On Saturday 20 May 2023, seven volunteers were honoured at Huon Valley Council’s Community Awards Ceremony held the Huonville Town Hall.

In 2022, Huon Valley Council combined what was the Australia Day Awards with the Volunteer Service Awards. Together, the awards are now known as the Huon Valley Community Awards and are presented in May, to align with Volunteer Week.

Congratulations to the following award recipients:
Milca Perez – Citizen of the Year
Thomas Reed – Young Citizen of the Year
Far South Pride – Community Group of the Year
Huon Art Exhibition Group – Community Event of the Year
Adam Southerland – Sporting Achievement of the Year
Maggy Tomkins – Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for service over 10 years
Donna Hutchins – Lifetime Volunteer Service Award for service over 20 years

In attendance to officially congratulate the award recipients were Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe, Councillors Armstrong, Burgess and Temby, as well as the Honourable Nic Street MP, Dean Winter MP and Dean Harris MLC.

Meet the volunteers

Milca Perez – Citizen of the Year

Since arriving in the Huon Valley, Milca has been a caring and passionate member of the Dover community, dedicated to promoting food security and a more sustainable lifestyle. Milca has been involved in many community projects and initiatives, charities and events. She is a generous and positive collaborator who brings the best out of the community and stakeholders, both in the Huon Valley and beyond. She is also a tireless volunteer. Milca’s recycling waste hub trial at the Southgate shopping centre in Dover collected 150 kilograms of house waste in six months, leading to a more permanent service. She has also lead education forums, donates excess food from her beloved garden to the local food pantry and gives her time to the Dover Devils Soccer Club, Dover District School and Dover Landcare group.

Milca Perez, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Thomas Reed – Young Citizen of the Year

Thomas has been inspiring people since the age of eight, when he joined the Port Cygnet Scout Group. Ten years later, he won the highest award for a Scouts youth member – the Queen’s Scout Award. He was also School Leader, School Captain, and College Dux during his time at St James College. Thomas is described by one of his seniors at the Scout Group as being the most outstanding youth member they’ve seen in 40 years. He is known for his willingness to serve and help others, his work ethic and willingness to lead. Those values have also been recognised by his employer, the CSIRO with a special teamwork award. Thomas has volunteered at garage sales, folk festivals, school fairs, fundraising drives and even put together an Anzac Day Dawn Service on film for the community during lockdown.

Thomas Reed, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Far South Pride – Community Group of the Year

Far South Pride was founded in 2022 by Kati Bruton to be a visible presence for LGBTIQA+ (or queer) people in the Huon Valley, their families, friends and supporters. This group is the result of an enormous amount of dedication, commitment and creativity from Kati but also from all its volunteers. Far South Pride has worked with local schools and advocacy service Working It Out to help make schools safer and more welcoming for queer children and their families. It has been involved in the Tas Pride Parade, Dover Seafest, A Taste of the Huon, Geeveston Rainbow Social, International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) lunch, Wear It Purple Picnic and the Pride Quiz. Kati formed Far South Pride because of a lack of visibility, support and education for queer people in the Huon Valley. Today, they have someone to talk to if they feel alone or isolated – and the ability to live an open and authentic life to reach their full potential.

Kati Bruton, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Huon Art Exhibition Group – Community Event of the Year

In its 21st year and held over 16 days with more than $18,000 in prize money, the Huon Art Awards is now one of the largest regional art awards in Tasmania. This year the awards attracted an enormous field of 333 entries from more than 200 artists. 72 entries were from young artists and 100 works were sold. Two thousand people visited the exhibition and local businesses were also involved with sponsoring. The awards committee worked tirelessly towards this event all year, as well as organising smaller exhibitions, community events and operating the Lovett Gallery in Cygnet. Members, volunteers and supporters contributed thousands of hours of their time to make them happen. The Huon Art Awards is a truly community event.

Representatives of Huon Art Exhibition Group, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Adam Southerland – Sporting Achievement of the Year

Adam is a remarkable resident of the Huon Valley. He lives with an intellectual disability, but he hasn’t let it stop him – Adam has scaled the world stage in his chosen sport of ten pin bowling – and has proven many times, he is a formidable force to be reckoned with. After bowling for Tasmania and winning his Australian Open Disability Masters event in 2021, Adam reached even greater heights over the last year – being selected to bowl in the first ever International Bowling Federation Para Bowling World Cup in Queensland. What an achievement! Not only that, Adam is known for always helping younger bowlers develop their game. Congratulations Adam and we wish you all the best for your future achievements.

Adam Southerland, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Maggy Tomkins – Outstanding Volunteer Service Award for service over 10 years

Maggy receives this award for her work for many years as the Secretary of the Castle Forbes Bay Landcare Group. She has been an active member of the group since 2005. Maggy wears many volunteering hats – she’s also a founding member of the Castle Forbes Bay Recreation Club and a huge contributor to many events. She’s active with the Franklin Palais theatre, the Palais Cooperative and Market, a welcoming face with husband Chris at Palais Film Nights and the Folk Club – as well as at the Geeveston Feast. Maggy is described as inspirational, invaluable, reliable, conscientious, caring, environmentally conscious, a great role model and integral to so many community events in the Huon Valley. She is known for standing up for what’s right.

Maggy Tomkins, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Donna Hutchins – Lifetime Volunteer Service Award for service over 20 years

Donna receives this award for her decades of volunteering with the Lions Club of Huon and the Huonville Bowls Club. She joined the Lions Club in 2001 and served as Club President in 2003/2004, and held Board positions for more than 10 years. For eight years, she’s had a huge hand in the running of the Lions Riverside Market, helping small producers to sell their produce and wares to the public at low cost. At the Bowls Club, Donna has been prepared to roll up her sleeves to assist with almost any task – including green maintenance, match manager, catering, publicity, organising Barefoot Bowls and bar work! She has been President, Vice President, Secretary and Board member. Donna is a true role model to the community.

Donna Hutchins, with Dean Winter MP, Nic Street MP and Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe

Members from the Volunteer Network Group  receiving their 2023 volunteer pin

Members from the Volunteer Network Group with Dean Harriss MLC: Heather Brown, Anne Benjamin, Kent Wells, Austin Greenwood

Group photo

Pictured from left to right – Adam Southerland, Maggie Tomkins, Dean Winter MP, Acting Mayor Toby Thorpe, three representatives from Huon Art Exhibition Group, Kati Bruton, Donna Hutchins, Milca Perez, Thomas Reed, Councillor Cathy Temby, Nic Street MP, Councillor Andrew Burgess, Councillor Debbie Armstrong and Dean Harriss MLC.