Wagga Wagga City Council Mayor Dallas Tout and Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr with the nominees. Photo: Supplied.
The Rotary Shine Awards have returned after a three-year hiatus to recognise workers with a disability and the employers who support them.
Wagga Wagga City Council Mayor Dallas Tout and Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr were in attendance to present the nominees with their awards.
Rotary Shine Awards organiser and coordinator Alan Lean said the awards night was a great success.
“In the words of many, many others, it was a wonderful night, and people appreciated it,” Mr Lean said.
“The awards are about recognising people with disability who get out there, get involved and have a go.
“It’s also about telling stories to other employers they should consider employing people with disability,” he said.
Mr Lean said people with a disability invariably had a good focus on their job, were reliable and turned up on time.
“They are very happy to be there and often a great moral impact on other staff in a job situation.”
When asked about the importance of the awards for the community, Mr Lean said recognition was vital.
“Recognition is something that everyone appreciates, and if you can see the smiles, joy and enthusiasm … it speaks for itself.
“They are recognised and receive an award for their effort in front of a packed audience.
“Everybody is a winner.”
Cr Tout took to his social media and said he had attended all but one of the award ceremonies over the years.
“The excitement and emotion of the night is never dull,” Cr Tout said.
“To watch employee recipients and employer recipients celebrate the achievements and progress of people in their jobs is inspiring.
Dr McGirr also took to his social media and said it was wonderful to attend the awards night and recognise people living with a disability in our community who were employed, and the employers who supported them.
“I had the pleasure of presenting awards to several recipients, with mayor, Cr Dallas Tout, presenting the awards in the employees category,” Dr McGirr said.
“The Rotary Shine Awards is a fantastic initiative, and I was honoured to be included in the 2023 celebrations.”
The Rotary Shine Awards began in 2011 and this year’s awards night included a new category for veterans.
Rotary Shine Awards – Nominated employees
David Chalmers
Jessica Bennett
Peter Smith (plus long service recognition)
Lilly Farley
Caitlan Andracio
Morgan Maggs
Mary Heffernan (plus long service recognition)
James Keinert McCarron
Charlie Crouch
Jason Burt
Kieran Bates
Adrian Buntin
Joshua Schroder
Daniel Sogul
Stephanie Haywood
Paige Van Rijswijk
Noah Endean
Prue Besley
Mia Khan
Jai Ferraro
Anita Manning
Rotary Shine Awards – Nominated employers
IGA Tolland
Jardines Cafe
The Dog Room
Kurrajong First Contact
Health Share – Wagga
Wagga RSL Club
Forum 6 Cinemas Wagga
Stuntman & Daredevil Hall of Fame
Coles – Sturt Mall
New category for veterans who work with a disability
Bradly Maynard
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