Celebrating our community champions and our newest citizens

In this blog entry, I’d like to start off by putting the spotlight on the incredible achievements of some of our most giving residents who received 2020 Community Citizen of the Year Awards.

Held in conjunction with Auspire – Australia Day Council of WA, the awards honoured local individuals and community groups that made an outstanding contribution across the community in 2019. It was an honour to meet the recipients at the awards ceremony held at Stirling Civic Gardens on Australia Day.

The Community Citizen of the Year Award went to Ken Shorto for his dedication to community sport at the Balga Soccer Club (BSC). A real all-rounder when it comes to BSC roles, Ken has served as treasurer, secretary and president during almost 30 years at the club.

With Community Citizen of the Year Award winner Ken Shorto

But, Ken’s efforts to introduce a ‘Fee Free Football’ program where parents can cover their children’s playing fees by volunteering at the club is a stand-out achievement. The program has gone on to prove a great way for families who are new to Australia to form connections with their local community through sport.

Long-time coastal environment volunteer Rae Kolb won the Senior Community Citizen of the Year (65 years or over) honour for improving natural areas along the City’s 6.5km stretch of coastline. Rae was instrumental in getting the Stirling Natural Environment Coastcare (SNEC) group off the ground.

With Senior Community Citizen of the Year (65 years or over) winner Rae Kolb

During the past decade, Rae and the SNEC have worked with the City to plan and implement annual dune restoration and revegetation programs in local coastal areas. As well as co-ordinating hundreds of volunteers who donate their time to undertake maintenance, weeding and re-vegetation projects, Rae is always at the ready rolling up her sleeves getting amongst it all and sharing her considerable coastline knowledge with others.

Representing our younger residents, Naomi Blitz received the Young Community Citizen of the Year (under 25 years) award for several achievements including her efforts with the City’s Youth Framework. Released in 2019, the framework continues to support local young people in their endeavours to contribute to community life in meaningful ways.

With Young Community Citizen of the Year (under 25 years) winner Naomi Blitz

After rallying local youth to contribute to the framework, Naomi has gone on to become a Stirling Youth Advocate. The voluntary role gives young people a say on the services and activities we should develop and deliver across the community. Naomi also took on a chief role in planning the successful 2019 Groundswell event that offered a mix of surf, skate and basketball contests at Scarborough Beach.     

Wrapping up this year’s awards, the Wembley Downs District Fair took out the Active Citizen Award (Community Group). The honour recognised the dedicated committee that has organised the popular community event for more than five decades. The committee features members of the 1st Wembley Downs Scout Group, local churches, schools and residents.

With Cr Elizabeth Re who accepted the Active Citizen Award (Community Group) on behalf of the Wembley Downs District Fair Committee 

Since holding the first fair with a modest eight stalls in 1968, industrious committee members have grown the free community event over the years to now offer close to 100 stallholders. Year after year, the fair brings the community together and helps local churches, schools and guide groups raise money for much-needed projects. Doubleview Ward Councillor Elizabeth Re was on hand at the recent awards ceremony to accept the award on behalf of the Wembley Downs District Fair Committee. Congratulations to all of the award winners.

In a first for the City, Stirling Civic Gardens provided this year’s stunning backdrop for a combined awards presentation and Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony. The beautiful venue was a popular way to welcome 240 of our newest citizens from 60 countries.

With some of our newest citizens at the Australia Day ceremony

About 3,750 new citizens will take the pledge during 25 planned citizenship ceremonies this year. Each of the ceremonies, which are regularly held in the City’s Reception Hall, generally caters for about 150 new citizens.

In other news, we said goodbye to power poles in Menora after Western Power removed the last remaining pole in the suburb in late January. Menora is the latest suburb in the City to switch to underground power through the State Underground Power Program (SUPP).

With Acting City of Stirling CEO Michael Littleton and Western Power representatives Zane Christmas and Graham Downe

Part of Round 6 of the SUPP, the recent works in Menora resulted in 350 power poles being removed, new connections to 634 properties and the installation of 264 new street lights. The shift to underground power provides lots of benefits to property owners and the community including enhancing the look of streetscapes and improving the reliability of electricity supply to residents. Works to roll out underground power to Trigg - which also forms part of Round 6 of SUPP - are set to start soon.

To finish up this entry, I’d like to remind everyone there’s still time to get amongst all the fun of the Sunset Veranda 2020 at Scarborough Beach. Part of this year’s FRINGE WORLD Festival, the beachside pop-up venue rolls through until Sunday 16 February with our biggest and most diverse mix of comedy, music, theatre and cabaret acts.

The opening night was hugely entertaining with a big crowd including Cr Stephanie Proud JP, Cr Felicity Farrelly and Cr Karlo Perkov enjoying live music, some specialty food truck fare and a picturesque sunset.

Cr Stephanie Proud JP at Sunset Veranda with Acting City of Stirling CEO Michael Littleton

Still to come are marvellous ‘Scarborough Stories on Screen’ sensory events showcasing personal stories of the iconic beach, classic Disney music brought to life by Adam Hall and the Playboys, a brand new show from comedy hypnotist Matt Hale and much more. Visit www.stirling.wa.gov.au/sunsetveranda for tickets and details of these and other exciting events on offer until Sunday 16 February.