ADAM Smith will receive Mount Gambier City Council’s Citizen of the Year award during Australia Day celebrations this year.
Mr Smith is a well known member of the community, participating in a wide range of fundraising activities.
Co-organiser of the Mount Gambier Hay Run, Mr Smith has arranged truck loads of hay to be donated to bushfire-struck properties as far away as Queensland.
More recently, he organised a large load of hay to be donated to farmers affected by the Wrattonbully fires which struck on New Year’s Eve.
The avid volunteer also participated in The Full Monty, the Family Truck Show and truck convoys to benefit children in need.
Although touched when he was advised of the award, when speaking with The Border Watch, Mr Smith said he felt he did not deserve Citizen of the Year.
“I feel like there are others in town that deserve it more and they do the same as what I do,” Mr Smith said.
“I am still in shock and trying to come to terms with it because I never thought I would receive anything like this.”
He said he did not volunteer for the recognition and was taking part in the numerous roles to help people and teach his children the importance of doing so.
“There are teachers, police officers and ambulance officers who I think deserve this award more than what I do, especially during the pandemic,” Mr Smith said.
“I do what I do to help people because that is what I love doing.
“I am a Mount Gambier supporter through and through and love this town and helping people in the community.”
Along with Mr Smith, the Senior Citizen of the Year award will be presented to joint winners Joan Osmond and Lorraine Musgrove.
Ms Osmond is known within the community for her volunteer work at the East Gambier Football Club for more than 40 years, the Reidy Park Tennis Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Heart Foundation, Mount Gambier Community Health and the Mount Gambier Hospital Auxiliary.
She also continues to actively volunteer with the Probus Club and the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group.
Ms Musgrove has been an active member of the Mount Gambier Cancer Support Group since 1994 and chairperson since 2012.
The Community Event of the Year award will go to Blue Lake Carols and the Active Citizenship Award will go to the Mount Gambier Men’s Shed ‘Toy Boys’.
