A celebratory group of nominees, their friends and family, and local representatives gathered at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre for the 2024 Blue Mountains Local Citizen of the Year Awards.
Held this evening (Friday, 26 July), the awards recognised and celebrated the achievements and contributions of notable residents through the Blue Mountains.
The Award recipients for 2024 were:
- Citizen of the Year - Christopher Smith
- Senior Citizen of the Year - Jackie Mayers
- Community Achievement of the Year - Hotel Etico.
This year, there were 19 nominees across the three award categories.
Awards host, Mayor Cr Mark Greenhill, said: "Each year, there are many deserving members of the community nominated for these awards and this year was no different.
"These nominees inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to our Blue Mountains community.
"I extend a heartfelt thank you to all our nominators for sharing the stories of the incredible Blue Mountains residents who are committed to bettering local community life.
"I genuinely mean it when I say every nominee we celebrate is deserving of being declared Citizen of the Year. Each of them has made an indelible mark on our community. Their contributions make our community extraordinary, and they are all exceptional."
Nominations are submitted by community members in response to a call out Council makes each year.
2024 Citizen of the Year, Christopher Smith, has made a significant difference to the prevention of loneliness, improved wellbeing and increased connection in the Blue Mountains.
Christopher created Shared Reading NSW, combining great stories and psychological support to prevent loneliness, and has provided Shared Reading groups throughout the Blue Mountains since 2014. Shared Reading is a facilitated group activity through which people experience the life-enhancing benefits of great literature.
Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group volunteer, Jackie Mayers co-founded the Youth Shoebox Project ten years ago with Sue Campbell-Ross of Able2 disability services.
The Youth Shoebox Project coordinates contributions from the Blue Mountains community to provide Christmas gifts for refugee and asylum-seeking children in Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
The 2024 Community Achievement of the Year Award went to Mount Victoria's Hotel Etico.
Established in November 2020, Hotel Etico is Australia's first not-for-profit social enterprise hotel, employing and training young adults with disability in hospitality and independent living skills.
The full list of 2024 Blue Mountains Local Citizen of the Year Awards nominees is:
Citizen of the Year Award (up to 64 years of age)
1. Christopher Smith (Winner) - Shared Reading NSW
2. Ashe Webb - Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC)
3. Dr Melinda Hardy - Upper Mountains Medical Centre
4. Caroline Payne - Katoomba North Primary School
5. Brendan Davies - UP Coaching
6. Debbie Laird - FunKids Mount Riverview
7. Michael Garwood - Blue Mountains Futsal and Football
8. Michelle Swan - Katoomba Neurodiversity Hub
9. Simon Lyne - various football teams
10. Karen Stevenson - Blue Mountains Women's Shed
Senior Citizen of the Year Award (65 years of age and over)
1. Jackie Mayers (Winner) - Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group
2. Barbara Davidson - various nursing homes
3. Robin Bracken -Springwood Neighbourhood Centre
4. Anneke Erich - Buckland Aged Care, Springwood
5. Peter Genellos - Little Wings
6. Rod Stowe - various inc. Blue Mountains Branch National Trust
Community Achievement of the Year Award:
1. Hotel Etico (Winner)
2. Resilient Villages Blue Mountains
3. Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre
Photo: The Blue Mountains Local Citizen of the Year Award winners and nominees; Citizen of the Year Christopher Smith, from Shared Reading NSW; Senior Citizen of the Year Jackie Mayers, from Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group.
