Shellharbour City Museum showcases inspirational local and national recipients

Shellharbour City Museum will recognise the city’s Citizens of the Year with the launch of Shellharbour’s Australia Day Awards exhibition on Thursday, 2 May.

Panels displaying all Shellharbour City recipients from the first local awards in 1981 right up to the present day will be on display.

This exhibition also provides information about this year’s local recipients – Citizen of the Year Helen McKay and Young Citizens of the Year, sisters Jasmine and Sienna Kaschubs.

Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said she was thrilled that local recipients were being celebrated in this way.

“Our Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Awards are an important part of our city’s tradition of recognising those who make significant and inspirational contributions to our community,” Cr Saliba said.

The local exhibition accompanies the travelling 2019 Australian of the Year Awards exhibition, which was developed in partnership with the National Australia Day Council and is presented by the National Museum of Australia.

Australian of the Year recipients from each state and territory were asked to choose an object of personal significance to go display.

Each object tells us something about their lives, aspirations and experiences.

This exhibition features:

· Virginia Haussegger - Journalist and women’s advocate, Australian Capital Territory, 2019 Australian of the Year.

· Kurt Fearnley - Athlete and disability spokesperson, New South Wales, 2019 Australian of the Year

· Michael Long - AFL champion and community leader, Northern Territory, 2019 Australian of the Year

· Jon Rouse - Child exploitation investigator, Queensland, 2019 Australian of the Year

· Richard Harris - Anaesthetist and cave diver, South Australia, 2019 Australian of the Year

· Bernadette Black - Advocate for teenage parents, Tasmania, 2019 Australian of the Year

· Mark Sullivan - Developer of affordable medicines, Victoria, 2019 Australian of the Year

· Craig Challen - Cave diver and rescuer, Western Australia, 2019 Australian of the Year

Councillor Saliba said she was pleased that the Shellharbour City Museum was hosting the travelling travelling 2019 Australian of the Year Awards exhibition.

“This display provides a tangible connection to those throughout Australia who have earned recognition from their state or territory,” she said.

“It is an excellent opportunity to find out more about these inspirational Australians.”

For more information about the Australian of the Year Awards visit: https://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/australian-of-the-year-2019

Media enquiries: Kelli Wells 0448 361 008.