Carrying Australia flags, small children and families gathered outside Arthur Wren Hall in Hampton Park where there was a hive of activity to celebrate Australia Day.
Run by the Hampton Park Progress Association and supported by the City of Casey, crowds enjoyed a free Aussie barbecue hosted by the Hampton Park Lions Park, live entertainment, face painting, market stalls, an animal farm display, jumping castle, mini Jeeps, community displays and more.
Federal Member for Holt, Anthony Byrne MP honoured 24 outstanding individuals and eight local organisations for their contribution to our community on Australia Day.
The 2019 Holt Australia Day Awards were presented at the Cranbourne Community Theatre with more than 200 people attending including family members and friends to support the recipients.
“Australia Day is a wonderful day when we can recognise those people who contribute to the community and make our community a better place,” Mr Byrne said.
The awards were also an opportunity to recognise people like Jeff Weir who also received and Order of Australia on Australia Day for marine conservation; and who is currently the executive director of the Dolphin Research Institute and has a great passion for Marine Biology, especially in the Western Port and Port Phillip Bays.
One of Mr Weir’s great success stories was helping to create the ‘I sea, I care’ ambassador program designed for students in Years 5 and 6. Through the program, students get to learn about what lives in our bays and waterways, and the many issues facing them.
The Cranbourne Food Truck, a team of 60 volunteers which provides free food and fellowship to the needy and disadvantaged of the Cranbourne area also took out an award.
Another recipient was Danielle Johnson which her colleagues say “she will take on pretty much anything” when it comes to running the Cranbourne Southern Stars Netball Club.
The Cranbourne East resident’s dedication to the club has earned her finalist spot in the Victorian Sports Awards.Mr Byrne congratulated all those receiving a Holt Australia Day Award for their “exemplary community spirit.”
He said their tireless hours of volunteer work made the community a “better and safer place to live.”
“These people do not get the same acolades as celebraties in the media but in their own quiet Australian way they do tremendous work and make other people’s lives better.”
The Award recipients include:
Alex and Vianney Clark
Allaudin Bakhtani
Anthony Tassone
Bill McMartin
Bradley Scicluna
Cranbourne Food Truck
Cranbourne Little Athletics Centre
Danielle Johnson
David Haynes
Doveton Drought Relief Fundraising Committee
Hampton Park Community House
Jeff Weir
Joel McQuie
Lions Club of Hampton Park
Loc Huu Lam
Malayalees of Melbourne
Maleuth Dot Mac Anyar
Marlene Hargreaves
Mary-Ann Spencer
Michelle La-Brooy
Mohammad Nabi Esakhil
Narre Warren and District Family History Group
Sabesan Sanmugam
Sakatter Singh
Sepal Patel
Shirley Aolei
Simon Stafrace
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Australia Inc.
Stacey Herring
Stephanie Panza
Stuart Merrick
Sukhwinder Kaur
