City announces Australia Day awards honours

Following journalist and ovarian cancer research advocate Jill Emberson's recognition as Newcastle Citizen of the Year 2019, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes has named the City's other Australia Day award recipients at this morning's Citizenship ceremony.

Jill Emberson was recognised for her tremendous efforts in ovarian cancer advocacy

Emberson, who was earlier announced as Citizen of the Year for her contribution to journalism and advocacy in the fight against ovarian cancer, gave a heartfelt acceptance speech at today's ceremony that addressed her love for Newcastle and desire to see better outcomes for women living with the disease.

Also honoured at today's ceremony was Junior John Hunter Hospital doctor Bhavi Ravindran who was named 2019 Young Citizen of the Year.

The 24-year-old University of Newcastle graduate was recognised for his outstanding contribution to the medical profession at such a young age.

Dr Bhavi holds numerous positions on medical boards including the Australian Medical Council and Medical Students Accreditation Committee, which is responsible for the accreditation of the 24 medical schools across Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Bhavi Ravindran's dedication to charitable health work earned him this year's Young Citizen of the Year

He has worked with the United Nations and World Health Organisation on a number of leading international population health projects, and in 2016 convened a Global Health Conference in Newcastle.

The conference drew more than 850 medical students from across the world to discuss public health and global governance issues.

"Dr Bhavi is an inspiring young man with an incredible wealth of knowledge well beyond his years," Cr Nelmes said.

"His dedication to his profession sets a very high benchmark for any young and aspiring doctor or medical professional to work towards and I look forward to following his achievements throughout the rest of his career."

A trio of Newcastle teenagers was named the 2019 Community Group of the Year for founding the social enterprise known as The Y Project.

Luisa Amosa, Charlotte Boulus and Mae Anagnostis started The Y Project to create safe space events for young people, and to raise awareness about social justice and environmental issues.

The Y Project create safe spaces for young people while raising funds for not-for-profit organisations

The group also raises funds for local and international charity organisations through the delivery of all-age music and art events in Newcastle.

"Through advocacy and educating youth on ways they can interact in their community, The Y Project is encouraging and inspiring young people to become proactive and strive to create a future enthused with empathy, equity and justice," the Lord Mayor said.

"After forming at high school in 2017, the group has helped engineer some positive momentum for social change among young people at various live music and arts events, and, in doing so, raised thousands of dollars for charity."

Also at today’s ceremony, which marked 70 years since the Australian Government first introduced Citizenship into Commonwealth law, more than a 160 new Australians from 46 different countries received their Citizenship.

Just seven men were sworn in as new legal citizens in 1949, swearing their allegiance to Australia from Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Spain and Yugoslavia.

Today, Australia is one of the most successful multicultural nations in the world, having welcomed more than five million new Australian citizens to our shores.

Congratulations to the Citys Australia Day Award winners