A DEDICATION to improving their surrounding community through volunteering saw numerous Renmark locals honoured on Australia Day.
More than 350 people attended Renmark Paringa Council’s Australia Day celebration at the Renmark Club on Tuesday.
Renmark Riverland Rose Festival committee president Sheree Chappel – who accepted the award for Community Event of the Year – said the ceremony showcased the positive impacts of volunteering.
“It’s just a reflection on how hard everybody worked, in trying conditions, to navigate the COVID-19 processes,” Ms Chappel said.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised for all of the hard work.
“Without the volunteers it becomes very difficult to pull these community events together.”
Local radio and communications expert Ivan Smith was named Renmark Paringa Council Citizen of the Year, while Rosslyn Dyer and Beverley O’Loughlin received Community Service Awards.
Renmark woman Parinder Tomar – whose husband Priyat was also given his Australian citizenship at the ceremony – said her family was excited to call the Riverland home.
“My husband was honoured to receive his citizenship from the mayor,” Ms Tomar said.
“We love everything about living in the Renmark community, especially the farming areas.”
Renmark Paringa Mayor Neil Martinson said holding the event at the Renmark Club instead of the Jarrett Memorial Gardens – due to COVID-19 restrictions – had little effect on attendance.
“We changed the venue because of COVID, but it’s turned out very successful and we had (approximately) 370 people here,” Mr Martinson said.
“People did the right thing and got their tickets organised, and we had some fantastic favourable comments from the people who attended.
“It was a good reason for us to change the event, but we feel more comfortable now that if we needed to we can look at that (again) in the future.”