Campbell Remess from Acton Park
Campbell is our 2016 Young Citizen of the Year.
Campbell began Project 365. Using his own pocket money, he set himself a target of making a bear a day to give away to those experiencing illness or in need of comfort and support.
He has donated bears for children at the Royal Hobart Hospital, people affected by terrorist attacks and other tragic events. In addition, Campbell now donates many bears to raise funds for various charities. Campbell has made hundreds, if not thousands of bears and other toys. In 2016 alone he raised over $10,000.
The support for Project 365 has grown significantly in the past year and has received numerous donations and messages of support from around the world. At just 12 years of age, Campbell is a role model for children and adults alike.
Joan Carr from Roches Beach
A trained teacher, Joan Carr has committed her retirement years to mentoring others and volunteering in many aspects of the community.
Joan has been a member of the Seniors Action Group Eastern Shore, a group that advocated strongly for the establishment of a Community Development Officer position at Council to develop a positive ageing plan for Clarence. The group got their wish.
In 2008, Joan became a member of Council’s Positive Ageing Advisory Committee, a position she still holds.
As a member on this committee, she has played a key role in Clarence being named an Age Friendly City and Community. She is also a member of the ‘Our Shared Space’ initiative – a Council intergenerational program that brings people of all ages together to enjoy a variety of activities.
Joan also helped with planning, developing content and telling her story on film as part of the ‘aWake Before Death’ project – a community partnership that raises awareness about death, dying and end-of-life planning.
Joan also tutors young people in literacy and numeracy at Rosny LINC, and is a tutor and past president of the University of the Third Age.
Ireland Rugen from Sandford
At 14 years of age, Ireland has been a strong contributor to her community organising fundraisers for a variety of charities such as the RSPCA and the Royal Hobart Hospital.
In 2015, she was the youngest person to participate in the Casino Abseil. She raised just under $3,000 for the Royal Hobart Hospital – the second highest individual fundraiser.
Ireland is also a great contributor to the Sandford Scout group. She has attained the top awards in Joeys, Cubs and Scouts. She has raised funds for a variety of community causes and to help purchase equipment for the club. Last year she participated in the NSW Jamboree raising funds to support the participation of all those attending from the Sandford Scout Group.
Ireland has also participated in Clean Up Australia Day in Lauderdale and Landcare projects in South Arm. She has marched at Anzac Day services at South Arm and was selected to raise the flag and give the address at the 2016 service.
Ireland also volunteers her time at many community events, such as Australia Day, the Seafarers Festival and many others.
Amelia Clark from Risdon Vale
Fifteen year old Amelia Clark is an active community member of the Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre where she displays enthusiasm and commitment to a variety of community programs. She regularly attends meetings, camps and assists in planning programs. She takes time to talk to people in her community and brings their ideas back to the Centre.
Amelia is part of a core group that established the Homework Centre to improve young people’s literacy, and provides one-to-one reading with participants.
Amelia also volunteers her time to prepare meals for the Clarence Frozen Meals program and helps out each Wednesday morning at the neighbourhood centre’s Rose Bay Café.
She is a volunteer at events such as the Risdon Vale Festival, Carols by Candlelight and pageant, community lunches and school holiday programs.
Amelia also makes jewellery from recycled bike parts and sells these at markets in Clarence to raise funds through the successful Risdon Vale Bike Collective.
Jenny Wiggins from Geilston Bay
Jenny has been living with a significant disability all her life but has proven that this is no barrier to participating fully in work and community life, and doing so with distinction.
Jenny is the current treasurer of the Ladies Probus Club of Lindisfarne and secretary of the Eastern Shore Trefoil Guild.
Since 2010, Jenny has served on the Council’s Disability Access Advisory Committee advocating for the needs of people living with disability. She has contributed to the review of the Council’s Access and Inclusion Plan, and helps with the Access newsletter. Jenny is also a member of the events committee for International Day for People with Disability which organises the Festival of Smiles event.
