Every year, Gloucester residents are nominated for the Australia Day Awards for a wide range of activities that benefit the town and those who live in it.

People can be nominated for many different reasons. It could be for someone’s volunteer efforts with sporting events, or volunteering time to help others. There is also a category for a community event or project which has been for the benefit of the community and it’s residents.

This year’s nomination process has changed with the streamlining of the three former council processes in order to make it easier for people to nominate someone.

Nominations are currently being accepted by MidCoast Council until 4.30pm on Friday, January 4, 2019, so there is still time to get one, or two in. 

Gloucester’s Australia Day committee chairperson, Judy Earle is encouraging people to nominate anyone whose efforts contribute to the well-being and happiness of the community.

She explained that despite the nomination process being streamlined, the awards are still specific to each area; meaning Gloucester will have it’s own nominees. 

The categories for Gloucester are: Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Activity of the Year (includes community events and projects).

Nomination forms can be download by visiting www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Community/Australia-Day-2019 or by calling into the Gloucester office on King Street. Once completed the forms can be submitted online, by posting to MidCoast Council, PO Box 482, Taree 2430 or handing it to any council office.

The form asks for a summary of the person’s or the project’s achievements, as well as a brief explanation about how this benefited the community. It doesn’t have to be a long list of achievements for a individual, it can be a heavy involvement in one or two organisations or projects. 

All nominees will be celebrated during the Gloucester Australia Day celebration at Billabong Park on Saturday, January 26. Full details of the event will be provided in January.