YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS • FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 PAGE
YOUR
Community
Vacancies on Aboriginal
Advisory Panel
Are you Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander or do you work
for an agency or organisation that works primarily with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within the Port
Adelaide Enfield Council area?
If you would like to help determine what happens in the
Council region for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people then you could consider joining Council’s
Aboriginal Advisory Panel.
The panel has been established for over 15 years and is a
group of highly respected members of the local Aboriginal
community that provides advice to Council on a range of
matters. The panel also acts as a communicator, providing
information from the community to Council and from
Council to the community.
There are currently three vacant positions on the Panel and
Council is seeking nominations from interested members
of the community. Membership is on a voluntary basis, but
any expenses may be reimbursed.
For further information and to obtain more details and a
nomination form, please contact Janet on 8405 6868 or
email
Wanted: loving homes
Guide Dog puppies have the potential to change lives and
you can help them start the journey.
Guide Dogs SA/NT has an urgent need for volunteer
families in the Port Adelaide Enfield area to care for their
puppies for about a year. All you need is time, love, a
secure backyard and work part-time or less. Also, any
children in the family need to be school age or older.
With training and support from Guide Dogs staff, you’ll
help guide their future by taking them out and about to
shopping centres, restaurants and get them used to public
transport and other public places. Guide Dogs SA/NT
provides all equipment, food and veterinary services.
For more information go to
-
dog-services or telephone 8203 8372.
Australia Day Winners
Citizens of the Year
Two Port Adelaide Enfield residents who work tirelessly in
our community have been named joint Citizen of the Year.
Aida Tita Garcia has, from the early 1990s, welcomed
and assisted many Filipino migrants to settle in the Port
Adelaide Enfield area. Ada has led her community in
fundraising to provide assistance of food, water and rice
for victims affected by typhoons and earthquakes in
the Philippines and in various orphanages. She actively
supports her Filipino community to take part in the
Australia Day parade, OzAsia Festival, Harmony Day and
Clean Up Australia Day.
Gauri Giri is a leader and mentor in the community who
uses her skills and training to assist with health, literacy
and interpreting through many volunteer organisations.
Gauri is a passionate advocate and spokesperson for her
community and is regularly called upon to share her
knowledge and wisdom with other agencies, the Australian
Refugee Association and Shine. She is also an ambassador
for people newly arrived in the community who have
multiple sensory disabilities.
Young Citizen of the Year, Melissa Oudshoorn, is an active
member and chair of the SA Youth Council for St John
Ambulance and a member of the Australia Youth Council.
Melissa was instrumental in instigating first aid programs
through the school system, which has now trained more
than 20,000 schoolchildren. Melissa also works with the
Child Protection and Rights of Youth at St Johns.
Community Event of the Year
The Port Youth Art Festival, which has grown from two
schools participating to eight over four years, encourages
students to participate in a community art event to gain
skills in creativity and in working as a team.
The festival showcases the amazing works created by the
students and gives them the opportunity to learn how to
both hang and curate an art exhibition. The number of
schools and participating students grows every year.
Australia Day Ceremony
