Michael Holliday named citizen of the year at Tailem Bend
The Wellington East draftsman has been recognised alongside two local community groups on Australia Day 2022.
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A draftsman’s dedication to helping local community groups has earned him recognition as one of the Coorong district’s citizens of the year.
Michael Holliday, of Wellington East, was one of three award recipients at an Australia Day event at Tailem Bend Town Hall on Wednesday.
Auto club president Lynton Piggott thanked him for his willing, generous and capable spirit, and for the expertise he had given freely to various local projects.
Mr Holliday said he would have felt more comfortable in the back row than up the front of Wednesday’s event, but that his volunteer work had all been worth it.
“What I enjoy about the community is getting to meet people,” he said.
“When you volunteer, you get to meet people you might not normally get to meet.”
Historians thanked for bringing the past to life
Another award went to the Tailem Bend Historians for a milestone event they organised early last year.
The group unearthed exhaustive details about the town’s history for the exhibition at the Coorong Gallery, The Life and Times of Tailem Bend.
It also opened a dedicated history room in the old railway station around the same time.
That work would preserve Tailem Bend’s history for future generations of residents, historian Elizabeth Nicholls said.
Newsletter named community project of the year
The team behind the Tailem Topics – the newsletter sent to more than 2000 locals every month – was also recognised with an Australia Day award.
Members of the Tailem Bend Progress Association, most recently led by editor Jo McGrath, have put out the publication since 1992.
Its hard-copy format had become even more appreciated in an age when more and more local news was found mainly online, Maxine Kiddie said.
