At an Australia Day ceremony today, City of Ryde Mayor, Councillor Ivan Petch, announced the 2008 City of Ryde Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year in recognition for service to the local community.
There are:
CRAIG STEPHENS – Citizen of the Year
KATE HANLEY – Young Citizen of the Year
In acknowledging their outstanding contributions, Councillor Petch said Mr Stephens and Miss Hanley were both fine examples of how citizens, through their dedication to the needs of others in the community, help make the City of Ryde a great place to live and work.
He continued: “The high calibre of nominees for this year’s Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year made choosing the winners a very difficult task. However, all nominees should feel proud that their peers have recognised the contributions they have made. They have all added enormous value to our local area and it is especially inspiring to see so many young people keeping the community spirit alive.”
Later in the day Craig Stephens and Kate Hanley were presented on stage to the estimated 10,000 strong audience at the Australia Day Family Concert at North Ryde Common.
Craig Stephens – Citizen of the Year
A member of the Salvation Army for over 12 years Craig, has been the driving force behind No. 47 Ivanhoe Place – a project started six years ago that provides a wide range of services for the community including counselling, education, networking, holiday programs and transport.
No 47 Ivanhoe Place is a project of the Salvation Army Ryde community Church in partnership with the Department of Housing. Craig and his wife Danni live and work in No. 47 thus providing very hands-on, practical and personal support for those in need.
Craig’s skills in gathering support for multiple community projects has led to the funding of many projects including an internet café, study shed, 20 seater community bus, afternoon bike rides and counselling expertise for a wide variety of issues including family problems, addictions, financial difficulties or employment. And this is just the tip of the iceberg
Craig’s other commitments include:
Chairperson of Ryde Community Aid Drug Action team
Member of the Police Accountability Community Team
He also works with Youth Services at Ryde Secondary College
and the Ryde CDAT Drug and Alcohol Schools Projects.
Craig is committed to living in and with the community he helps. This gives him unique, first hand knowledge of their needs and the effectiveness of the various support programs.
He is highly regarded by his peers and a role model within the community who inspired not just the residents of No. 47 Ivanhoe place, but the much wider community and the many colleagues he works with.
Kate Hanley – Young Citizen of the Year
From a very early age, Kate Hanley took a keen interest in assisting adults and children with disabilities and has been a long standing volunteer at Weemala. Having a cousin with cerebral palsy gave her personal insights into the challenges facing people with disabilities.
Kate is a caring, dedication volunteer, with a very positive, can-do attitude. She assists with conducting ecumenical church services. She is involved with reading and listening to the residents of Weemala, providing music and assists in moving wheelchair bound client around the facility. These are the very practical ways in which Kate – and her father Mark who has also received a Citizen of the Year Award – brings joy and a helping hand to many in our community.
Successfully juggling studies with several part time roles assisting the disadvantage, Kate is in the final stage of completing her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in sport/leisure and will soon start a full time job at a school for children with disabilities in the local area.
-ENDS-
Media enquiries: Lee Kirkland, Media Officer, City of Ryde, T 9952 8083 M 0434 306 444
