THE Shoalhaven’s annual Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony were held last night at the entertainment centre with local businessman Raymond Vincent named the 2015 Australia Day Citizen of the Year.
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Mr Vincent has been the managing director of Raymond Vincent Homes for over 40 years and through his work with Apex developed holiday units at Shoalhaven Heads, known as The Shack, for ill children to take respite.
He organised a series of working parties and worked closely with local companies to build the units over an 18 month period.
After construction of The Shack, Mr Vincent became chairman of its committee and has been for the past 25 years.
The value of the property now exceeds $1 million.
The past year saw Mr Vincent take on the role of Shack co-ordinator after his wife Kristine’s battle with illness.
A member of Apex for 15 years, he has held all club portfolios.
Mr Vincent has since been recognised for his commitment to the organisation with life membership of the Berry Apex Club and life governor of Apex Clubs of Australia.
He has been a working party leader on a number of philanthropic overseas constructions including a convent in Tokau Village, Fiji, nutrition centre at Batangas City, Philippines and the extension of Apex in Thailand.
Mr Vincent is a volunteer pilot with Angelflight, which sees him flying from Wollongong to transport sick passengers from isolated country towns to medical appointments in Sydney.
Throughout his professional career, Mr Vincent has received several regional and state awards for excellence in design and construction.
He is also a director of Housing World Haywards Bay and Shellcove and is a regional committee member of the Housing Industry Association.
Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash paid tribute to Mr Vincent’s ongoing volunteer work.
“Raymond Vincent has been able to combine an extremely successful professional career with an amazing commitment to volunteerism,” Mayor Gash said.
“The Shack is a remarkable project which has resulted in the construction of a series of units available to families with a child suffering from chronic illness or a disability.
“I would certainly like to congratulate Mr Vincent on his amazing work for the community; his ability to combine his own career with a limitless dedication to charitable work is truly an inspiration.”
Gash congratulated all the award winners and paid tribute to those nominated.
“Each of you makes the Shoalhaven a better place in which to reside,” she said.
Other award winners included the 2015 Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award, Jade Williams.
Legally blind, Ms Williams is a volunteer and mentor of AIME (an educational program to support indigenous students through high school and into university), Guide Dogs NSW and the Shoalhaven Youth Reference Group for headspace Nowra.
She was instrumental in the foundation of the Illawarra Vision Impaired Persons Support Network during 2014.
The 2015 Australia Day Sports Award went to Peter Gilford.
Mr Gilford has represented Australia at the Special Olympics Asia Pacific Games for Athletics, receiving a silver medal in shot put and a bronze medal in the 100 metre sprint.
Mr Gilford represented NSW at the Special Olympic Games between 1998–2010, winning a number of medals throughout this period.
The 2015 Australia Day Junior Sports Award went to Rosie Davidson.
A member of the Australian under 17 Athletic Development Squad and NSW Targeted Talent Program, Ms Davidson also represented Australia at the Youth Olympic Games in China in 2014.
A recognised steeplechaser, Ms Davidson has won the two kilometre race at the Australian Junior Athletic Championships, Australian All Schools Championships and NSW Junior Athletics Championships.
She has also broken the NSW State Record for the two kilometre steeplechase.