Peninsula takes community awards
The Peninsula was well represented at this year's Gosford Council Australia Day Community Awards held at the Central Coast Leagues Club on January 23.
The Brisbane Water Oyster Festival won the Community Event of the Year.
Ettalong Beach resident Ms Pat Slattery received the Senior Award.
Seven-year-old Peninsula resident Georgia Riley took out the Sport Award.
Pretty Beach Public School and principal Ms Vicki Redrup were chosen for the Environment Award.
The Oyster Festival, held in November last year, was chosen for attracting thousands of locals and visitors to Ettalong Beach and for raising more than $40,000 for the Cancer Council NSW.
"This was both a surprise and a wonderful honour for an event that the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has organised for the past eight years," festival chairperson Ms Debra Wales said.
"The Queen of the Oyster Festival was introduced in 2005 to raise funds for Cancer Council NSW Breast Cancer Challenge and has raised over $165,000 for our charity of choice over that time.
"The award is a wonderful recognition for the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make the Oyster Festival one of the premier community events on the Central Coast."
Pretty Beach Public School was chosen for the Environment Award due to the success of its sustainability program.
School principal Ms Vicki Redrup has also initiated ways to improve sustainable living and decrease negative impacts on the environment.
"I was very honoured to be nominated for a Gosford City Australia Day Community Award," Ms Redrup said.
"I was absolutely thrilled to win this award and it was fantastic for our school to be recognised for the wonderful work we do with our environmental programs.
"Students, teachers and parents place a strong emphasis on the environment and we take a proactive approach to environmental issues and try to be involved in many different activities throughout the year.
"We are constantly applying for various grants to help run activities and are always looking at how we can increase our student's awareness of environmental matters."
Ettalong Beach resident Ms Pat Slattery received the Senior Award for her tireless work within the Peninsula community and internationally.
Ms Slattery volunteers for local charity Mary Mac's Place and in 2007, travelled to The Dominican republic, Brazil and South Africa to volunteer for work, in long day care, cleaning, cooking, welfare assistance, spiritual support and teaching.
Mary Mac's Place project coordinator Ms Robyn Schacht described Ms Slattery as an "outstanding, positive and inspirational role model" for the community.
"Pat Slattery has a truly impressive record of community work both within the local area and overseas," Ms Schacht said.
"Pat was employed as a school teacher at St John the Baptist for almost 40 years and earned a reputation as an ethical, professional, caring and compassionate person. "Throughout her career, in addition to raising her own family of five children, she gave freely of her time outside school hours to assist those in need within the community.
"As a volunteer at Mary Mac's Place in Woy Woy for six years, she has assisted in a broad range of services in addition to being the volunteer representative on the Mary Mac's Steering Committee, the parish liaison officer for the organisation and Mary Mac's representative on the Homeless Services Interagency.
Ms Schacht said that Ms Slattery had made a major contribution to the success of the organisation through her personal commitment to advocate, in a caring and compassionate manner, for the underprivileged and marginalised in our community.
"A well-deserved award for an outstanding and inspirational lady," Ms Schacht said.
Seven-year-old Georgia Riley took out the Sport Award after becoming the youngest physical culture club champion from the Central Coast recently.
Georgia is a member of Woy Woy Recreational Physical Culture Club and won the Junior National Champion age title for the second year running.
Instructor Ms Kristy Stephen said the club was extremely proud of Georgia's achievements.
"Georgia is a beautiful physie girl but also a beautiful little girl, well mannered and kind hearted," Ms Stephen said.
"She is an extremely talented girl and is also very humble with her winnings.
"Georgia shows a commitment to excellence and is an excellent role model for other girls to follow her example and to help motivate and inspire others to aim high.
"Her positive approach to life and understanding contributing to society are a great credit to Georgia and those around her."
Press release, 23 Jan 2009
Gosford Council
Press release, 30 Jan 2009
Debra Wales, Brisbane Water Oyster Festival
Press release, 28 Jan 2009
Graham Kinross, Mary Mac's Place
Press release, 29 Jan 2009
Kristy Stephen, Woy Woy Recreational Physical Culture Club