The theme of this year’s Australia Day honours has been the humility shown by most of the recipients, and the 2020 Campbelltown citizen of the year Emma Macfarlane is no exception.
“I’m humbled by this honour,’’ Ms Macfarlane said after the mayor of Campbelltown, George Brticevic, announced her as the winner of this year’s award, pictured above.
Ms Macfarlane has helped raise more than $400,000 for the Ingham Institute via the annual International Women’s Day luncheon.
She has also been on the board of Youth Solutions for 12 years.
Her most recent initiative was to be one of the founders of Victress Connection, a business group for women, in 2019.
Ms Macfarlane won the citizen award ahead of eight other nominees, which included high profile community leader Sonya Moulang and Campbelltown War veterans volunteer Elwyn Spencer.
The awards presentation was held in the Greg Percival community centre, Ingleburn.
Cr Brticevic and 2020 Australia Day ambassador for Campbelltown Sonia Sadiq Gandhi handed out the certificates and trophies.
Riley Tonna, a science student who is exploring ways to save and protect local koalas was named young citizen of the year. This is vital research because the Campbelltown koala population is chlamydia free as well as one of the largest in the country. Riley is pictured at right receiving his award from the mayor.
Kurtis Becker, a track and field athlete at Special Olympics Macarthur took out the sportsperson of the year award. Kurtis (pictured) won a gold medal when he represented Macarthur and NSW at the Special Olympics Australia national games.
Zonta Club of Macarthur Inc was awarded the community group initiative of the year honour (pictured at right) for their work in raising funds that help girls and women here and around the world. One of their projects is producing birthing kits for those in need; another is to make cushions for women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer.
Macarthur Hoarding Disorder Resource Network, which runs several support groups, was awarded the disability community contribution of the year, below. The group helps individuals to learn through education and also shares positive strategies to reduce clutter, gain functionality of living spaces and improve quality of life.
Flora Vidamour, who started volunteering with bushcare at Redfern Creek 10 years ago and has devoted herself to improving the local environment at Milton Park was named environmental citizen of the year. She is the longest serving local bushcare volunteer and attends Clean up Australia day and National Tree day on a regular basis. Ms Vidamour is pictured below receiving her award at this morning’s ceremony.
