Gallery: Lismore City’s 2022 Australia Day citizenship ceremony

Lismore welcomed 27 new Australians at a ceremony at Lismore City Hall on Australia Day and one of the region’s most hardworking advocates has won Citizen of the Year.

Di Lymbury’s dedication to helping people with Parkinson’s disease in the Lismore local government area since 2015 is an inspiring story.

Her dedication has made her worthy of Lismore’s Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award.

She has been involved in ensuring people with Parkinson’s have a voice including reaching those who don’t have access to modern technology or live in remote areas.

Di’s nominator John Waters described her as “one in a million” and said rarely if at all, does she ever complain of her own circumstances as a person with Parkinson’s.

He said she would give all the time in the world to those that need or appear to need support.

Di’s position is also voluntary, making her achievements all the more incredible.

Her work has been taken on board by the community and her efforts have been heard as far as New South Wales Parliament House.

Lismore’s Australia Day Awards in pictures

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Services to the Community (Individual) – Dr Eslam Ibrahim

It’s hard enough studying for a PhD, but earning a Service to the Community Individual Award for his extensive volunteer work warmed the heart of Southern Cross University educator Dr Eslam Ibrahim.

Dr Ibrahim’s commitment to informing and teaching the greater Lismore community during the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters and other events is a testament to his character.

As an engineer in biological data-science and a bioinformatician, Dr Eslam worked as one of the chief advisers of Covid-19 action group at the Southern Cross University.

He has been a vocal advocate for the vaccination program and helped elderly and disabled people in the region to get food and supplies.

Dr Ibrahim did the same during the 2019 black summer bushfires and the 2017 flood, calling locals to evacuate and delivering food.

Junior Sportsperson of the Year – Malachi Canning

Lismore’s future Paralympian Malachi Canning received the Junior Sportsperson award.

Malachi is an Aboriginal boy who has been in foster care from the age of 3 and has showed a love for athletics from a very young age

Malachi has Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, ADHD and hearing loss.

He wears hearing aids in both ears and wears glasses.

Despite all of this, his love for athletics continues to grow with a dream of competing for Australia at the Paralympics one day.

He recently won four gold and two bronze medals at the 2021 NSW All Schools Championship.

Services to the Community (Group) – U3A

Celebrating their 28th year, U3A won the Services in the community Group award.

The group provides physical mental and social activities to retirees saying the key to positive ageing is mental and social inclusion.

Their work for elderly people in the region has never been more important during Covid-19 using technology to keep everyone together providing Zoom classes.

Outstanding Sports Team – The Ramettes

Marist Brothers Rams Lismore took out the award for best sports team with the Ladies League team paving the way for more women in the region to get involved in sport and contribution to charities.

Known as The Ramettes, the women’s team have won five Minor Premierships won two Major Premierships.

After every home game the girls all volunteer for Club duties in the Canteen, the entry gate and selling Club raffle tickets.

Every year the Ramettes organise and host a Ladies’ Day which all proceeds are donated to charities such as Jodie’s Inspiration, Ronald McDonald House and the Leukaemia Foundation.