| UOW Chancellor Michael Codd, AC, with community service award recipie... UOW Chancellor Michael Codd, AC, with community service award recipients (from left) Ms Amanda Calwell-Smith, Mrs Rae Lalor and Associate Professor Siva Sivakumar (who accepted on behalf of Dr Judy Messer and Dr Patricia Mowbray through his connection with Futureworld) |
Chancellor announces community service award winners
20 Oct 2008 | Bernie Goldie
A celebration of community service was held on Friday evening (17 October) when University of Wollongong Chancellor Mr Michael Codd, AC, hosted the ‘Celebrating Community’ function at the Innovation Campus.
The evening included the announcement of the winners of the 2008 Chancellor’s Awards for Achievement in Community Service.
Mr Codd told staff and Wollongong community members in attendance that he believed UOW’s links with its extended community were stronger than any other Australian university. Among the community members who attended were the Federal Member for Cunningham, Sharon Bird, and the General Manager of Shellharbour City Council, Mr Brian Weir.
“We help the community and the community help us,” the Chancellor said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, reiterated this point by noting that the University “started as a community demand – that’s where we came from and that’s what we will always be”.
“Our roots are here but as an international university we are a bridge to the world,” Professor Sutton said.
The awards recognise the many and varied ways people are acting to support the University and/or their communities. They highlight the personal contributions that alumni and community members and groups make to the enrichment of their community and advancement of society.
There were two award categories – one for alumni (graduates) of UOW and one for general community members or groups. Each award carried a prize of $5,000 which was donated by the University on behalf of the winners to a registered charity or non-profit organisation of their choice.
The alumni winner was announced as Ms Amanda Calwell-Smith – selected for her genuine passion and significant long-term commitment over 20 years to the Illawarra community. She has made an extensive contribution to the disability sector in the Illawarra through her leadership and development of Essentra Personnel to its current position.
The community winners were announced as Mrs Rae Lalor (Community Individual Category) for an enormous breadth and depth of involvement with community activities and services including her significant contribution, as a volunteer and committee member, of The Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre; and Dr Judy Messer and Dr Patricia Mowbray (Community Group Category) for their genuine passion and significant long-term commitment to the Illawarra community for a substantial period, including the establishment and running of the Futureworld Eco-Technology Centre for the past 16 years.
Ms Calwell-Smith’s $5,000 award will be given to Transplant Australia; Mrs Rae Lalor’s prize will go to The Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre; and Dr Judy Messer and Dr Patricia Mowbray will give their prize to Futureworld.
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