Citizen of the Year Australia Day Awards announced for 2024
Country Fire Service (CFS) volunteers have been highlighted in this year’s Australia Day Awards with both our Citizen of the Year Fred Groom and our Young Citizen of the Year Erin Pycroft being active members within local CFS brigades in Wakefield.
Citizen of the Year Fred Groom has been a dedicated volunteer within the Brinkworth community since moving there in 2001.
Fred’s service to the community has seen him volunteer on the Brinkworth History Group, Progress Association, CFS, Australian Plants Society and the St John’s Lutheran Church.
Dedicated to serving the community, Fred was awarded a 50 year service medal this year for his time in the Country Fire Service.
This community spirit has seen Fred play an integral part in the Brinkworth RV Park, with Fred sharing his past skills as a plumber to lend a hand throughout the project.
Fred still shares his time as a Volunteer Caretaker for the RV park maintaining the grounds and welcoming visitors to Brinkworth.
Our Young Citizen of the Year Erin Pycroft shares the same community spirit as Fred, with a passion for volunteering for her local CFS brigade.
Volunteering in the Hamley Bridge CFS has provided Erin with excellent opportunities, including interstate travel where she was able to represent her local brigade and South Australia.
Erin was selected as one of 16 South Australian cadets to represent South Australia in the Australian Fire Cadet Championships in NSW.
This competition saw CFS cadets from across Australia competing, putting to test the skills learnt throughout the cadet program.
Beyond cadets Erin supports local elderly community members with gardening and care and is a keen bowls player in her spare time, playing in the U18’s SA Super League for the Central Chargers.
Event of the year was awarded to the Balaklava Museum’s ‘Illman’s Awesome Agricultural Achievements’ as a part of the South Australian History Festival in May 2023.
The event acknowledged the achievements of Thomas Illman & Sons, a local machinery manufacturer, celebrating their unique agricultural equipment that was used throughout Australia.
This event brought people from across South Australia to the museum to view installations and machinery on display, including one of two Illman & Sons hay elevators.
Mayor Rodney Reid said all of this year’s winners were well deserving of the honour and understood just how much time and effort they have each put into their communities.
“It’s excellent to see a wide range of nominations this year with each award going to a different area in our Council ranging from Hamley Bridge all the way to Brinkworth it’s excellent to see these volunteers recognised,” Mayor Reid said.
“I congratulate all the winners and look forward to seeing them accepting their awards on Australia Day.
“I urge anyone who’s thinking about nominating next year to start the process now and think hard about someone in your community who embodies the spirit of these awards.
PHOTO CREDIT: Anne Green, Brinkworth Black and White Rag
Photo caption: Fred Groom on the job as usual, taking a call for one of his many volunteer roles.