Jenny also shares her love of craft with others as a volunteer tutor for the Time Out for Craft group run by Citywide Church, as well as the craft group at Queen Victoria Home.
Since 2003, Jenny has been volunteering at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research compiling data for family tree studies into inherited diseases.
Jacqui Crouch from Howrah
Jacqui is an active member of the Acorn Branch of Li-Ve, formerly Liviende Veranto, a personalised service for people living with disability, giving them the opportunity to live life to the fullest.
The Acorn Branch hosts many activities, outings and fundraising events. At these events, Jacqui’s singing and acting talents are renowned and are a key feature of the entertainment. She has volunteered her time in all activities organised by the branch.
Jacqui is also a member of two choirs on the eastern shore – Sing for Your Life and Black Cherries, performing at aged care facilities and community events.
Jacqui has also been a member of the Royal Hobart Hospital Auxiliary for six years and worked for many years as a hospice volunteer at the Whittle Ward.
Jenny Nurse from Howrah
For more than 20 years, Jenny has been instrumental in the City of Clarence Eisteddfod, a key event in our city run entirely by volunteers.
Jenny began as a committee member and in her second year, became the schools coordinator, organising all large school classes such as choirs, choral groups, bands and instrumental ensembles – a huge task when there are up to 25 schools, 100 entries and 2,000 students participating. This role involved organising timetables, insurance, instruments, transport and seating.
Jenny has been vice president and served five years as president. Currently she organises sponsorship and advertising. In 2016 she achieved her aim of attracting sponsorship for every class – 124 in total.
Prior to her roles with the City of Clarence Eisteddfod, Jenny taught music at primary schools in Warrane and Bowen Road. She has been involved in eisteddfods such as those held in Devonport, Hobart and Clarence since she was a child.
Jenny has been described as having “an enormous talent for ‘getting things done’ while at the same time encouraging, supporting and leadings others to be equally involved.”
Gill Berriman from Rokeby
Gill is principal of Rokeby High School and has displayed leadership, direction and commitment to this role.
Gill has worked tirelessly with staff, students, parents and the wider community to develop a vision and strategic direction for the school. She has listened to staff and consulted with her community to improve educational outcomes for students in Rokeby.
Under her leadership, a master plan has been developed to maximise the use of the school’s built and land assets. She has promoted 21st century learning based on extensive research. She has also been instrumental in developing strong community connections and strategic partnerships with other schools, businesses and NGOs to attract external funding. She has helped to secure funding for a $1.5m science, technology, art and MDT development. She has also provided direction as the school moves to including year 11 and 12.
Gill has received many teaching awards for improving student outcomes.
She is well respected and her decisions have made a positive impact on staff, students and the wider community. According to one of the students, “Miss Berriman is very positive, inspiring and down to earth. She has dedicated herself to her school and the community.”
Linda Nicholson from Clarendon Vale
Linda is an active member of the Clarence Plains community advocating for a safe and beautiful space for all.
Linda has been instrumental in developing and implementing the ‘One Community Together’ initiative, a collective group working to improve public safety in Clarence Plains. As part of this initiative, Linda attends meetings to look at issues around public spaces and ways to improve the appearance of the Clarence Plains area.
Linda is also a key member of the organising committee for the Clarence Plains Spring Clean in 2015, and again in 2016.
Linda started and continues to manage the ‘Cleaning Up Clarence Plains’ Facebook page where she regularly promotes events, provides education and information on waste management, recycling and street cleaning.
Linda is also a committed member and co-leader of the Find Your Voice community singing group. She also volunteers at Rokeby High School.
Melody Towns from Sandford
In 2010 Melody founded the charity ‘Be Hers’ to raise funds and awareness of human trafficking and the millions of women and children trapped into sexual slavery around the world.
