2023 Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award Winners Announced

Each year councils across South Australia celebrate the achievements and contributions of outstanding members of their community by awarding Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards.

Adelaide Plains Council received many worthy nominations for local citizens who have made outstanding contributions to the Adelaide Plains community in 2022. At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Monday 19 December 2022, Elected Members carefully considered all nominations and determined the 2023 Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award recipients:

• Australia Day 2023 Citizen of the Year - Joe and Jasmin Daniele
  
  The Daniele’s have both given their time and unconditional commitment to the Two Wells community for over 45 years. Mr Daniele was an Adelaide Plains Councillor for 47 years, retiring from the position in 2022, and Mrs Daniele is a long-standing Two Wells Red Cross volunteer. Together, they are actively involved in many community projects including tree planting, lobbying for a primary school, and served as committee members on numerous local community and educational groups. Mr Daniele has also spent many hours supervising the construction of St Joseph’s Catholic Church and building the Two Wells Community Centre.

• Australia Day 2023 Young Citizen of the Year - Jamie Humphrys
  
  Excelling as a student at Xavier College Gawler, Jamie was House Captain in Year 12 and completed high school with the title of Dux in Science and Maths. Graduating from university in 2021 with a Bachelor of Teaching and Computer Science, Jamie is now not only the Assistant Coach for the Two Wells Football Club Under 14’s, and a keen tennis player, but an inspirational teacher focusing on the holistic development and growth of his students.

In addition to the above Australia Day Citizen of the Year Awards, Adelaide Plains Council awards two (2) additional categories:

• Australia Day 2023 Community Event of the Year - Mallala Monument Centenary CelebrationsThe Mallala Monument ensures the names of fallen soldiers are not forgotten by future generations, and celebrated its centenary in 2022. Over 220 community members attended the formal service on Sunday 16 October 2022. The celebratory event was a joint collaboration between the Adelaide Plains Historical Society, Mallala Lions Club, Mallala Primary School and Mallala RSL, assisted by Council staff.

• Australia Day 2023 Community Project of the Year - Dublin Cemetery Shelter
  The late Bob Thompson commenced restoration and upgrades of the historic Dublin Cemetery in 1998 by clearing the land, researching unmarked graves and planting numerous salt bushes. In 2011, Sid Fielder offered to complete Bob Thompson’s project by restoring the Cemetery’s gates, and planned to construct a new shelter. Unfortunately passing away before the project was completed, the Dublin Community Projects Committee completed the new shelter, adding historical plaques, with fundraising and support from the Dublin community. The new shelter was officially dedicated on 25 September 2022.

Award recipients will be presented with their certificates at Council’s official Australia Day Ceremony, details as follows:

Adelaide Plains Council Australia Day Ceremony
Thursday 26 January 2023 Mallala Football Clubrooms, 12 Wasleys Road, Mallala SA
Breakfast served from 8am (by the Mallala Lions Club)
Ceremony commences at 9am
No bookings required

Hosted by Adelaide Plains Council’s Mayor Wasley, recipients will be officially presented with their Australia Day Awards and Adelaide Plains Council residents will be conferred as Australian citizens.

Australia Day Ambassador Alison Mackinnon AM will appear as the special guest speaker. Appointed Professor of History and Gender Studies in 1997, she was the Foundation Director of the Hawke Research Institute from 1997 to December 2005. Alison remains as an Emeritus Professor within the University. A Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the convener of the SA Branch of the Academy, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2009. In 2014 she was appointed to the Heritage Council of South Australia.

For more information on Council’s Australia Day Awards and celebrations, please contact Council on (08) 8527 0200, or email info@apc.sa.gov.au.

Mark Wasley
Mayor

10 January 2023