Baw Baw’s 2018 citizens of the year
 Baw Baw News   By // 02:11, Sunday 4 February 2018

Drouin’s Judy Farmer has been named Baw Baw Shire’s Citizen of the Year for 2018.

The award was announced at a ceremony last month, along with several other individual and group commendations.

Judy was nominated for “her longstanding dedication to the Committee for Drouin among many other community-focused commitments.”


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“For 10 years Judy has been heavily involved in the Committee for Drouin and the Friends of Drouin’s Trees group contributing to countless projects inspired and coordinated through her own initiative,” Baw Baw mayor Joe Gauci said in a media release.

“With a professional background as a qualified occupational therapist, Judy has also spent many years working in early childhood development, travelling around Gippsland providing support and early intervention care to children with disabilities and special needs.”

Young Citizen of the Year

Jacob Bush was named Baw Baw Young Citizen of the Year for volunteer work, as well as contributions to local sport and a Warragul church.

“At such a young age, Jacob is already displaying inspirational attributes such as leadership, kindness and selflessness,” Cr Gauci said.


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“Jacob is heavily involved in hockey, playing with the Gippsland Bulls for many years, and more recently coaching the women’s team.”

Community event of the year

SnowFest Warragul was named Baw Baw’s Community Event of the Year.

The Warragul Business Group-run event was prised for being “a unique event in our local community delivering smiles and fun memories, awesome activities to visitors and locals as well as a boost to the local economy.”

“With real snow brought down from Mt Baw Baw, the event transforms the streets of the Warragul CBD into a winter wonderland for all to explore and enjoy,” Cr Gauci continued.

“The event provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to gather for some winter fun in a positive, safe and social environment with something on offer for all ages and abilities.”

Click here for our coverage of SnowFest 2017

Community contribution awards

Two community contribution awards were announced this year, one for environmental achievement and the other for cultural achievement.


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Friends of Drouin’s Trees, a group which works to protect Drouin’s natural environment and significant trees, was this year’s environmental achievement award winner.

“They are an amazing group of hard working volunteers who have put in countless hours of hard work to improve community awareness and appreciation of the outstanding tree assets and the associated habitat value we have in this shire, and particularly in Drouin,” Cr Gauci said.

The cultural achievement award went to the Baw Baw Arts Alliance, a now well-known group established in 2010 to promote and encourage local creative artists.

“The hardworking and dedicated group of volunteers are continually seeking funding opportunities to support, facilitate and encourage contemporary art, craft, design, music, writing and performance,” Cr Gauci said.

“They shine a spotlight on our local arts by creating a space in which different artists can exhibit and sell their works, which also helps support our local businesses through increased tourism to the area.

“One thing that stands above the rest is their passion to continually promote the value of arts and culture in all aspects of the community.”

Click here for our coverage of BBAA exhibitions and events

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