Australia Day ambassador Mike Brady and member for South West Coast Denis Napthine joined all six Moyne Shire councillors at the shire’s Australia Day ceremony at the Macarthur Recreation Reserve.

The winner of the Moyne Shire Citizen of the Year were local husband and wife Andrew and Christine Duyvestyn.

It was just reward for the couple, who have raised large amounts of money for the Cancer in Kids Auxiliary.

They began their work 30 years ago when their son Dean was successfully treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Their fund-raising activities have included an annual Wood Days event and a journey by horse and coach to Melbourne.

Mrs Duyvestyn said that in the past three decades the survival rate for children with cancer had jumped from 40 to 80 per cent.

“This change has occurred only because of research,” Mrs Duyvestyn said.

“We are very proud to be part of this community and even more that we have been able to give of our time to help others.”

The Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to Mortlake teenager Charmarelle McCarroll for her outstanding community involvement, including taking part in the Alternative Schoolies program and sourcing funding for iPads for elderly residents of Abbeyfield House in Mortlake.

Miss McCarroll, the 2014 dux of Mortlake P12 College,  thanked the school in her acceptance speech.

“My first community involvement was doing meals on wheels  at school so I was lucky to be at a school that is so community-minded,” Miss McCarroll said. 

Community Event of the Year was won by the 50 Years of Secondary Education in Hawkesdale celebration.

Hawkesdale P12 College principal Colan Distel and staff member Anne-Maree Huglin accepted the award.

Mr Distel heaped praise on Mrs Huglin, saying her work was outstanding in bringing together an event the school and Hawkesdale community was very proud of.

The Australia Day ceremony also featured an Australian Citizenship service involving seven Moyne Shire residents.

Kevin, Fiona, Harris and Bryn Fisher (United Kingdom), Adam Stevenson (United Kingdom), Edna Stevenson (Zambia) and Fang Li (China) all received citizenship.