The Australia Day awards are presented to people in the community who have made an outstanding contribution and service to the Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam communities in the past 12 months.
Council administrator Bill Boehm said Australia Day was an important day for all Australian citizens and residents as it recognises part of Australian heritage.
Citizen of the Year was awarded to Helen Edwards at the Australia Day celebrations on Tuesday for her countless contributions to the community.
According to her nominee Helen is someone whose “community spirit makes all around her (feel) extremely welcome”.
“She is a great ambassador for Roxby Downs. She enjoyed meeting new residents and visitors and her local knowledge was paramount.
“If she could not help she would know someone that could.”
After 21 years of community contributions in Roxby, Helen recently moved to Adelaide to be closer to her family and so her husband could take up a new job position.
Helen Bennie, a good friend of Helen’s, accepted the award on her behalf and was the first to call her with the news on Tuesday.
“I was really shocked … I had no idea my name was put forward for such an award.
“It’s an honour to be presented with an award like this.”
Helen encouraged other community members to get involved and volunteer.
“It’s really rewarding to volunteer for an organisation, to get out there and meet people and volunteer your time to make you and others happy.”
Helen has a wall in her Adelaide home where her and her husband Steve hang awards and laughed about how the Citizen of the Year award meant she had overtaken him.
“I’ve outshined my husband, I might have to get a bigger wall.”
Helen’s impressive record of community involvement includes being a foundation member of the Roxby Downs Scrapbag Quilters, who have donated countless quilts for community organisations and charities.
Helen said her biggest highlights from volunteering was working with the Red Sands Branch of The Cancer Council in a role she “accidentally stumbled into”, and her work with the Roxby Downs Relay for Life - she was part of the first group to organise one in Roxby.
Helen worked as a teachers aid at Roxby Downs Area School until 2009 and before leaving was given life membership from the quilters, which Helen said was a real honour and big highlight from her time in Roxby.
Helen does not know who nominated her for the award but was still extremely grateful and said if she could speak to her nominee through this article she would thank them.
“Thank you for thinking of me and for thinking that I was deserving of an award,” she said.
The Think Pink Golf Day held on June 13, 2009 and organised by the Roxby Downs Golf Club with assistance from the Red Sands Branch of The Cancer Council of SA, won the much-deserved Community Event of the Year award for its efforts in raising money for The Cancer Council.
More than $8000 was raised for cancer research with the aim of the day to showcase the golf club and increase women’s participation while raising funds for a worthy cause.
Mr Boehm praised the event in his award ceremony speech.
“These dual aims were admirably addressed with 86 women, mostly non golf players, coming to play, or attempting to play, at the Roxby Downs Golf Course,” he said.
Julie Darling accepted the award on behalf of the golf club and used the opportunity to thank everyone who helped make the day a success.
“We’ve had three Think Pink Golf Days so far and each year they’re getting better and better.
“This years event is already being organised … the date is May 15th so if there’s any ladies that want to come and play, get in early and put your team in.”
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