I’d like to congratulate the recipients of Lockhart Shire’s 2024 Australia Day awards, announced yesterday at celebrations held at The Rock Recreation Ground and swimming pool.

Citizen of the Year for 2024 Larraine Hoffmann, a Lay Preacher for the Uniting Church at Lockhart who has also been a civil celebrant for over 10 years conducting weddings, funerals and baby naming ceremonies.

Larraine is a quiet achiever who tirelessly works towards making her community a better place to live in an unassuming way.

Majella Day was named Sportsperson of the Year. Majella’s story is an amazing one of how a regional teenage girl from Lockhart pushed boundaries to fulfill a dream of playing Australian Rules Football well beyond the local scene and culminating in selection in the All Australian Under 15’s AFL Women’s team.

The Australia Day Award was awarded to Natasha Gowland. Natasha has played over 300 senior netball games for the Osborne Netball club. She has also coached a number of seasons in that time. She started playing netball at Osborne at the age of 14 and she is still playing with the same competitive streak as when she started.

Her list of incredible achievements in the community and on and off the field across a wide range of sports make Natasha a very worthy recipient of this award.

Once again, congratulations to all winners and nominees.