.png)
I am honoured and humbled to have been recognised as Blue Mountains Citizen of the Year as reported in this article published in the Blue Mountains Gazette.
The founder of a Shared Reading program that helps prevent loneliness in the community has been named Blue Mountains Citizen of the Year for 2024.
Citizen of the Year
Christopher Smith was awarded the honour at a ceremony at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre in Katoomba on Friday evening, July 26.
Mr Smith created Shared Reading NSW, combining great stories and psychological support to prevent loneliness, and has provided Shared Reading groups throughout the Blue Mountains since 2014. Shared Reading is a group activity through which people experience the life-enhancing benefits of great literature.
Senior Citizen of the Year
Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group volunteer, Jackie Mayers, was named Senior Citizen of the Year. Mrs Mayers co-founded the Youth Shoebox Project 10 years ago with Sue Campbell-Ross of Able2 disability services.
The Youth Shoebox Project coordinates contributions from the Blue Mountains community to provide Christmas gifts for refugee and asylum-seeking children in Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
Community Achievement of the Year
The 2024 Community Achievement of the Year Award went to Mount Victoria's Hotel Etico. Established in November 2020, Hotel Etico is Australia's first not-for-profit social enterprise hotel, employing and training young adults with disability in hospitality and independent living skills.
This year, there were 19 nominees across the three award categories in the Citizen of the Year Awards. "Each year, there are many deserving members of the community nominated for these awards and this year was no different," said Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill. "These nominees inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to our Blue Mountains community.
"I extend a heartfelt thank you to all our nominators for sharing the stories of the incredible Blue Mountains residents who are committed to bettering local community life. I genuinely mean it when I say every nominee we celebrate is deserving of being declared Citizen of the Year. Each of them has made an indelible mark on our community. Their contributions make our community extraordinary, and they are all exceptional."
Nominations are submitted by community members in response to a call out council makes each year. The full list of 2024 Blue Mountains Local Citizen of the Year Awards nominees is:
Citizen of the Year Award (up to 64 years of age)
Christopher Smith (winner) - Shared Reading NSW
Ashe Webb - Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC)
Dr Melinda Hardy - Upper Mountains Medical Centre
Caroline Payne - Katoomba North Primary School
Brendan Davies - UP Coaching
Debbie Laird - FunKids Mount Riverview
Michael Garwood - Blue Mountains Futsal and Football
Michelle Swan - Katoomba Neurodiversity Hub
Simon Lyne - various football teams
Karen Stevenson - Blue Mountains Women's Shed
Senior Citizen of the Year Award (65 years of age and over)
Jackie Mayers (winner) - Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group
Barbara Davidson - various nursing homes
Robin Bracken -Springwood Neighbourhood Centre
Anneke Erich - Buckland Aged Care, Springwood
Peter Genellos - Little Wings
Rod Stowe - various inc. Blue Mountains Branch National Trust
Advertisement
Community Achievement of the Year Award:
Hotel Etico (winner)
Resilient Villages Blue Mountains
Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre
You can read the article in the Blue Mountains Gazette online here
For more information from Shared Reading NSW and inspiration from Life the Universe & Stories
Congratulations Chris! Well earned, and I'm glad you have received some recognition for all that you do for the community. Great work mate!