Wentworth Shire Council has welcomed three new citizens to Australia and announced the Australia Day Award winners at their Ceremony held at the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club in Dareton on 25 January 2023.
The Australia Day 2023 Awards had very worthy nominees, each of whom have made outstanding contributions to the community through volunteering, sports, culture and the environment. Nominees for the Citizen of the Year award included Ross Hall, Clair Bates, Gwen Wilkinson and Jan White.
The Wentworth Shire Council 2023 Citizen of the year is Gwen Wilkinson. Gwen is a Life Member of the Gol Gol Rural Fire Service, a wildlife carer for almost 35 years with Sunraysia Wildlife Carers Group and an extremely active member at the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens since 2012.
Other award winners on the night included Daniel Hawkins, Young Citizen of the Year, Bec Marshall Sportsperson of the Year, Kalesita Burton Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Mayor Tim Elstone also conferred citizenship on Miss Anna Kuus, Mrs Brooke Mobilio and Ms Ludivina Macalla.
Mayor of Wentworth Shire, Cr Tim Elstone said “On behalf of the Wentworth Shire community, I warmly welcome our new citizens to the Wentworth Shire and to Australia. I also congratulate the 2023 award winners and of course, all of the deserving nominees. I would also like to acknowledge those who took the time to submit such worthy nominations. In addition, I would like to thank our Australia Day Ambassador, Dr. Clio Cresswell and Senator Perin Davey for being part of our celebrations. It was a pleasure to have them attend.
