Every community has its quiet achievers. These are the people who volunteer their time, support their neighbours, and make a real difference without seeking recognition. This page is dedicated to celebrating some of these local legends and the outstanding contributions they make to our community.
I am proud to recognise Chris Gavenlock as the 2026 Local Woman of the Year for Lake Macquarie, an incredible achievement that reflects her tireless commitment to our community.…
I congratulate Mahdis Niroomand Komsari from Heritage College Lake Macquarie whose striking HSC Visual Arts work has been selected for the prestigious FIRST Class 25 Exhibition at the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery.…
Good art doesn't just depict history, it challenges how we understand it. I congratulate Zoe Bakker from Lake Macquarie High School, who has achieved exactly that, through the creation of her major HSC Visual Arts work titled 'You'd Have To Stop the World Just to Stop the Feeling'.…
It is my great honour to congratulate Dr Gordon Robert Campbell OAM, of Cooranbong, on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours. This recognition acknowledges a lifetime of service to medicine and community care, particularly in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology.…
I am pleased to congratulate Mr Gary Neville Mitchell OAM from Woodrising on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours, in recognition of his outstanding service to community history.…
I would like to acknowledge the remarkable career and recent achievements of Carolyn Frame, lead instructress at Coal Point Physie. For the past 55-years, Carolyn has dedicated her life to teaching young women across New South Wales the unique sport of Physical Culture.…
I would like to acknowledge Sandie Redman, owner of Café 2283 in Toronto, for her outstanding commitment to supporting our local community throughout 2025. Sandie is a small business owner who consistently gives back, using her café as a place of connection, generosity and care.…
"There is no option, but to move forward". These were the words Chloe Parker would quietly repeat as a teenager, facing illness no young person should have to endure. At 17, while studying at TAFE, Chloe was diagnosed with SLE Lupus, Lupus Nephritis and Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Serious, incurable autoimmune diseases that would forever shape her life.…
For many years, Kifi Hale has been a familiar and welcomed face across Lake Macquarie, the Hunter Valley and the Central Coast. Kifi is the driving force behind The Heartland Foundation and can often be seen behind the wheel of the charity's refrigerated truck, collecting rescued food, often from Foodbank in Sydney, and delivering it locally to those in need.…
Late last year, I had the privilege of meeting two outstanding young men, Michael Dearing and Coden Smith, proud members of the 1st Byattunga Scout Group at Morisset, as they were presented with King's Scout Awards. This is the highest honour a Venturer Scout can achieve and is not awarded lightly.…