By Derek Schlennstedt
Nominations are now open for this year’s Emerald Citizen of the Year Awards.
The awards aim to acknowledge local individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Emerald community.
Speaking to the ‘Mail’ Pat Buoncristian from the Emerald Village Committee, said anyone who lived close to Emerlad and had made a contirubtion to the town could be a possible nominnee.
Ms Buoncristian said the nominee didn’t necessarily have to live within the Township.
“It’s a judgement of what they’ve done for the emerald community; they might’ve come from cockatoo but have done an enormous contribution to the Emerald Township,” Ms Buoncristian said.
“It’s not so much where they live but what they’ve done to help emerald.”
One of the most recent awardees was Peter Maloney, the previous president of the RSL who was presented with the citizen of the year award for his involvement in increasing the profile of the RSL and for organising Anzac celebrations.
There are two awards – Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year – with young citizen of the year catering to people under the age of 25.
The awards seek to recognise those who have shown positive leadership in making a
significant contribution to the community.
Talking about what prompted the awards, which are now in their tenth year, Ms Buoncristian, who is said that the township and those within the community were uniquely caring, and it was important to recognise that.
She invited everyone to contribute and nominate a person they feel has contributed toward making emerald the community it is today, though especially urged younger individuals to nominate friends.
“The future of the community relies on younger people identifying with that community and we need to get young people involved in the community and this is one small way doing that and recognising the ones who are,” she said.
“So step outside of their comfort zone and some people.”
