General News
31 January, 2025
District marks Australia Day
A number of Australia Day awards have been presented to residents across the district, with locals from Natte Yallock, Lexton, Eddington and Amphitheatre recognised for their community involvement.
Natte Yallock’s Alan Streeter was named the Pyrenees Shire Council’s Citizen of the Year at the shire’s Australia Day celebrations in Lexton on Sunday.
Mr Streeter, a life-long member of the Natte Yallock community, is a premiership player and coach, life member and part of the Natte Bealiba Football Netball Club executive committee, member of the Natte Yallock Cricket Club for more than 40 years and has been a CFA member for more than 40 years.
Alongside these achievements, Mr Streeter has also made 89 blood and plasma donations and performed annual Santa duties for over two decades.
Mr Streeter’s nominator commented in the application that “this district would not be the same if it was not for Alan Streeter and his generosity”.
Young Citizen of the Year was Rory Wakefield, who was recognised for his involvement with the Amphitheatre Fire Brigade since childhood.
Lexton local and harness racing star James Herbertson was presented the Pyrenees Leadership Award for providing a great role model to the region’s young people.
Pyrenees Shire Council mayor Tanya Kehoe said the Australia Day Awards were a wonderful way to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of local volunteers who give so much to making the Pyrenees a great place to live, work and raise a family.
“Council is so grateful that we have so many residents willing to give their time and energy to making our shire a vibrant and connected community,” she said.
“We thank and acknowledge not just our Australia Day Award winners, but all the other unsung heroes in our community who coach teams, cook meals, organise events, or support their neighbours through thick and thin. Pyrenees Shire would be a poorer place without them.”
On the other side of the district, it was Eddington local Veronica Palmer who received the Citizen of the Year accolade.
She and her husband Lincoln bought their home in 1986 and moved to Eddington permanently from Richmond, where they ran the well-renowned Cherry Tree Hotel.
After the move, the duo quickly became an integral part of the community and took to the country life, getting married alongside the Loddon River.
Since making the move to Eddington, Ms Palmer has tried her hand and been involved in just about everything from the Dunolly Kindergarten, Bealiba Pony Club, Eddington Landcare Group and Eddington Hall Committee, through to helping out at Australia Day celebrations and the annual Eddington Vintage Car Sprints.
