The Devonport Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony will be held in the paranaple convention centre on Sunday 26 January 2020 at 10am.
The Australia Day Awards recognise those people and community groups who have made a significant contribution to the city.
There are three categories – Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year.
Mayor Rockliff said the quality and calibre of the nominees was exceptional.
“This is an important opportunity to recognise some of those people and events which help make our city special,” she said.
“Those chosen have given exceptional service to Devonport and are deserving recipients of these awards.”
As part of the celebration, Devonport will also be recognising and welcoming 23 new citizens to our city, who have come from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Philippines, Ukraine, Vietnam, Czech Republic, Taiwan and China.
Vicki Purnell will be the city’s 2020 Australia Day Ambassador and will present the address.
Vicki grew up in the Midlands and on the North-West Coast.
After graduating from the University of Tasmania Vicki taught maths and science in schools on the West and North-West Coasts before retiring in 2012.
In April of 2013 her good friend, Anna Connelly, gave birth to a stillborn baby girl called Bridie.
Utilising her sewing skills, Vicki started a project called Bride’s Blossoms and Blessings to ensure that every miscarried and stillborn baby in Tasmania was clothed and farewelled with respect and dignity.
Vicki’s project has grown to support those with dementia, women undergoing treatment for gynaecological cancer and women and children at a local women’s shelter.
She was recognised for her volunteer work by being named the 2019 Local Hero for Tasmania.
The Devonport Brass Band will be providing the musical entertainment and the national anthem will be sung by Mason Waller, who is well-known in the local musical theatre scene.
