A YOUTH worker, a Justice of the Peace, and a publican are a few of the members of the Brimbank community honoured with an Australia Day Award last Friday.
Twenty-four-year-old Taylors Lakes resident Angela Saflekas was named Young Citizen of the Year at the ceremony at Sunshine cinemas for her work with the Brimbank Youth Services YMCA, where she helps young people in need.
St Albans’ Doreen Thorpe was named Brimbank’s Older Person of the Year for her years given to the community as a Justice of the Peace, helping out in correctional facilities and police stations around the area, and her volunteer work with the elderly.
In a ceremony attended by hundreds at Sunshine’s Village cinemas, President of the Brimbank Senior Citizens Committee, Sunshine’s Harold Gomez, was named Volunteer of the Year for his work with seniors week, and elsewhere in the local community.
And this year, for the first time, Brimbank named its Non-Resident of the Year, which recognised someone outside Brimbank who has made a difference.
Kealba Hotel owner Sam Castello took out the inaugural award for his generosity towards local schools, sporting clubs and other areas of the community.