Recipients of Crystal Brook's Australia Day Awards
Port Pirie Regional Council would like to congratulate the deserving winners of Crystal Brook’s 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 2023 Australia Day Award winners for Crystal Brook are:
Citizen of the Year
Kirsty Nicolson
Kirsty Nicolson has made a significant contribution to the Crystal Brook community since moving to town when she was a secondary school student. Kirsty is a true quiet achiever – you see a job that needs doing, you turn around and the job is done all very quietly and competently by Kirsty.
She is a very humble person often doing so many of the ‘behind-the-scenes’ jobs that others don’t necessarily want to do and certainly not the tasks in the spotlight. She always attends working bees and organises or contributes to fundraising events to help community groups raise funds. Kirsty never looks for accolades or recognition for anything she does, she simply gets enjoyment from contributing in any way she can.
For over 10 years, Kirsty has been heavily involved with the Crystal Brook Swimming Club, Crystal Brook Basketball Club, Crystal Brook Football Club. For over 20 years she has also played, coached and served the Crystal Brook Netball Club including fundraising and is also a member of the Governing Councils for the Crystal Brook Kindergarten and Crystal Brook Primary School. In addition, Kirsty is a member and club representative of the Combined Sporting Bodies.
Kirsty is a truly worthy recipient of the 2023 Crystal Brook Citizen of the Year for her selfless contributions to the community.
Young Citizen of the Year
Daisy Gulin
Daisy is a 17-year-old student about to commence her Year 12 studies in 2023 who has been involved in various sports in Crystal Brook and the surrounding areas since she started school. She coaches junior hockey, umpires junior and senior games, works on catering jobs and fills in coaching, playing and various other club duties without hesitation – she usually plays two games every weekend as well.
Daisy won the Crystal Brook Hockey Club Under 18 Girls Best and Fairest in 2022 and was also awarded the Junior Club Person trophy. She has recently been selected for the 2023 Under 18 Girls State Hockey Squad and has also been asked to take part in the Hockey SA Talented Umpire Development program – this could see her umpiring at national level in the future.
Daisy is a positive role model on and off the field, to both junior and senior club members alike and is respected by her peers, always leading by example.
Community Event of the Year
Crystal Brook Show
Reinstating the Crystal Brook Show in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID was no mean feat for the very dedicated but enthusiastic Crystal Brook Show Committee ably lead by President, Alex Dewar. It takes months of hard work to put together such an event and everyone on the committee did their bit to make it such a success, supported by sponsors, convenors, stewards, judges, exhibitors, prize donors and members. Despite the day being a little showery a large crowd came to support the show, many who reflected on how much they had missed it over the last two years.
A highlight of the day was the opening officiated by Commonwealth Gold Medallist, Jess Stenson who then participated in the fashion parade and made herself available to chat to people as she walked around.
Other highlights of the day included the Celtic games, sheep dog demonstrations, music, show rides and Lego masters Josh and Trent.
The show assists the town in many ways with sporting clubs benefiting financially from running all food and drink outlets while other community groups such as Apex and Lions man the entry gates and receive donations which they then put back into the community through support and grants.
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 Thursday 26 January 2023.
Images: Kirsty Nicolson; Daisy Gulin; Crystal Brook Show 2022