Kyle Torney and Jess Maffescioni have received Northern Grampians shire Australia Day honours. 

Mr Torney was Kara Kara ward’s citizen of the year and Ms Maffescioni won the honour for the Stawell, Central and South West wards. 

Mr Torney, a fifth-generation St Arnaud resident, is credited for putting his home-town ‘on the map’ through his painted murals depicting the town’s rich history. 

He has artworks locally, including in a pop-up park wall in Halls Gap, and abroad, in New York. 

Ms Maffescioni ‘gives her time freely’ to community groups including Stawell Bowling Club, Stawell Amateur Athletic Club, Stawell Country Women’s Association and Seed Graders Association. 

An accountant by profession, she services many groups with their annual audits, continuing a family legacy. She is also known for her baking prowess, holding the Stawell Show perpetual overall trophy for the past three years; and her participation in many fun runs, marathons and the entire amateur athletic club’s annual syllabus.

Stawell Urban Rural Fire Brigade veteran John Pye was Stawell, Central and South West wards’ ‘local hero’. 

Mr Pye has also given 37 years of service to the Project Platypus Landcare Network and spent eight years as a Stawell Inter Church Council’s welfare committee volunteer. 

Grampians Rail Trail, from Pleasant Creek to Lake Lonsdale, and the associated Friends of the Rail Trail Group was established on the passion and persuasion of Mr Pye.

Young citizens of the year were Rogan Hando, Kara Kara ward, and Tyler Wineberg, Stawell, Central and South West wards. 

Joy Bryce received the Kara Kara ward’s senior of the year.

St Arnaud Community Kitchen was Kara Kara ward’s community group of the year and Concongella Primary School 150th Celebrations won the Stawell, Central and South West wards honour.

The entire February 1, 2023 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!