Recognising excellence in our community

Published on 25 January 2023

A community volunteer for more than 20 years and a national veterans cricket championships have been recognised by the City of Launceston at its 2023 Community Recognition Awards, which will be presented tonight.

Launceston Mayor Danny Gibson said the awards recognise the outstanding contribution made by members of our community who work to help make Launceston a more welcoming, more beautiful and more accepting place to live.

At a ceremony at Town Hall tonight, Mayor Gibson will acknowledge two recipients across two categories - the citizen awards and the community event awards.

The 2022 City of Launceston Community Recognition Awards recipients are:

CITIZEN AWARD - Jill Dearing

Over many decades, Jill's willing contribution of expertise, hard work, energy and passion has been instrumental in supporting a wide range of community, educational, cultural and sporting organisations and activities in Launceston.

COMMUNITY EVENT OF YEAR AWARD - Veterans Cricket Australia over 70s National Championships

The very successful event was postponed three times due to COVID, making the event greatly anticipated. As a result, the city and region benefitted greatly; economically and socially with more than 500 people attending from all over Australia and New Zealand, including 320 active participants.

Mayor Gibson congratulated the award recipients, praising their commitment to their community, their kindness, generosity, spirit of goodwill and acceptance.

"We have many incredible individuals in our community who give of their own free time to help enrich the lives of others without any expectation whatsoever," Mayor Gibson said.

"While they certainly never undertake these commitments in the pursuit of recognition, I believe it is important that we recognise and celebrate their generous contributions to our beautiful city whether that is as an individual or a group or committee who come together to deliver an amazing event."

Mayor Gibson said Ms Dearing has dedicated more than 20 years' voluntary service to the WD Booth Charitable Trust, Friends of the Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery and the Clifford Craig Foundation.

"Jill's enthusiasm and can-do attitude have made a positive difference to these and other organisations."

Mayor Gibson said hosting of the Veterans Cricket Australia over-70s National Championships required an incredible amount of planning and was an outstanding example of what can be achieved by a small group of volunteers with big hearts and a great deal of energy.

"This wonderful event culminated with a presentation dinner, which included a fund-raiser where $5400 was raised on the night for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia."