Samantha Oakes, the driving force of the incredible charity The Formal Project, was this morning crowned 2024 Australia Day Campbelltown citizen of the year.
This remarkable woman, pictured in the middle with some of her tireless volunteers, left no stone unturned to make sure that every single student who reached out for help last year was fitted out for their formal completely free of charge.
The total number was 1,374 students as The Formal Project, which started out as a local support initiative, exploded nationally in 2023.
Students came from Minto, Yass, Orange, Mt Victoria, Katoomba, Blacktown, St Marys, Penrith – and formal clothes were posted to Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
Ms Oakes could not contain her emotions when her name was read out as the winner of the citizen of the year award – for which 13 nominations were received, one of the largest since the awards were first presented in 1988.
From tears to elation and waving to her supporters in the hall, Ms Oakes experienced the gamut of emotions, including being speechless for a few moments.
“I just can’t help it,’’ she said when asked why she was crying.
Earlier, Mayor of Campbelltown George Greiss welcomed everyone to this morning’s awards ceremony, including local MPs Nathan Hagarty, Anoulack Chanthivong and Dr Mike Freelander, as well as Australia Day ambassador Bryce Collins.
Cr Greiss revealed 160 residents had chosen to become Australian citizens on January 26, joining the 1,465 who had received their certificates in the past 12 months.
Along with Mr Collins, the mayor presented the various Australia Day awards.
Hayleigh Keogh, the current president of Campbelltown Thunder Netball Club, which she established in 2016 with her mum and sister, was named young citizen of the year.
Ms Keogh established Thunder to allow players of all ages and abilities to have fun playing the sport they love.
The senior citizen of the year award went to former Campbelltown SES commanderIan Shepard.
Mr Shepard, who provided a lifetime of SES service, was respected by volunteers as a kind and compassionate leader.
Rita Mikolaitis, a Bradbury resident and custodian of Fishers Ghost Creek for more than 30 years, was named Campbelltown environmental citizen of the year.
A practical environmentalist, Ms Mikolaitis recently collaborated with Bradbury kindergarten to launch a new bushcare group.
Angela Jean Fowler was chosen to represent Special Olympics Team Australia for the World Games in Berlin in June 2023 in tenpin bowling.
She won two bronze medals and a seventh placing.
This morning, Ms Fowler was named winner of the Australia Day Sports Award in Campbelltown.
There were no fewer than nine nominations for the Community group initiative of the year award.
Lisa Hobden took out this award for the Eden College Youth Off The Streets project, which provides critical support to students disengaged with education to help them obtain their Year 10 Record of School Achievement Certificate or the Higher School Certificate.
It also provides disadvantaged families with practical support such as food hampers.
