THREE dedicated Penola community members have been recognised for their hard work and selflessness with announcement of the Wattle Range Council Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award.
Community contributor and prominent businessman Sydney “Snow” Merrett will receive the award, while Penola High School students Ella Kain and Aliza Pfitzner have both been named as recipients of the Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award.
Known and appreciated for his outstanding fundraising efforts within the community, Mr Merrett has participated in various Aussie Muscle Car Run rally events, raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.
This year Snow and Stuart Merrett raised a phenomenal $27,223 in the seven-day leisure car cruise – the largest fundraising total of any team participating.
Mr Merrett also assisted with the Put Your Hard Hats Out car rally fundraiser last year, helping the families affected by the road tragedy which killed four South East men.
“With the incident occurring near Christmas, it was an emotional time, with the families affected needing extra support,” Mr Merrett said.
Around $20,000 was divided among the four families affected by the fatal crash at Penola and this year the South East Street Machines once again donated $2000 to the Penola State Emergency Service ahead of the busy Christmas period.
Mr Merrett was surprised and thankful when he was informed he would be recognised with the award.
“I was pretty chuffed and it is very satisfying to give back to the community,” Mr Merrett said.
“Anything I do, I do not do in halves, I either go hard or go home and do it to the best of my ability.”
Wattle Range Mayor Peter Gandolfi said the awards acknowledge the contribution and service provided to the community by individuals and groups.
Mr Gandolfi said the recipients are to be congratulated for their awards.
“As always, I am impressed with the calibre of this year’s nominations,” he said.
“Each of the 2018 award winners has made a valuable contribution to the Wattle Range community and are worthy of such recognition.”
The Penola awards ceremony will be held at 9am as part of the Australia Day breakfast function, which starts at 8am on January 26 at the war memorial park on Church Street.
Mr Gandolfi will attend the Riddoch Ward presentations at Penola, accompanied by councillors Dean Burrow and Rob Thornett.
“I urge everyone in the Wattle Range Council region to come along and join in with the Australia Day celebrations,” Mr Gandolfi said.
