Casey names its

THE City of Casey has recognised a couple of cultural campaigners in its 2008 Australia Day Citizens of the Year awards.
Nazifa Nader from Narre Warren was named Citizen of the Year.
Nazifa is an active member of Casey’s Afghan community and leads the Afghan Women’s Group, which advocates for the reduction of isolation and other barriers to settlement in Australia.
Young Citizen of the Year was Ash Kerr-Firebrace, who works at raising awareness of Aboriginal issues and culture through his proud representation of Yorta Yorta and Wurundjeri heritage as a performer with the Bunjil Aboriginal Culture and Dance Club.
Derry Francis of Blind Bight was named Senior Citizen of the Year.
Derry is a member of the Cranbourne Historical Society, and for the past 20 years has been active for the Riding for the Disabled and providing support to the Tooradin Fire Brigade, Tooradin Pony Club and the Lions Clubs of Cranbourne and Balla Balla.
The Community Event of the Year for 2007 was awarded to the Doveton Show, with the Cranbourne Blue Light Disco highly commended.
The City of Casey Australia Day Study Tour gives the chosen year 11 students the opportunity to observe Federal, State and Local Governments in Australia.
The 10 Australia Day Study Tour Award recipients are Sam Cronjaeger from St Peters College, Cranbourne; Natalie Heynsbergh and Casey Ward from Eumemmerring College, Endeavour Hills campus; Danielle Kutchel and Alana Sattler from Hillcrest Christian College, Clyde North; Teghan McLeod and Kate Miles from Eumemmerring College, Fountain Gate campus; Hayden Ostrom Brown and Jade Wylie from St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield; from Hillcrest Christian College, Clyde North; and Stacey Sewell from Cranbourne Secondary College.
Cit of Casey mayor Janet Halsall congratulated all award winners and the 10 recipients of the City of Casey Australia Day Study Tour.
“The individuals and events organisers were recognised tonight for their outstanding contributions toward building our community and making the City of Casey a great place to live,” she said.
“The City of Casey is proud to formally recognise their work and achievements through these prestigious awards.
“On behalf of the whole city, I congratulate them on their efforts and, along with my fellow councillors, look forward to working with them to continue building our community in 2008.”