Скачать или смотреть Moorabool Shire, meet your Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year!

Young Citizen of the Year 2021 – Keeley Johnson

Keeley is a young person diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability, who creates and provides events to ensure inclusion and accessibility which empowers youth and children with additional needs through Keeley’s Cause (the organisation she created at aged 13), which is a Ballan based charity supporting children with additional and special needs. Keeley has raised much needed funds to help distribute IPads to many within the Shire to help create equality education outcomes to learn, communicate and interact in mainstream and specialist schools. She has created and held a number of events including Christmas parties, Easter Egg hunts and giving days in Ballan and across the Shire. Keeley’s empathy and compassion in assisting others sets a remarkable example for others in how to assist those in need. Keeley has been presented with a number of awards over the past 12 months for her work and advocacy for children and their families with special needs, for her selflessness in ensuring no one is left behind, and in creating equality and inclusivity to people with disabilities. She ensures the inclusion of those less fortunate with disabilities and encourages them to be all they can, despite their disability.

Citizen of the Year 2021 – David Nickels

Dave moved to Moorabool in 2012 and has been actively involved in the community since this time. He joined the Ballan Chamber of Commerce in 2013, and in 2015 became the vice-president. In 2016 he joined Cartier World Travel and commenced bus and coach travel with the group.

Dave has donated bus transport to many Moorabool organisations including the seniors to Ballan and football clubs, and been involved in raising funds for the Ballan Hospital, Ballan Pony Club, Ballan & District Preschool, Ballan Football Club, Ballan Scouts, Ballan CFA and many other local organisations and groups. Along with fundraising, Dave supports the Ballan Jockey Club, Gordon Football Club, Ballan Golf Club and the Bacchus Marsh Football Club. He was also instrumental in bringing the San Jose Marching Band to Ballan, who were the current world champions, and after marching in the streets of Ballan entertained the children at the Gordon and Myrniong primary schools. In 2017 Dave became Chairman of the Moorabool Business Awards, the largest gala event in the Shire; in 2019 the Awards hosted 300 people, including qualified judges and a record number of entrants. The COVID-19 pandemic had a serious impact in 2020, and Dave chose to offer something back to the community by supporting the people of Ballan and surrounds (Gordon, Greendale, etc.) by delivering medication to those in need, transferring people to and from medical appointments, bringing them into town for banking, shopping, etc. and assisting with the delivery of food and groceries.