A father and son duo have shared in Australia Day honours, taking out two of the five awards announced at a special ceremony at the Glasshouse on Wednesday night.SES veteran Garry Fajks edged out a strong field to be named 2012 Citizen of the Year, acknowledged for his involvement with the volunteer service and ongoing commitment to flood management planning and education within the Hastings.  Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Administrator Neil Porter and local dignitaries presented the winners with certificates and medallions to honour their achievements.“Garry has dedicated many years to our local community through his work with the SES and it’s wonderful to be able to honour this commitment in such a significant way,” Mr Porter said.  In a family affair, Garry’s son and Camden Haven High senior, Thomas, was announced joint winner of the Young Citizen of the Year with Mackillop Senior and budding filmmaker Michael Wilkie.Other winners recognised at the Australia Day awards included Kevin Waldron named Male Senior Citizen of the Year, Yvonne Fisher announced Female Senior Citizen of the Year and the Kendall Community Op Shop awarded the Community Group of the Year.“Everyone nominated is actively living the values of what it means to be Australian and, on behalf of the Australia Day Sub-Committee, I want to thank each and every one of them for their contribution to our thriving community,” Mr Porter said.  “It’s the efforts of people like those nominated and the award winners that inspire us to celebrate how fortunate we are to live in Australia.”
Citizen of the Year
Garry Fajks
Garry’s work with the SES began in 1994 when he joined the team at Camden Haven.  His tireless work and love for the cause saw him promoted within the crew after only a year, serving as the unit controller for 14 years.  Throughout his time with the SES Garry has continued to work determinedly and has developed a broad knowledge in local flood event education.  This has seen Garry and the team regularly deployed to assist surrounding towns and cities and, at a local level, has assisted and worked with various flood management groups, gathering information and history of floods and their behaviour within the Camden Haven area.  In 2006, Garry helped to publish the first Camden Haven Flood Plan.Garry has received various accolades for his work within the SES, nominated for an Australian Humanitarian Award in flood education, the Director General’s Commendation for Service and a National Medal for 15 years’ service, among many more.  More recently Garry has focused much of his efforts in developing a Cadet program which has been implemented in a number of local high schools.
Young Citizen of the Year (joint winners)
Michael Wilkie
Born with a physical disability that impairs vision and debilitates muscles hasn’t stopped this amazing 16-year-old from achieving all that he wants out of life and helping the lives of others.  Michael, who has sight in only one eye, no 3D vision and told he would never lead a normal life, has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of another illness, Mitochondrial disease through a friendship formed with a local resident suffering from the disease, which affects around one in 5000 people.  Alongside his remarkable efforts in the pool, which saw him place 2nd in the NSW swimming championships in 2006, Michael developed a passion for film and photography.  By 2009 he had entered three major film festivals and in 2010 was runner-up in an international film competition for people with a disability, using it as a platform to enthusiastically promote awareness of Mitochondrial disease.  Michael has used his artistic talents to raise awareness and money for others with the disease, producing a documentary and donating the proceeds to ensure their ongoing care and treatment.  Most recently, Michael is set to embark on a trip to Cambodia to film a documentary for the Cambodian Children’s Fund, another interest inspired by his involvement in his first 40 hour famine while in primary school.  The motivated and dedicated teen has also recently started his own production business while still at school and continuing his studies.
Thomas Fajks
A member of the local SES and the Laurieton Lions Club, this lover of the outdoors is a regular volunteer at local community events helping out wherever he can, be it behind a BBQ, at the local show, or raising funds for a host of local charities.Achieving a bronze medallion in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the Camden Haven High School student has committed much of his time and effort to a number of organisations for which he feels strongly and, since 2003, has participated in the World’s Greatest Shave raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation.  Thomas’s resolute approach to his work is paralleled by his genuine concern to help and support others.  A motivated, well organised and diligent person, Thomas is highly regarded amongst his peers and the organisations to which he belongs and assists.
Senior Citizen of the Year
Kevin Waldron
Kevin has had a lifetime of involvement in various community activities which began in 1960 as an instructor with the Wauchope gymnastics club, a position he held for over 30 years.  As a result of his continued service Kevin was awarded the “Quiet Achiever’s’ medal.  In conjunction with the various roles held at the gymnastics club, Kevin shared his time serving with the Huntingdon Rural Fire Service where he enjoyed a 35-year association.  Since the late ’80s Kevin is a regular with the Wauchope Show Society, helping in the preparation of the show and at completion, assisting exhibitors and judges with all of the animals on display.  Alongside these duties, Kevin serves as a cattle and goat steward throughout the event.  Riding for the Disabled is a new passion for Kevin, where he is currently serving as President.  RDA is a national initiative that helps to combine the horse master’s love for both animals and children, where he can be found training horses or leading one of the horse riding classes.  During the school holidays, the 12 horses are accommodated at Kevin’s property free of charge and supervised and cared for during that time.  His impassioned contribution to RDA was recently rewarded when last year he was made a life member.  ÂÂ
Yvonne Fisher
Since retiring as a primary school principal in 1986, Yvonne has dedicated much of her time to philanthropic work within more than 10 community groups in the Camden Haven region.  Yvonne’s involvement and commitment is reflected by life memberships at the Camden Haven Neighbourhood Centre, the Camden Haven Music Festival and the Camden Haven Garden Club, and Patron of the Camden Haven and active participation in these and other community events.  Seeing the wonderful work of Riding Disabled Australia at the Sydney Easter Show in 1998 inspired Yvonne to make an important mission of commitment which has seen her donate tens of thousands of dollars towards sponsorship, horse care and running costs vital to the ongoing success of the national association.  Yvonne has also been of great impact to many since joining the congregation at Laurieton Uniting Church through her active pastoral work, and has been instrumental in securing church resources including a piano for worship services, photo copier, hymn books and much more.
Community Group of the Year
Kendall Community Op Shop:
Originally established in 1995 to raise funds for the construction of the Kendall swimming pool, the Kendall Op Shop continues to raise money for other community projects throughout the area, donating much needed funds to a variety of organisations including the Kendall and Laurieton Mens Sheds, Kendall pre-school renovations, Camden Haven Music Society and Kendall RDA.  More than 60 volunteers give their time to the community store that is open five days a week, selling new and used clothing and bric-a-brac to the public.
