Lake Macquarie is stronger when community organisations step up to support and connect local people, and I acknowledge Community Activities Lake Macquarie Inc (CALM), for taking on and reopening the Bonnells Bay Community Centre, a valuable space for our residents. CALM is a long standing, not for profit organisation with a strong track record of

To be named Lake Macquarie's Young Ambassador, a young person must demonstrate exceptional leadership, strong values and a genuine commitment to their community. This year, that honour has gone to Shania Aiolupotea. Shania received the Young Ambassador Award at the 2026 Lake Mac Awards in recognition of her outstanding leadership and community

I am proud to recognise Chris Gavenlock as the 2026 Local Woman of the Year for Lake Macquarie, an incredible achievement that reflects her tireless commitment to our community. For nearly 30 years, Chris has worked to preserve the history of Morisset Hospital, founding the Morisset Hospital Historical Society, running a small museum, and publishing

I congratulate Mahdis Niroomand Komsari from Heritage College Lake Macquarie whose striking HSC Visual Arts work has been selected for the prestigious FIRST Class 25 Exhibition at the Lake Macquarie Art Gallery. Mahdis is an extremely talented young artist, her work titled 'Zal is Me, Simurgh is My Teacher, Shahnameh is My Journey', explores

Good art doesn't just depict history, it challenges how we understand it. I congratulate Zoe Bakker from Lake Macquarie High School, who has achieved exactly that, through the creation of her major HSC Visual Arts work titled 'You'd Have To Stop the World Just to Stop the Feeling'. Zoe's goal was to produce a work that challenged

It is my great honour to congratulate Dr Gordon Robert Campbell OAM, of Cooranbong, on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours. This recognition acknowledges a lifetime of service to medicine and community care, particularly in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology. Dr Campbell's career reflects

I am pleased to congratulate Mr Gary Neville Mitchell OAM from Woodrising on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours, in recognition of his outstanding service to community history. For decades, Gary has worked quietly and tirelessly to preserve the history of Lake Macquarie and ensure the people and events

I would like to acknowledge the remarkable career and recent achievements of Carolyn Frame, lead instructress at Coal Point Physie. For the past 55-years, Carolyn has dedicated her life to teaching young women across New South Wales the unique sport of Physical Culture. It's no exaggeration to say she has inspired generations of students to

I would like to acknowledge Sandie Redman, owner of Café 2283 in Toronto, for her outstanding commitment to supporting our local community throughout 2025. Sandie is a small business owner who consistently gives back, using her café as a place of connection, generosity and care. Late last year, Sandie set up a Giving Tree at Café

"There is no option, but to move forward". These were the words Chloe Parker would quietly repeat as a teenager, facing illness no young person should have to endure. At 17, while studying at TAFE, Chloe was diagnosed with SLE Lupus, Lupus Nephritis and Antiphospholipid Syndrome. Serious, incurable autoimmune diseases that would forever