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AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS
The winners of the 2019 City of Port Adelaide Enfield Australia
Day Awards were announced at a ceremony at Parks Library on
25 January.
These prestigious Awards celebrate the exceptional people
and groups who have made an outstanding contribution in
their community. Mayor Claire Boan presented the Awards,
congratulating all the nominees and winners and acknowledging
their contribution to making our community a better place to be.
2019 Australia Day Award Winners
Citizen of the Year – Alexandra Vakitsidis
For 40 years Alexandra has consistently contributed to the Port
Adelaide community through her volunteering, fundraising and
leadership roles in multiple committees. Alexandra is able to
motivate not only other volunteers but also the general public
to rally, help and support good causes. She works tirelessly each
week to look after the aged and vulnerable through home visits,
fundraising and weekly luncheons. Alexandra is also involved
in the wider Greek community organising fundraising events,
visiting nursing homes to entertain and look into the welfare
of community members. For the last five years Alexandra has
headed the Port Adelaide Philanthropic Society where she has
raised money to donate to hospitals for research.
Young Citizen of the Year – Matakey Mersha
Matakey was nominated in recognition of his significant
contribution to supporting young people in the local Ethiopian
& Eritrean Communities. For years Matakey has been organizing
boys’ soccer teams and this year he helped establish the Horn of
Africa girls’ soccer team. Matakey does this out of kindness and is
always there for the younger community. He has created a place
where people feel like they belong.
The Award was collected by Matakey’s sister (pictured)
Community Event of the Year – Semaphore Greek Festival
The Semaphore Greek Festival attracts people from all cultures
and age groups. The event attracts over forty thousand visitors
over a two day weekend. It includes over three hundred
volunteers from the community. The festival offers visitors
the opportunity to immerse themselves in the full cultural
aspect by way of food, beverages, sweets, music, dancing and
entertainment. From its humble beginnings of seven hundred
patrons to now tens of thousands swarming the foreshore, the
festival is known for its reputation for high quality food and
sweets.
Emerging Event/Community Group of the year –
The Experience Café
The Experience Café began operating at Kilburn Community
Centre one year ago. It has become a hub of community, offering
people not just economical meals and great coffee but a place
to meet and a welcoming space for people looking for social
connections. Experience Café trains volunteers and allows them
to gain experience working in a café environment, providing
pathways to employment and mentoring for members of the
community. A number of local residents who were previously
isolated feel comfortable to come to the café for support and a
place to be. The Experience Café has made a significant impact
on Kilburn Community Centre. Diners at the Café feel they are
part of the family.
We also congratulate Service to the Community Award
recipients
Steve Smart, Rose Darling, Joyce McNab, Kym Miller, Terry
Brokate, Benito (Ben) Carbone, Jeffrey Coley, Ross Wait, The
Opportunity Games. You can meet all the winners in a video on
our website and social media.
Mayor Claire Boan with Australia Day Award recipients