Rather than choose a ‘winner’ from each field, this year the Kiama Electorate Community Recognition Awards were given to each candidates selected from the nominations.

“This year we presented fifty awards and each of the recipients are an outstanding credit to our local community,” says Gareth Ward MP.

“Our region is truly blessed with talented and passionate local people.

“Volunteers don’t seek recognition but they deserve every ounce of commendation for their efforts. It is our chance to pay tribute to so many deserving and dedicated people.”

The Kiama region locals who were presented with awards were:

OUTSTANDING LOCAL VOLUNTEER AWARD
Vivienne Marris, Jamberoo
Vivienne was recognised for her tremendous involvement with a number of different activities and services in Jamberoo – including Jamberoo Red Cross, Jamberoo CWA, Jamberoo Golf Club, Jamberoo Residents and Ratepayers Association, Combined Churches Nativity Scene, Jamberoo Rugby League, Jamberoo Public School and Jamberoo Classic Car Club.

OUTSTANDING LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATION AWARD
Gerringong Men’s Shed
In recognition of the Gerringong Men’s Shed outstanding volunteer work in our community, in particular, Stage One of the Arthur Campbell Reserve project in Gerringong.

CONSERVATION CHAMPION AWARD
GreenCaffeen
In recognition of their outstanding commitment to a plastic-free environment by eliminating millions of disposable coffee cups from landfill. They have recently been on a whirlwind coastal tour of the NSW Mid North Coast inspiring as many cafes as possible to get on board with their reusable cups.

OUTSTANDING YOUNG CITIZEN AWARD
Sarah Young, Gerringong
Sarah was recognised for her contribution working with children and helping others travelling to Cambodia, mentoring indigenous students at Lake Illawarra High School and volunteering with the Kiama Show Society.

Sam Aubin, Kiama
Sam was recognised for work developing an app called SharkMate, which is currently available on iOS.

The app aims to warn people about the probability of a shark sighting at a beach. Sam started on SharkMate by learning through tutorials and online tools, before recruiting others with development of the app.

He has since partnered with University of Wollongong, which featured a team working on Project Airship, a low-cost shark monitoring program. In May 2018, Aubin worked with the team to see if shark spotting could work in real-time.

Toby Streamer, Kiama
Toby was recognised for his outstanding leadership as Junior  Club Captain with his local surf life saving club. He also does radio room patrols and rescue boat patrols with surf life saving and has received a 100% attendance record two years in a row.

In addition, he volunteers with the Rural Fire Service and mentors younger kids interested in being volunteer firefighters.

OUTSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS AWARD
Rose Valley Florist
Owner Janelle Fowler was recognised for her outstanding customer service, as well as her enthusiasm, energy and passion for her profession.

Bouquiniste
Bouquiniste was recognised for the friendliness of their staff and their service of great food and coffee in a relaxing environment.

Posy Jones Floral Co
Posy Jones was recognised for its excellent range of stock, friendly staff and customer service, always with attention to detail.

STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD
Keiran Clough, Kiama
Keiran was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the NSW State Emergency Services – Kiama Unit since early 2016.

He has been an active volunteer during this time, demonstrating a strong work ethic and dedication to our local Kiama community.

He was recently promoted from Team Leader to Deputy Unit Commander and has also been deployed to Sydney and North Coast of NSW to support other SES Units during severe weather events.

VOLUNTEERING IN POLICING AWARD
Raymond Kearin, Kiama
Raymond was recognised for his outstanding contribution as a Volunteer in Policing at Lake Illawarra Police District since 2008. Since this time he has completed over 3,250 hours of voluntary service to the staff of Lake Illawarra Police District and the Lake Illawarra community.

He completes the weekly ‘brief run’ where he transports all the briefs of evidence to Wollongong and Port Kembla Court Houses and also assists staff with major events, open days, Police Remembrance Day, Wall to Wall ride events and other initiatives.

JUNIOR SPORTS AWARD
Wil Daibarra, Kiama
Wil was  recognised for his outstanding achievements in golf over the past two seasons including – Kiama Junior Champion, The Links Shell Cove Junior Champion, Golf Illawarra Junior Champion of Champions, being selected for the Illawarra Academy of Sport, Kiama Golf Club Foursomes winner, Shoalhaven Open and Wollongong Open runner up and Mollymook Junior Classic Champion.

LOCAL SPORTS AWARD
Bob Morgan, Kiama
Bob was recognised for his outstanding achievements in tennis. At 75 years of age, Bob was ranked number 81 in the world after singles victories in Latvia and Spain during his European ITF tennis tour, and runner up in Portugal and Lithuania.

This year, on the country circuit, Bob is undefeated with singles wins at Narooma, Goulburn, Muswellbrook and Kiama.

OUTSTANDING CITIZEN AWARD
Reverend Steve Stanis, Kiama Anglican Church
Reverend Stanis was recognised for the outstanding contribution he makes – and Kiama Anglican Church makes – to our local community through a number of programs including Green Connect, partnering with Kiama Community College, Shine Women programs, Care Cafes, support of a village in India, participation in the Folk Festival weekend and annual ANZAC Sunday and National Police Remembrance Day Services at the Kiama
Anglican Church.

Nancye Hawke, Gerroa
Nancye was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the local Gerroa community through the Gerroa Combined Probus Club, Gerroa Neighbourhood Watch, Gerroa Neighbourhood Centre and the Kiama Piano and Organ Club.

For many years she also served as Secretary of the Gerroa Community Association (formerly Ratepayers Association), as well as on many rural committees, particularly with the Holstein-Friesian Association of NSW.

John Dawson, Kiama Downs
John was recognised for his contribution as President of the Kiama Cricket Club and also his volunteer driving to assist Blue Haven Care residents since 2012. John is also the Secretary of the Kiama and District Sports Council and presiding officer of HSC exams at Kiama High School since 2016.

Robert and Helen Curll, Kiama
Robert and Helen were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Kiama Garden Club Inc – Robert as Coordinator and Helen as President.

Tamara Campbell and Dave Evans, Kiama
Tamara and Dave were recognised for their involvement with the annual KISS Arts Festival in Kiama and surrounds.

Diedre Hindmarsh, Gerringong
Diedre was recognised for her contribution to the local Kiama and Gerringong community, her work with Sureway Employment, and her involvement and support of the Kiama Business Chamber and the broader community.

Al Marsden and Mick Cook, Kiama
Al and Mick were individually recognised for their outstanding contribution to the Kiama community through Kiama Rugby, the Kiama Sevens, and hosting trivia nights to raise money for various charities.

OUTSTANDING LOCAL SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR AWARD
Greg Walsh, Jamberoo
Greg was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the Jamberoo community, in particular his involvement with the Combined Sporting Clubs Association and the campaign to secure funding for the new Jamberoo Sports Precinct which will include upgrades to Kevin Walsh Oval in Jamberoo.

Karon Dawson, Kiama Downs
Karon was recognised for her outstanding contribution as the founding Secretary of the Kiama Netball Association in 1986, right through to her contribution to Netball as a player, coach, manager, umpire and mentor.

She also volunteered at the 2015 Netball World Championships at Sydney Olympic Park as a Team Liaison Officer.