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Australia Day Winners

Publish Date: 24 January 2020 

Buloke Shire Council has announced its Australia Day Award winners at its community Australia Day celebration held in Birchip on Friday 24 January 2020.

John McConville (Citizen of the Year), Angel Grylls (Young Citizen of the Year) and the Birchip B&S Ball (Community Event of the Year) had their amazing contributions to the Buloke community acknowledged winning the prestigious awards.

John McConville’s lifetime of leadership and achievement has been acknowledged with the Citizen of the Year Award.

A man who leads by example through his positivity and proactivity, there are not too many parts of Donald that haven’t had his stamp put on it.

From building sheds to driving buses, from chairing meetings to advocating for his town, over many years John McConville and his family has grown and evolved alongside his community.

A pioneer businessman in the town who invested so heavily in the Donald Industrial Estate so that not only he could succeed, but others. The unofficial ‘Mayor of Donald’ believes it takes a village to raise a child.

“A large part of the success of Donald is the work, care and pride of John McConville. Nothing is too much trouble for John, nothing too big, nothing is too small. The liveability and way of life in Donald and surrounds indeed owes a great debt to him. John is an outstanding person who gives so much of himself and a more than worthy Citizen of the Year”, said Mayor Cr Carolyn Stewart.

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Young Citizen of the Year Angel Grylls is a dedicated and motivated young woman. A foundation member of both the Charlton Junior CWA branch and the reformed Charlton Youth Group, she has been able to leverage her leadership role to drive the membership of each. Angel is also a talented projectionist who dedicates her Sunday’s to screening films at the Rex Theatre in Charlton.

“Angel is an enthusiastic and generous young leader. Council has on numerous occasions received presentations from Angel keeping us informed of the progress of the youth activities she is involved in. She wants what is best for her town and does everything she can to ensure Charlton is a great environment for our next generation to grow,” said Cr Stewart.

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The Birchip B&S Ball has claimed the Community Event of the Year for a second time. The iconic Mallee Root Round-Up won the award back in 1996 and has been reinvigorated under a new committee who have shaped this event over the past 15 years.

“The Birchip B&S is one of best known events staged in Buloke each year. Apart from being a social event of tremendous importance, the committee raise an enormous amount of funds to better the event and to support local groups and charities. In the last year alone over $30,000 has been donated to support its community”, said Cr Stewart.

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Committee President Carly Hemley is pictured with Cr Stewart and Cr Warren

End release 
For further information contact Manager Customer Engagement, Travis Fitzgibbon on 03 5478 0181 or tfitzgibbon@buloke.vic.gov.au

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