Lismore City Council is inviting anyone in the Lismore community to come along to its Australia Day Awards to acknowledge those who work quietly behind the scenes to make our city an even better place to live, work and bring up a family.

Well-known TV presenter and sports commentator Andy Paschalidis is this year’s Australia Day Ambassador and keynote speaker.

This year Council has received a record number of 54 nominations across the seven categories: Citizen of the Year, Aboriginal Citizen of the Year, Senior and Junior Sportspersons, Individual and Group Services in Community and Sports team.

The nominees are:

Aboriginal Citizen of the Year

Gilbert Laurie, Naomi Moran

Citizen of the Year

Elly Bird, Adrian Katschke, Lacy Loloa, Anne and John Meagher, Rebecca Ryan, Janelle Saffin, Sophia Watt and the whole 2480 Community.

Services in Community (Group)

Animal Rights & Rescue Group Inc, Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre, Lismore Friends of the Library, Love for Lismore Heart Space, North Coast Muslim Association, Resilient Lismore and U3A Northern Rivers Lismore Inc.

Services in Community (Individual)

Abdul Aziz, Jason Banks, Elly Bird, Jodi Dynan, Craig Faulkner, Nicole Fox, Maximus Noble, Harry Gregg, Susan Hereth, Adrian Katschke, Libby Lund-McDonald, Elizabeth Marshall, Anne and John Meagher, Naomi Moran, Scott Noble, Colleen Reibel, Rebecca Ryan, Janelle Saffin, Sophia Watt and Ron Weir.

Sports Team (Group/Organisation)

Blakebrook Public Small Schools Soccer, Under 16s FNC Baseball Team and Roxie Rose Burlesque.

Sportsperson Junior

Malachi Canning, Keira Higham and Lachlan O’Sullivan.

Sportsperson Senior

Joshua Herne and Jessie Mullard.

Australia Day 2023 Awards and Celebrations start from 9am on Thursday, 26 January at the Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre.