Graham heads the Hills Shire Australia Day awards
ZOE Graham, the co-founder of the Hills Relay Ball, which has raised more than $400,000 for the Cancer Council, is the Hills Shire 2018 Citizen of the Year.
Hills Shire
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ZOE Graham, the co-founder of the Hills Relay Ball, which has raised more than $400,000 for the Cancer Council, is the Hills Shire 2018 Citizen of the Year.
Ms Graham is well known in the community and in addition to Relay efforts, helps charity efforts in Vanuatu in Fiji. Ms Graham is on the P & C of Castle Hill Public School and was a member of the Hills Safety Committee.
The other award winners are: Sina Aghamofid (Young Citizen of the Year), Noreen Tait and Carol Baker Dersch (joint Senior Citizen of Year), Computer Pals for Seniors — The Hills and Gazelles Netball Club (joint community Group of the Year).
Mayor Michelle Byrne also presented Mayoral Commendations for Senior Citizen of The Year to Lyn Bull and Jennifer Crouch and Citizen of The Year to Azita Abdollahian.
“One of my great delights on Australia Day is the opportunity to honour the commitment and achievements of our outstanding Hills Shire residents,” Mayor Byrne said.
“And that is what these awards are all about — acknowledging our local residents who have made positive contributions to the lives of others, without asking for anything in return.”
Mr Sina Aghamofid is a member of the Hills Youth Army and the Youth Volunteer Force, volunteers with Bankstown Poetry Slam and on the Headspace National Youth Advisory Council.
Senior citizens Noreen Tait and Carol Baker have years of volunteering behind them.
Ms Tait has been a volunteer with the Wirreanda Village at West Pennant Hills for 18 years and works with the RSL sub-Branch in Wirreanda.
Ms Baker has helped raised money for several charities in her work as a volunteer for more than two decades. She is well known for her work as a secretary and member of Friends of Bella Vista Farm where she is the popular welcoming Devonshire tea caterer.
Computer Pals — the Hills, is operated by a loyal band of 60 dedicated volunteers, including trainers, computer technicians, office staff, cleaners and gardeners and provide valuable technological help to seniors.
For the past four years, Gazelles Netball has been running the Gazelles Empowerment Program, which teaches the players about themselves, their team mates, their coaches and working as a group.
Lyn Bull has offered a wealth of time and knowledge to better equip Baulkham Hills North Public School students with the necessary skills to read and develop their literacy skills.
Ms Bull has dedicated her time in a voluntary capacity, both in the classroom and in small group situations, focusing literacy and numeracy skills.
Jennifer Crouch helps students improve their literacy and helps where she can, especially donating her time to helping students read.
Azita Abdollahian volunteers her time to helping homeless people, providing food and clean clothes while also providing free hairdressing for them at her salon.
Ms Abdollahian is also a strong advocate against abuse, especially domestic violence.
In her spare time, Ms Abdollahian studies psychology and clinical hypnotherapy.
NEW CITIZENS WELCOMED
The Hills Shire community welcomed 122 new citizens during a special citizenship on the eve of Australia Day.
Mayor Byrne, who conducted the ceremony on Thursday, January 25, said the formalities provided an opportunity to reflect on the significance of citizenship as a common bond — strengthening the Sydney Hills region.
The new citizens came from several countries, including India, China, The Philippines, United Kingdom, Mauritius, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
“We have all benefited from living in a multicultural society — being able to experience other cultures and traditions and yet still live in a united nation that strives for justice and equity for all people,” Mayor Byrne added.