Partnering with the international aid organisation, A21, Be Her Freedom events are held and are aimed mostly at women, empowering them to make a difference to the lives of other women forced into sexual slavery. The event began with a high tea attended by a small crowd with $16,000 raised. In 2016, 900 women attended the Hobart event at Macquarie Wharf and $115,000 in funds was raised in the first half of the 2016/2017 financial year. Over $400,000 has been donated since Be Hers began and awareness of this issue has reached over 4000 women through events, with a social media following of close to 25,000 people.
Be Her Freedom events are now held in Hobart, Launceston, Illawarra, Sunshine Coast and Sydney with 100 per cent of funds going to the A21 Campaign. Be Hers also runs a social enterprise where goods sold also donate 100% profits to fight human trafficking and raise awareness for this cause.
Many local businesses donate goods and services to each event across every location and large sponsorships and partnerships with corporations have been formed.
In a short timeframe, Be Hers has grown exponentially. Some 300 people volunteer for the charity. Through Melody’s passion, determination and leadership, she has created a powerful movement.
In 2016, Melody was awarded the Telstra Tasmanian Young Businesswomen of the Year for Purpose and Social Enterprise Finalist 2016 and plans to continue to extend Be Hers both nationally and globally this year.
Tony and Krystina Bone from Rokeby
Husband and wife Tony and Krystina Bone have both been nominated this year for their volunteering work with the Clarence Community Volunteer Service.
Since joining the service in 2009, Tony and Krystina have given countless hours to many people in Clarence who are elderly or in need of support.
Tony and Krystina provide gardening maintenance and social support and display a strong commitment and work ethic. Together they have built a strong rapport with clients over the years.
As their nominator states: “They are marvellous. I have to tell them to stop.”
Dronefest
Dronefest is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Bellerive and organised with the assistance of the Rotary Club of Howrah.
The event is the first of its kind to be held in Australia and highlights the rapid rise and innovation of drones as a hobby and in industries such as commerce, research, agriculture and defence.
Dronefest was held at Lauderdale in October last year. The event provided an opportunity to showcase how drone technology is used and its potential use in the future.
The event included aerial demonstrations of hobby drones, displays from the University of Tasmania, the Department of Defence and commercial operators, as well as short talks.
This innovative event was attended by approximately 1,700 people of all ages and raised $1,700 for two local projects.
Seniors Week Lunch
Seniors Week Lunch is an annual event organised by the Warrane Mornington Neighbourhood Centre.
For the past ten years, this free event has provided an opportunity for community members to come together to enjoy a nutritious meal, socialise in a welcoming and friendly environment and learn more about what the centre does.
Much of the food comes from the neighbourhood centre’s garden, and through partnerships with Second Bite, Foodbank and Coles. Entertainment is also provided and community members without access to transport are driven to and from the event in the community bus.
A number of volunteers give their time to help plan the event and assist on the day. The event has grown from 25 people attending in the first year to 100 people in 2016.
Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre Annual Christmas Carols
The annual Christmas Carols in Risdon Vale is a family friendly event organised by the Risdon Vale Neighbourhood Centre in partnership with the Risdon Vale Fire Brigade.
The event began in 2008 to give residents access to live music and celebrate Christmas together as a community.
Music is provided by the Clarence City Band with the Risdon Vale Primary School Choir, with local politicians helping out on the day. Santa is always on hand to make a visit giving out treats to young people. A free barbecue is also provided to spread the Christmas cheer.
This is a popular event, with roughly 200 residents attending each year.
Living Well in Clarence
Living Well in Clarence is a partnership event between the Department of Health and Human services, Rosny LINC, the neighbourhood centres of Rokeby, Warrane Mornington and Risdon Vale, Council, volunteers and residents.
This annual event, held at Rosny LINC, began in 2011 with the aim to work together to promote good health, make connections across the community and showcase what is available in Clarence.
Five years on, Living Well in Clarence continues to promote and improve the health and wellbeing of Clarence residents and encourage healthy attitudes and lifestyle, particularly among the most socially and economically disadvantaged people in our community.