Aboriginal rights activist and community volunteer Kerriann Dunn was named Citizen of the Year at the Lake Macquarie Awards at Caves Beach on Friday night.
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Ms Dunn, of Windermere Park, was selected for her work with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group – a non-profit Aboriginal organisation that provides advice on education and training issues.
But it's just one of many hats the mother of four wears.
She's been involved in P&C organisations at Bonnells Bay and Eraring primary schools, and Morisset High School; is on the Southlake Community Drug Action Team; is a senior team leader at Lake Munmorah Foodbank; and volunteers with the Community Hair Project.
She also works fulltime at Morisset High School.
Ms Dunn said she was humbled to be among the nominees for the award.
"I was very surprised to win going up against all of those amazing nominees," she said.
"When you listen to their stories, you realise just how much people do for their community."
Ms Dunn said that although the nominees came from different backgrounds and made different contributions to the city, they shared two things in common: a passion to make Lake Macquarie a better place to live, and the knack for getting lots of things done.
"We were all asking each other 'How do you find the time?'," Ms Dunn said.
They just do.
Making news:
"Everything I do is for the community and my kids. So many people are struggling with homelessness and poverty and not being able to afford things as simple as a haircut," Ms Dunn said.
"So with the Community Hair Project, for example, we'll give someone a haircut. Now, it's just a haircut, but to them it means so much more."
Ms Dunn said the message was it didn't take a major sacrifice from those with means to make a big difference to the lives of those who were doing it tough.
Trampolining champion Ty Swadling, of Cardiff, was named the city’s Sportsperson of the Year.
“Ty took home a bronze medal in the men’s synchronised event at the Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in Russia, in November, captaining the Australian team to one of its best ever results," Cr Fraser said.
“He has demonstrated unwavering commitment to excelling in trampoline gymnastics and has represented Lake Macquarie City at state, national and international levels.”
Ky Willott (hockey), of Floraville, was named Young Citizen of the Year, and shared the Young Sportsperson of the Year award with Jessica Pickering (trampolining, diving), of Belmont North.
Willott, a year 12 student, has dedicated much of his life to hockey, and has been a member of the Norths Hockey Club since he was four years old.
Last year, Willott toured South Africa as part of the Australian Schoolboys’ Hockey Team where he demonstrated his ability to motivate the team to win the match and series.
Cooranbong's Bryce Webber (athletics) won the International Children’s Games Fair Play Award.
The award judges said Webber was an outstanding member of Team Lake Macquarie 2018 at the International Children’s Games in Jerusalem, Israel.
"As well as achieving a number of personal best times at the event, Bryce displayed all the core values of fair play, being: fair competition, respect, friendship, team spirit, equality, integrity, tolerance, care, excellence and joy," the judges said.
"Bryce was instrumental in ensuring that his team bonded well, and made the most of every opportunity offered by the Games."
Patricia Buttsworth, of Jewells, was named Volunteer of the Year for her work with the Belmont branch of the United Hospitals Auxiliary.
Brett Austine (trampolining), of Marks Point, received the Norm Johnston Memorial Administrator/Volunteer of the Year award. Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie, at Swansea, was named Community Group of the Year.
Erin Cleaver (athletics), of Charlestown, won the Sports Scholarship Award for Athlete with a Disability.
And Jenny Enderby (orienteering), of Valentine, won Masters Sportsperson of the Year.
“These awards shine a light on the abundance of talent and generosity across our wonderful city,” Cr Fraser said.
