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    Kaniva community members at the newly refurbished Rogerson Street park in Kaniva last year.

Australia Day: West Wimmera celebrates true ambassadors

West Wimmera Shire leaders acknowledged ‘outstanding’ volunteers and community groups as part of Australia Day celebrations throughout the municipality.

Longstanding Kaniva volunteer Annie Austin is this year’s citizen of the year. 

Mayor Bruce Meyer said Ms Austin was an outstanding community advocate who had dedicated countless hours to promoting her town. 

“She has volunteered her time co-ordinating projects including the Rogerson Street Playground upgrade, the ‘Spirit of Kaniva’ permanent photography display at the Kaniva Community Roadhouse and for the past 10 years she has acted as an administrator of the ‘Kaniva’ Facebook page, which promotes tourism to the town and district,” he said. 



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“She is well known in the community for her commitment as a regular co-ordinator of photography exhibitions at the Purple Starfish and for donating photos for media, postcards and promotional materials for tourism to the town.” 

Ms Austin has previously mentored young people through a MATES mentoring program, works behind the scenes on the ‘Sheep Art Trail’ and acts as a steward at Kaniva Show. 

Apsley Craft Group and Retired Ladies collected a community group of the year award.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group dedicated their time and craft to support local community and other charitable causes,” Cr Meyer said. 

“The group’s notable achievements included handcrafting hundreds of gifts of handmade teddy bears, toiletry bags and clothing for international charitable organisation Samaritan’s Purse and the hand creation of hundreds of poppies for a 2020 Apsley Remembrance Day project.”

The 2020 Harrow-Balmoral Football Netball Club Kangaroo Island Bushfire Recovery Project is the shire’s community event of the year.

The event, which followed devastating bushfires in the summer of 2020, involved the club donating $14,000, a truckload of hay and fencing materials to Kangaroo Island recovery efforts. The project also saw a team of 39 club volunteers journey to Kangaroo Island for four days to help farmers rebuild.

 

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The entire January 27, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire January 27, 2021 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!