2025 Community Awards
The recipients of the Awards were:
Citizen of the Year – Chris Tomlinson
Community Person of the Year – Harvey Baxter
Organisation / Sporting Club Person of the Year – Rebecca Ettridge
Harvey Baxter is a dedicated and selfless member of our community, contributing quietly behind the scenes and touching the lives of so many with his kindness and generosity to help those in need. Harvey was also a Committee member and Chair of the Darwinia Cottages Committee over 20 years, making certain that Darwinia continues to provide a place where our Seniors are valued and can live independently within their community.
Chris Tomlinson and his family arrived in Tenterden in 2012 and since that time, Chris has joined and volunteered in a number of organisations including Tenterden Tennis Club, Tenterden Fire Brigade, Gillamii, Tenterden Agricultural Institute and Cranbrook Primary School not only as a member but in some cases, accepting the responsibility of President.
Rebecca Ettridge has devoted countless hours, energy and passion to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of those around her and within our community. Rebecca’s commitment to St John Ambulance has called her to rise through the ranks to become an Emergency Medical Technician as well as giving up her evenings and weekends to attend training ensure that our ambulance is in top condition and respond to call outs at all hours.
In welcoming everyone to the Australia Day Breakfast, and before announcing the recipients of the Awards, Shire President George Pollard said “Each person nominated shares a genuine desire to make our community a better place and their contributions and commitment assist to build and support the community in which we all live.
On behalf of the community, I want to say thank you to all these nominees for your leadership, your generosity and your unwavering commitment to this community. We are incredibly fortunate to have you as members of our Shire’s communities.”
On accepting their Awards, Chris, Harvey and Rebecca thanked the Shire and community for the honour of being nominated and each said how important volunteering is to our communities and the rewards that also come with giving time to whatever interest group is important to them. Volunteering is the only way communities can become the places to live that we want them to be for our families and for the future.
Congratulations on behalf of the Shire of Cranbrook and our community to all the nominees and recipients of the Awards for making a difference and their valuable contributions of time and energy.