At the age of just 18, Matthew Blakemore has been named the region’s Citizen of the Year for 2024 at Central Coast Council’s annual Australia Day Awards.
A sports lover, Blakemore is a state representative for discus and shot put and is also a keen solo overseas traveller.
As he lives with autism and an intellectual disability, Blakemore is extremely focused with a strong sense of justice and works to build greater understanding of the needs of young people with a disability and the challenges and barriers they experience.
He works full time at Central Coast Granite and also does overnight weekend shifts at McDonalds.
Blakemore has been appointed to the Research Board of the University of Technology of Sydney to help ensure that research on young people is relevant and is inclusive with the current project being developed called Wellbeing of Young Autistic Australians.
He was asked to speak at Parliament House on his transition from school to work with the Prime Minister in attendance and has been working with Next Level Inclusion to develop Easy Read document versions for organisations including St John Ambulance Service and the government to make their information accessible for people with an intellectual disability or for those whose English might not be their first language.
Blakemore believes strongly that young people with disabilities need opportunities to be able to be successful and access the same information as everyone else.
Coast Council Director of Community and Recreation, Melanie Smith, said the annual awards were a way for Council and the wider community to celebrate and recognise individuals and organisations who enriched the community.
“The recipient of the 2024 Citizen of the Year award, Matthew Blakemore embodies the word ‘community’, and strives to build greater awareness around the needs of young people with a disability,” she said.
“Matthew’s contributions extend beyond the Central Coast community.”
Council Administrator Rik Hart said the awards were a fantastic way to shine a spotlight on worthy individuals working to make our community a better, more inclusive place to live, work and play.
“As well as congratulating this year’s winners, I would also like to congratulate all those who were nominated,” he said.
“Thank you all for the outstanding contribution you each make within our community every day.
“All recipients share important characteristics in serving the community, which include selflessness, commitment and generosity.
“Along with this, they all work to bring different groups together within our community.”
Joint winners of the Community Group award are the 3 Villages Community Group and the Elderslee Foundation.
The 3 Villages Community Group is a local based group working for and on behalf of Yattalunga, Saratoga and Davistown.
It works with other local groups, residents and businesses to apply for funding and grants from local and state government, and other avenues where possible.
The group has successfully delivered many projects including: the replacement of park furniture and shade shelter at Lintern Reserve, Davistown; the supply and installation of sun lounges at Centennial Ave, Saratoga; and the creation of an accessible concrete pathway surrounding the play space at Jirramba Reserve, Saratoga.
The group’s involvement in the upgrade of play spaces and fish cleaning tables demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that residents have access to well-maintained and enjoyable open spaces.
The group aims to see the ideas and dreams of residents delivered where and if possible, to make enhancements for the whole community.
The Elderslee Foundation originated as a retirement village.
A significant shift occurred in 2012, when the Foundation divested itself of the retirement village and reinvested the funds into the Central Coast community, aiming to uplift and enhance the wellbeing of its older residents.
While initially concentrating on the elderly, the Elderslee Foundation soon expanded its reach to support projects across all age demographics.
This broader focus has allowed the Foundation to significantly assist a multitude of Central Coast agencies.
The Foundation achieved another milestone in 2018, acquiring a warehouse at Tuggerah and ambitiously transforming it into the Red Tree Theatre – a vibrant arts and community centre.
Since its inauguration, it has attracted nearly 30,000 visitors, hosting a range of events from plays and musicals to conferences, and workshops.
Highly commended was Doggie Dates NSW, an inclusive, free, social dog walking group on the Central Coast that runs 20 dog walks per week.
Winner of the Community Life category is Roberta Dixon-Valk, who has an extensive background in marine and coastal resource management and has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, advocacy, and innovation in her field.
She serves as the Co-Founder and Head of Research, Development and Innovation at Take 3 for the Sea and has spent more than 30 years working to look after the health of the oceans, estuaries, rivers, plants and animal ecosystems on the Central Coast.
In 2009, Dixon-Valk and friend Amanda Marechal had the idea to establish Take 3 for the Sea.
The initiative hopes to inspire everyone, every day, to participate in the simple yet powerful call-to-action: take three pieces of rubbish with you when you leave the beach, waterway, or anywhere, and you’ve made a difference.
The move was a proactive response to the ongoing issue of plastic pollution leaking into our oceans, choking marine wildlife and harming human health.
The message has spread to 129 countries, rallying participants from all corners of the globe to take part in the call-to-action.
Volunteer of the Year is Regina Doyle, who built Her Cave Incorporated.
After having to leave work due to illness, she sought out friendship and a place to meet new people on the Central Coast and found other women who were also experiencing loss, depression, loneliness, empty home syndrome and boredom.
She opened her own home to other women to connect and it wasn’t long before she built Her Cave Incorporated, located at Kanwal.
Not only does Doyle give up her time seven days a week, she oversees the day to day running of Her Cave Incorporated.
This includes organising members, running craft classes, setting up donations/collections, applying for grants and most of all being a valuable friend to everyone.
Young Person of the Year is Anannya Bandaru, a Year 10 student at Gosford High School.
She is a part of Elite Leadership Force in her school and is a very kind and empathetic person, passionate about volunteering and bringing a change to the local community.
Anannya recently started her own initiative called KalpaVruksha – Zero Hunger Program, where she collects fresh food, toys, books and non-perishable food items to donate to people in need, including the Woy Woy Community Food Pantry and Coast Shelter.
Within this program she has donated cleaning and sanitary supplies, vouchers for single parents and Easter hampers, has run Mother’s Day drives and donates her own money to Gosford Hospital for cancer research.
Senior Citizen of the Year is Robert Mulvey or Bob as his friends know him.
He moved to the Central Coast in 1991 at the age of 58 and immediately established himself as someone who cares about his local community at The Entrance North and its surrounding areas.
He joined several community organisations including The Entrance North Progress Association, North Entrance Surf Club, The Entrance Lions Club and The North Entrance Land Care volunteers working in co-operation with Central Coast Council.
Mulvey is a tireless worker and inspiration to all citizens but especially to the elder members of the community.
At 83 years of age, he is still volunteering and has been the President of The Entrance North Progress Association for more than 20 years, where he has led works to improve local facilities including new children’s playgrounds and protection of North Entrance beach.
He also organises the Clean Up Australia event each year along the shores of Tuggerah Lake at North Entrance.