2024 Crystal Brook Australia Day Awards
Port Pirie Regional Council would like to congratulate the deserving winners of Crystal Brook’s 2024 Australia Day Awards.
The Australia Day Awards recognise outstanding contributions to the local community by individuals and an event that has made a significant contribution, both economically and socially, to the region.
The 2024 Australia Day Award winners for Crystal Brook are:
Citizen of the Year
Jacinta Huxtable
Jacinta has been Secretary of the Crystal Brook Football Club for five years and is pivotal to the success of both the club and the Northern Area Football Association. During 2020 and 2021, the changing landscape of COVID-19 threatened country football. Thanks to Jacinta’s many hours communicating and executing COVID-19 plans, organising volunteers and rosters and continuously cleaning the club, the Crystal Brook Football Club was able to not only continue playing but also host the Northern Areas grand final.
A founding member of the Mid North Women’s Football League, Jacinta’s passion for women’s sport is evident in the countless hours spent on recruiting, organising, educating and registering women of all ages. She also devotes time to the Catholic Church and is a busy volunteer for the Crystal Brook Junior Basketball Association. Jacinta is a proud mother of five wonderful, busy children, making her contribution and commitment to the community even more astounding.
Young Citizen of the Year
Lucas Gulin
Lucas has shown an extraordinary talent and dedication for sport. He is best known for his passion and achievements in netball, named the inaugural Crystal Brook Netball Club Junior Club Person in 2023.
Lucas has achieved many significant feats on the state and national netball stage, including a silver medal at the National Men’s Netball Championships and selection in the All Star Seven team for that event. He travels to Adelaide once or twice each week to compete and was the U17 MVP for the SAMMNA Southern Dragons state team. Despite all of this, Lucas is still committed to the Crystal Brook Netball Club, where he coaches, umpires and mentors young netballers.
In addition, Lucas also volunteers monthly at the Crystal Brook RSL and plays C grade tennis for Crystal Brook.
Community Event of the Year
‘A Groovy Night in Vietnam’ – Crystal Brook RSL Sub-Branch
This event was commemorated 50 years since the last Vietnam Veteran returned home, with fabulous music of the 60s and 70s, performed by the Groove Brothers and Soul Sisters.
The Crystal Brook Institute was packed with over 200 people enjoying the music, having fun and singing along to the memorable songs of the Vietnam War time era.
The Institute rocked as the crowd sung, tapped their toes and danced. A memorable night enjoyed by all attending.
The Crystal Brook Australia Day Awards will be presented to the recipients at the Australia Day Breakfast to be held in Adelaide Square, Crystal Brook from 8am on Friday 26 January 2024.