By TANIA PHILLIPS
THE countdown is now on for this year’s 2013 Tweed Shire Kids in Community (KIC) Awards to be held on Wednesday 20 November at the Twin Towns Services Club Showroom.
The Awards, now in their fourth year, are all about highlighting the significant work and achievements young people are making in our community, according to event chairman Mark Madden.
“The KIC Awards originated in Lismore in the year 2000 and began in the Tweed in 2010,” Mr Madden said.
“Since then, more than 150 local young people have been recognised for outstanding achievements largely around helping others in the community.
He said this year’s awards 51 nominees would contest the awards in seven categories including Caring for others; Celebrating our cultural diversity; Serving our community; Leading their peers; Achieving against all odds; Protecting our planet and Adults supporting youth.
He said the awards scheme, totally funded by business support through sponsorship and donations of goods and services, culminates in the gala dinner function held in the Showroom at Twin Towns Services Club.
The night will also feature Gold Coast surf iron woman and all round athlete Emma Dick as guest speaker. Nineteen-year-old Emma hails from the Mermaid Beach Surf Life Saving Club and has recently been selected to compete in the National Nurti-Grain Iron Woman series. Apart from her all round surf sports skills, Emma is a nationally competitive runner particularly in the 800 and 1500m events and has also competed in hockey in national competitions.
Tweed Shire KIC Awards committee member and former award recipient, Matthew Kirkham, said the awards were important for the youth of the area.
“The awards highlight the incredible commitment and achievements of local young people in terms of community service, caring for others and generally having a go,” he said.
“The awards night is truly inspirational in terms of showcasing the contribution. Tweed kids are making to the community as well as highlighting what talented young people we have with the night’s entertainment.
“As a former nominee and Award recipient, I felt very honoured and fortunate to have been recognised in such a manner.”
The overall winner of the 2012 Tweed Shire KIC Awards was Jackson Ross who was born with a muscular condition that has meant spending his life in a wheelchair. He has been an active and capable student and attended a range of state and national conferences relating to youth disabilities and leadership, representing his school. He has also been involved in community service and fund-raising events. He has also completed a scuba diving certificate and last year obtained his drivers’ licence.
“We get support from local high schools and community organisations with nominations and the business community has also really got behind the scheme over the last four years with their generous support,” Mr Madden said.
“We are particularly pleased with the ongoing support for this year’s event of major sponsors The Good Guys South Tweed and Cricks Mitsubishi Tweed,” Mark Madden said.
“Businesses can also support the event by donating goods and services to be utilised on the night as gifts and raffle prizes.”
For more information, contact Mark Madden at the Tweed Heads PCYC on 07 5599 1714 or email mmadden@pcycnsw.org.au.
