Media Release - Outstanding Citizens and Events Recognised
The Flinders Ranges Council has sworn in a new citizen and recognised its outstanding citizens and events at Australia Day ceremonies throughout the Council area.
The Flinders Ranges Council was excited to welcome a new citizen on Australia Day when Hajara Meeme was sworn in. Mayor, Ken Anderson said that it was great to be welcoming new citizens to Quorn and the region, “It is fantastic to have new people moving to Quorn and the Council area and becoming Australian citizens.” Hajara undertook the Australian Citizenship Pledge in front of a large and welcoming crowd and is now proud to be classed as an Australian.
Council also presented the Australia Day Awards with some very worthy winners. “Council received 20 nominations this year across all the categories, so it was a very hard decision for the assessment committee” Mayor Anderson said.
“I am pleased to announce that Dr Susan Andersson is the 2024 Citizen of the Year. Dr Susan has worked tirelessly in the Hawker and surrounding communities for over 30 years and has given her time freely in many other voluntary roles. Dr Susan goes above and beyond to provide a medical service to her community.”
The 2023 Quorn Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour took the gong for 2024 Community Event of the Year. “The Quorn Jockey Club put a mammoth effort into this event, starting with applying for the Melbourne Cup to come to Quorn. The Melbourne Cup Tour was am amazing collaborative all-inclusive drawcard for the community and it a great example of what can be achieved when the community works together as a whole.”
Council also gave out Active Citizen and Active Organisation awards with Ken Fuller and the Quorn Pioneer Machinery Society being awarded these respectively. “If you haven’t seen Ken Fuller pottering away in the Pithi Kawi Bush Tucker Garden, then you’ve never been there,” said Mayor Anderson. Ken volunteers his time in the Garden on a near daily basis tending to the plants, pruning shaping, hand watering and nurturing them with great care and ease and the gardens wouldn’t be what they are today without him. The Quorn Pioneer Machinery Society is a fantastic local volunteer organisation that has revitalised the Quorn Lions Park into a collection and display historic machinery as well as developing and managing the very popular RV Park.”
Certificates of Recognition were also presented to the Kurti Festival, Hawker Christmas Carols, Karen Finlay, Travis McDonald, Ruby Meyers and Simon Meyers. “It was great to see so many worthy nominations this year and everyone in the community who volunteers their time and works hard deserves recognition. We look forward to continuing to celebrate this wonderful community that we live in and seeing many more nominations next year.” Mayor Anderson concluded.
Australia Day events were held across The Flinders Ranges Council region in Quorn, Hawker and Cradock.