Lismore locals Denise Alison, Ros Sten, Greg Telford, Robyn Kelly, Geoff Wotherspoon and Peter Everingham are just a few of the members of our community nominated for the upcoming Lismore City Council Australia Day Awards.

Read about Denise: SUNDAY PROFILE: Denise Alison, creator of Humans of Lismore

Read about Geoff: SUNDAY PROFILE: Geoff Wotherspoon brings mail history alive

Read about Ros: SUNDAY PROFILE: Widjabal Elder Ros Sten

Lismore Mayor Mayor Isaac Smith announced all the nominees today, along with naming Doug Hawkins as Lismore’s 2021 Australia Day Ambassador.

"This year, due to COVID, there will be separate Awards and Citizenship ceremonies," Mayor Smith said.

"The 2021 Australia Day Awards ceremony will be held on Tuesday, January 26, at 9am at Lismore City Hall and the Citizenship Ceremony will be held at the same venue at 11am."

The nominees for this year’s Lismore City Council Australia Day Awards are:

Citizen of the Year

• John Brice

• Dr Ian Cappe

• Peter Everingham

• Narelle Guthrie

• Fred Hoskins

• Robyn Kelly

• Geoff Wotherspoon

Services in the Community (Individual)

• Denise Alison

• John Brice

• John Devoy

• Peter Everingham

• Narelle Flanagan

• Narelle Guthrie

• Fred Hoskins

• Robyn Kelly

• Mahmudur Rahman

• Geoff Wotherspoon

Services in the Community (Group)

• The Lord’s Taverners Northern NSW

• Muslim Students’ Society, Southern Cross University

Aboriginal Citizen of the Year

• Rosslyn Sten

• Greg Telford

2021 Australia Day Ambassador

Mayor Smith said "we are thrilled to have Doug Hawkins as Lismore’s 2021 Australia Day Ambassador”.

"For 20 years, Doug Hawkins has been a proud surf-lifesaving volunteer whose visionary approach has helped Coogee SLS Club implement inclusive training programs and increase community and member engagement," he said.

“Doug has a long list of accomplishments to his name and we are honoured to welcome him as our guest on the day to give an Australia Day address and help present our 2020 Australia Day Awards.”

Doug has trained more than 800 people to become surf lifesavers. He has also run programs to teach refugees and immigrants life-saving water safety skills so they can safely participate in Australia’s beach culture. 

Initially running the Nippers program at Coogee, Doug now oversees 6500 of these young lifesavers across Sydney and has also directed the Development Program since 2003.

He was also instrumental in taking surf lifesaving to Israel, India and the Cook Islands. There he helped set up their lifesaving clubs to share valuable water, board, CPR, and rescue skills that have helped save countless live.

"In the 2019 surf-lifesaving season alone, Doug volunteered more than 820 hours, including 86 hours of beach patrols. His selfless commitment has been awarded and is an inspiration to many," Mayor Smith said.