As program coordinator of the Risdon Vale Bike Collective, Anthony Edler of Risdon Vale, has shown great leadership and been a positive role model in the community.
In the six years the program has been running, more than 600 bikes have been given away locally and through the very successful ‘Sponsor a Bike to Africa’ project.
With the guidance of mentors, volunteers and wide community support, the program gives disadvantaged and at-risk young people aged between 10 and 16 years the opportunity to learn and develop new skills by restoring bikes.
Under Ant’s leadership, this program now includes community workshops, Earn-A-Bike program, and a second hand bike business providing affordable bikes to the community. The program gives young people the chance to design, build and maintain local bike parks and trails in Risdon Vale.
In announcing the award, Mayor of Clarence Alderman Doug Chipman said Ant was a deserving winner who had contributed greatly to the local community.
“Ant has been the driving force of the Risdon Vale Bike Collective and its success. He has given young people in need of support, the confidence, encouragement and life skills as well as the satisfaction of giving to others in need,” Mayor Chipman said.
“There has been a marked improvement also in kids re-engaging with school. They can definitely see the benefits of their hard work, especially when bikes are given away or sent to Africa. This program has brought the community together and the support for it is huge. Ant has played a big role in that.”
Other recipients of the 2016 City of Clarence Australia Day Awards are:
Mrs Wendy Andrew of Howrah – Senior Citizen of the Year
Wendy has been caring for the environment and encouraging the appreciation of it and the history of the Clarence Plains area since arriving here in 1991 for ‘a quiet life’.
She has been a driving force of two longstanding community organisations – the Tranmere-Clarence Plains Land and Coastcare Inc., and the Clarence Plains Historical Society for 20 and 15 years respectively.
Wendy was instrumental in the development of the Old Rokeby Historic Trail, the restoration of the heritage fence and Knopwoods Tomb at St Matthews Church in Rokeby. She was also the driving force behind Council developing a catchment management plan for the Clarence Plains Rivulet which helps residents connect with their heritage and take pride in the history of their area.
Campbell Remess of Acton Park – Young Citizen of the Year
11 year old Campbell Remess has shown that age is no barrier to helping others less fortunate.
Campbell began ‘Project 365’ which set him a target of making 365 bears a year and giving them away to sick children in hospital and others in need. Using his own pocket money and in his spare time, Campbell has made in excess of 400 bears for sick children, giving them comfort and hope.
Campbell also makes special bears for auctions and fundraisers. He has sent a bear to the Lindt café after the siege in 2014, and to people affected by the recent terrorist attacks in France, including Tasmanian Emma Parkinson.
Clarence Eating with Friends – Community Event of the Year
Clarence Eating with Friends is run by the Clarence Community Volunteer Service.
Clarence Eating with Friends is part of a state-wide program that grew out of a concern that many older people in our community were eating alone. This program reduces social isolation by bringing people together to share a nutritious, low-cost meal and make new friends.
The program has been running for more than 11 years and has become very popular. Every six weeks, approximately 60 people attend this lunch at the Motor Yacht Club in Lindisfarne. The program has become essential to improving health and wellbeing and building community capacity.
The 2016 City of Clarence Australia Day Awards were presented by the Mayor, Alderman Doug Chipman, and Australia Day Ambassador Sally Wise at the Bellerive Boardwalk.
Click here for a list of all nominees.
To find out more about the City of Clarence Australia Day Awards, click here.