24 April 2024
By Hannah Wilcox
The recipients of North Sydney’s Community Awards have been announced, recognising a number of locals for their contribution to the area.
Five categories were up for grabs – Community Builder, Eco Warrior, Living Legend, Trailblazer and Next Generation.
Winners were announced at a presentation evening at Miller Street’s Independent Theatre on April 19.
Greenway Tenants Group and the Mary’s House volunteer team were handed the joint title of the Community Builder Award for their regular contributions to the people of North Sydney.
Mary’s House currently has a team of 30 active volunteers helping to provide services to women and children who have experienced domestic violence, who were recognised for giving more than 1000 hours of support through events, programs and operations.
The Tenants Group is a non-for-profit group of 12 volunteers serving the 350 residents at Kirribilli’s Greenway social housing block; packing food from OzHarvest, working in the community garden, providing transport, outings and running the Men’s Shed.
Michael Stevens and Vera Yee were jointly awarded the Eco Warrior Award. Mr Stevens is the founder of Harbourcare – a volunteer organisation focusing on cleaning up Sydney Harbour – and can be found regularly picking up rubbish at the small tidal beach at Waverton Park.
Leading the Streets Alive group for the last decade, Ms Yee is a dedicated resident of Waverton who can be often found doing weekly physical maintenance of street gardens and integrating native plants. She is often on the lookout for new opportunities to keep the suburbs green.
Third up was the Living Legend Award, which recognised Sissi Stewart and Mark Shalovsky for serving the North Sydney community for 20 years or more.
Ms Stewart has volunteered hundreds of hours over two decades as an avid member of the cross urban-rural partnership project with Boorowa Community Landcare Group to help conserve biodiversity and act as an ambassador and guide for the project.
She has planted more than 65,000 native plants.
Meanwhile, Mr Shalovsky was recognised for volunteering his legal skills as a retired solicitor to those facing tenancy issues or navigating social housing rebate and concession systems.
Aden Barclay walked away with the Trailblazer award for his dedication to caring for and reviving a pocket of the Neutral Bay streetscape.
Three young people were congratulated for their contribution to the community with the Next Generation Award.
Redlands Senior students were recognised for visiting Bougainvillea Retirement Village. Every Thursday, the group helps with technology, write memoirs, play board games or read with the residents.
The second winner was Ishnika Lokuge, a student at Wenona and an eager member of the North Sydney Council’s Bushcare program.
11-year-old Ted Greenway was the third recipient for his efforts to protect native wildlife; working with the Council’s Bushcare and Streets Alive teams to have nest boxes installed, creating homes for local animals, and building a street garden that serves as a wildlife corridor near his home.
“The North Sydney Community Awards acknowledge the many local heroes who help make North Sydney a kinder, better connected and more sustainable place,” Mayor Zoë Baker said.
“The contributions of all the nominees for this year’s awards will inspire and delight our community.”
Winners were chosen by the Community Awards Committee.