YOUNG ACHIEVERS SHARE THE AWARD
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Recent HSC graduates Joel Troy and Kasey Williams shared the honours for Cessnock City’s young citizen of the year award at the Australia Day ceremony.
The pair’s achievements practically mirrored in 2013 – both were school captains (Joel at Cessnock High and Kasey at Mount View) with exemplary academic records and service to their communities.
Joel won the Wine Country Lions Club Youth of the Year competition while Kasey took out the Cessnock club’s competition.
She went on to win at regional level, and then won the public speaking award at the district competition – a feat not achieved by a Cessnock student for 10 years.
According to records dating back to 1983, joint winners had never been announced for Cessnock’s young citizen of the year award until now.
A WELL DESERVED HONOUR
The name Ellena Morris is synonymous with swimming in Cessnock.
A life member of Coalfields United Amateur Swimming Club, Mrs. Morris has taught hundreds of local children the vital skill of swimming over the past 42 years.
Her dedication to the sport, and in particular coaching athletes with disabilities, earned her the well-deserved honour of being named Cessnock City’s citizen of the year on Australia Day 2014.
Mrs. Morris said she was ‘absolutely shocked’ to receive the award.
“I didn’t expect this at all,” she said.
It was the icing on the cake after a big year in 2013, when nine of her swimmers competed at the Special Olympics Asia-Pacific Games – and all came home with medals.
Mrs. Morris was the Australian aquatics coach for the games held in Newcastle in December, and is also the sports coordinator for the Hunter Valley branch of Special Olympics.
Her involvement with Special Olympics began in 1991 when her daughter Bernadette, then 11, attended her first Special Olympics state championships in Dubbo – and won.
Special Olympics provide sporting opportunities for all people with an intellectual disability, regardless of their skills.
The organisation quickly became a passion for Mrs. Morris, and she became extensively involved.
“One step after another, it just snowballed,” she said.
In her role with Special Olympics, she helps children with special needs to overcome the various challenges they face on a daily basis.
Along with the Asia-Pacific Games in Newcastle last year, another highlight in Mrs. Morris’s coaching career was attending the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens in 2011.
Seeing what her athletes have been able to achieve is very rewarding.
“You get real satisfaction from it,” she said.
Her daughter Bernadette, now 33, has competed at international level and is now a coach and ambassador for Special Olympics.
Another local success story that Mrs. Morris very proud of is Kurri swimmer Ranon Holstein, 15, who won a gold medal at the Asia-Pacific Games after just two years in the sport.
“Seeing where he’s come from in such a short time, is just amazing,” she said.
Now retired from her career in medical administration, Mrs. Morris currently teaches at the YMCA Kurri Aquatic Centre four days a week and is the secretary and registrar for Coalfields United Amateur Swimming Club, which meets Friday nights at Cessnock pool.
She has lived in Cessnock with her husband Kevin for 47 years, and has four children and eight grandchildren.
PROUD DAY FOR NEW CITIZENS
One of the highlights of Cessnock City’s official Australia Day celebration is the naturalisation ceremony.
This year 24 new citizens – hailing from Canada, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, the United States, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, England, New Zealand, Ireland, Thailand and India – were naturalised and welcomed to Cessnock City.
“The community spirit for Australia Day reflects the values we share,” Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said.
“Cessnock welcomes the newest members of the Australian family. I believe that this ceremony reflects our changing population in our local government area and it’s a very positive development.”
Among the new citizens were Greta residents Hercules and Priscilla Lourens and their son Morne Greyling, who moved to Australia from South Africa eight years ago.
They felt happy and privileged to become Australian citizens.
A record 17,863 people from 155 countries became Australian citizens as part of this year’s Australia Day celebrations around the nation.
RELAY FOR LIFE NAMED EVENT OF THE YEAR
Cessnock Relay For Life has collected the Community Event of the Year award for the second time.
The first Relay in 2008 shared the same honour, and since then the event has grown every year.
The 2013 version raised more than $133,000 for the Cancer Council, with more than 1000 people in attendance.
In his first year as chair, Ben Woolley was able to secure many new sponsors and also helped organise the performance of popular boy band The Collective, which was a huge drawcard for the event.
Mr. Woolley said Australia Day was an great day for the Cessnock Relay for Life committee.
“It was an amazing award to receive and well deserved for all of the committee members,” he said.
“They organise an amazing Relay every year and raise much-needed money for the NSW Cancer Council so one day we can defeat cancer and live in a cancer-free world.”
The 2014 Relay will be held at Baddeley Park on October 18 and 19. Like ‘Cessnock Relay For Life’ on Facebook for more information on this year’s event.