved his head in front of the entire student body of Gloucester High School.

In 2014, Ryan organised a Pink mufti day with staff and students at Gloucester High and also sold raffle tickets every Friday night at the Roundabout Inn.

The Gloucester Cockies held a Pink ladies night to help Ryan with his fundraising and he raised a further $3000 through his efforts and shaved his head for a second time.

Ryan is a keen sportsperson and has regularly participated in the Gloucester High School Tri Challenge.

He is a talented soccer and cricket player and recently represented the Mid North Coast under 19s on a cricket tour of New Zealand.

Ryan received the Young Legends Award as part of the Keep NSW Beautiful Tidy Towns and Sustainability Awards in late 2014.

WYATT Hall is an outstanding young citizen who volunteers for a number of groups including the pony club and Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group.

Wyatt is about to start his HSC studies at Gloucester High and is also completing a school-based apprenticeship in metal fabrication.

He enjoys the outdoors and will this year complete his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award which requires Wyatt to complete volunteer, sporting and outdoor components along with participants acquiring a new skill and finishing a residential project in another community.

Wyatt gained his Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award in 2014.

He has been a volunteer with the Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group for more than two years, mentoring young people of his own age with disabilities.

He is a regular performer at the Bush Poetry at the Saleyards, a Rotary fundraiser.

Wyatt participates in regular working bees for the Gloucester High School and recently hosted a visiting international student on Rotary exchange.

THE Barrington Irrigators are a group of 22 irrigators reliant on the Barrington River to water their dairy and beef cattle and irrigate pasture.

Gloucester was officially declared a drought affected area in 2013-14 and during this time the Barrington Irrigators group initiated and agreed in consultation with MidCoast Water to stop irrigating once the river reached a negotiated low point.

There was no legislative requirement to do so but by initiating and persisting as a group to stop irrigating when the water level was low, drinking water for Gloucester residents was maintained and the viability of the river into the future guaranteed.

For their efforts, the Barrington Irrigators group were nominated for the Keep NSW Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards, receiving a special commendation.

GLOUCESTER celebrated its centenary show in 2014.

The 100th Gloucester Show showcased the importance of the past.

Highlights included period clothing and implements used in the early part of the 20th century and activities such as pack horse racing, milking demonstrations and showing of livestock.

The show is a great mix of the old and the new with a focus on traditional values and modern entertainment.

The Gloucester Show would not go ahead without the tireless efforts and dedication of the volunteers and show committee who put in an estimated 2400 hours to make the centenary show an important event for Gloucester.

The showground is one of the few privately owned facilities in the State and the committee is currently planning major capital works at the site to ensure it remains a hub of the community for many years to come.

STROUD’S John Bowen is among 16 nominees for Great Lakes Shire’s Citizen of the Year award.

John was the inaugural chairman of the Stroud Community Lodge, a residential aged care facility which is one of the largest employers in the region.  

He spent 28 years chairing meetings of the lodge as well as driving the lodge bus before retiring late last year.

John is happiest when he is helping others.  

Great Lakes Council’s Australia Day festivities and presentation of awards will be held at Club Forster from 10.30am with a free morning tea.