Passionate pet advocate and farmers' market supporter Christine Robertson has been named South Australian Citizen of the Year 2022, in among a range of awards celebrating SA residents.
The awards, traditionally presented prior to Australia Day, were postponed this year due to the impact of the Omicron COVID variant at the time, with the recipients honoured last night at Government House.
Australia Day Council Chief Executive Officer, Jan Chorley said the Australia Day Awards recognised the commitment of South Australians whose work often goes unnoticed.
"The Australia Day Awards recognise those outstanding efforts made by people all around South Australia," she said.
"They don't do it for the praise, or for the recognition - they do it simply because it makes a difference for people in their communities.
"These are the unsung heroes that we pay tribute to on Australia Day, and I congratulate all Award recipients for the outstanding contribution that they have made to their community."
The state-wide winner was Ms Robertson, City of Charles Sturt, who co-founded the Lost Pets of SA Inc with two colleagues in 2013 to reunite families with their lost pets.
She also created the Chipblitz program - the largest pet microchipping program in the southern hemisphere - which has helped microchip more than 43,000 pets for $10 each at more than 292 locations across SA.
She is also the Adelaide Showground Farmers' Market executive officer.
ASFM chair Mem Erikson said the group was "proud" of Ms Robertson.
"This is a most deserving award and I congratulate her on behalf of the Committee and our entire farmers' market community," she said.
District Council of Robe resident David Thomas OAM received a commendation in the same category.
Since retiring from SAPOL after 42 years' service, David has had several roles assisting young people - being a coordinator of the Christmas Party for special needs children for more than 10 years, state coordinator for Blue Light SA and Member of The Driver Intervention Program.
He has also been chairperson of the Lions Disaster Response and Recovery where he supported many organisations that were affected by the aftermath of bushfires in Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, Keilira and Lucindale.
He has also chaired a Drought Relief Committee for Lions Districts in SA disbursing funds to drought affected farmers and their families.
Also receiving a commendation was Julie-Ann Finney, City of Port Adelaide, who instigated a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran suicide after losing her son, David Finney, a 20-year veteran of the Royal Australian Navy.
Young Citizen of the Year went to Elijah Hobby, Light Regional Council, who is a volunteer with the Hewett Centre, working as a teacher and mentor for cafe volunteers.
He works closely with three of their on-site therapy groups showing a remarkable ability to learn how to communicate with participants who are non-verbal and those living with dementia.
City of Mount Gambier wildlife carer Julia Dangerfield received a commendation for Young Citizen of the Year.
She has her own fauna refuge at her home and when she is not tending to their welfare she is either out on the road or in the middle of a paddock in the middle of the night taking care of another animal that has been injured.
The SA Community Event of the Year went to the West Beach Pink and Blue Swim/Walk, which raised funds for the St Andrews Hospital Breast Care Unit and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia; while the Renmark Rocks on Festival received a commendation.
The Award for Active Citizenship went to Stephen Hedges, City of Victor Harbor, who has devoted decades of his life volunteering to help protect the Little Penguins.
A second award went to Melvin Charlton, District Council of Tumby Bay.
Mr Charlton is a 43-year veteran of the Country Fire Service, and has been involved in fighting some of the state's worst bushfires.
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In the Award for Leadership in Languages and Cultures, one went to 17-year-old Mirning/Kokatha woman Kellis Dare, Ernabella in the APY Lands, who has been on a mission to preserve and promote language.
Also recognised were Zainab Kazemi, a community leader with the Afghan Association of SA, and Shuhua (Krystal) Zhong, an international student with four languages who has formed clubs to teach other international students the rudiments of Aussie slang.
The Inspiring South Australian Women's Award went to Wudinna bakery owner Liz Habermann, who has been a campaigner to change the law on voluntary assisted.
She also recently stood for the seat of Flinders in the recent election.
Inspiring South Australian Women's Award 'Emerging Leader' was Bianca Nilsson, who went from working graveyard shifts in a northern suburbs potato factory to turning her passion for music into a thriving business based in Adelaide, but with global reach.
Inspiring South Australian Women's Award - Commendation went to Farida Ayubi Farida, the founder and joint owner of a spectacularly successful restaurant in Torrensville specializing in Afghani cuisine that hosted sold-out fundraising dinners in aid of the humanitarian crisis that engulfed Afghanistan
Also receiving a commendation was Melanie McHugh, who has created programs to engage local youth in her country town.
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