Friday 27 January 2012
A woman who has helped raised money for Manilla Central School since 2007 and also volunteers her time with Manilla Little Athletics Club is Manilla’s 2011 Citizen of the Year.
Jan Hanneman, who has lived in the Manilla and Tamworth area for most of her life, was given the honour yesterday in a ceremony during Australia Day celebrations at Manilla Pool.
Jan became a member of the Manilla Central School P and C committee in 2007 and was elected as the fundraising committee co-ordinator soon after. In this role, Jan has organised numerous events which have raised thousands of dollars for the school.
Jan is also a member of the Manilla Little Athletics Club and is involved in all aspects of the organisation.
Being an avid bike rider, in particular mountain biking Jan has taken part in the annual Westpac Helicopter fundraising initiative the Mount Bike Bash.
Robert Sutherland, a Year 11 student at Manilla Central School, was named Manilla’s Young Citizen of the Year.
Robert is a regular representative of Manilla as he has been involved in the community volunteer program, leadership activities, academic competitions and has represented Manilla Central School in sport.
He is too young to volunteer with the Manilla Volunteer Rescue Association, but he is keen to help the group any way he can. He is often seen cleaning up around the association’s shed and helping with fund raising initiatives.
In 2011, Robert was awarded a Defence Force Scholarship and has been nominated by Manilla Central School to the receive the Year 11 Long Tan Award from the Australian Defence Forces.
Manilla Community Pre-school won the Community Event of the Year Award with its Dancing with the Stars fundraiser. The sell-out event raised $10,000 and drew 280 spectators. On the day of the event, the organisers had to turn people away who wanted tickets.
Manilla celebrated Australia Day with a wide range of family fun at Manilla Memorial Pool in Arthur St, Manilla including a sausage sizzle, entertainment, a vintage machinery display, damper cooking, fun in the water and the cutting of a specially-decorated Australia Day cake.
Author and journalist Rupert Guinness is the Australia Day Ambassador. Councillors Ray Tait and Russell Webb also attended the Manilla celebrations.