Murraylands and Riverland

Sony Centre Arts Award

Winner – Alysha Herrmann

Alysha is a 26 year old emerging theatre writer, performer and director with a particular commitment to youth arts and community cultural development projects. She also started to explore short film and new media projects in recent years.

Since entering the world of performing arts as a participant in a project called Random Girls when she was 19, Alysha has embraced every opportunity that has been offered to her. Initially as a newcomer to the theatre industry Alysha participated in everything she could, and over the last three years has emerged as an artist in her own right.

Alysha has continued to support Riverland Youth Theatre in these ways since 2006, whilst also starting to spread her wings as an independent practitioner.

 

Elders Community Group Award

Winner – Barmera Playspace Group  

The Barmera Playspace Group was formed in March 2009 by a group of six committed parents of young children in the area following numerous community meetings aimed at revitalising the town, where the initial idea was floated. With a wide range of skill sets and employment backgrounds, the community-based group had a clear vision and could see a significant need for a unique play area to be designed and developed within the township for children and families to enjoy.

The past 12 months have seen the Barmera Playspace project develop from a paper based concept plan into a vibrant, family friendly reality. Following the receipt of the final plans in mid 2010, the next three months were spent gathering quotes, contacting suppliers, reworking and refining budgets, planning works processes and engaging local contractors. These tasks were aided by the arrival of a detailed design and documentation, plus the appointment of a Council based Site Manger for the protect in September 2010.

With their logo developed. signage announcing the commencement of the project was erected on the site in early October. The first earthworks commenced later that month with much excitement and anticipation. The landscape of the site changed quickly and the community's awareness of the project heightened.

 Final safety audits of the plavspoce were completed by the Council at the end of April 2011, and clearing of the site continued with solar lights installed and the finishing touches added before the fences were removed on the Thursday before Easter, signalling the opening of the Playspace.

 

Elders Community Individual Award

Winner – Graham Hallandal

Graham has a long list of achievements and has been positively contributing to the Murray Bridge community for over 30 years.

Graham joined the Rotary Club of Mobilong in 1977, and became involved in the Rotary International Youth Exchange program shortly afterwards. He has hosted 14 students for up to three months from many countries over this period. Graham has also worked in other Rotary projects such as packing pharmaceuticals after the Asian Tsunami and repairing and packing donated goods such as walking frames and medical equipment to send to third world countries with the Rotary Donations In Kind project at Edinburgh Park in Adelaide.

He was awarded Rotary's highest honour, a Paul Harris Fellowship Award by the Rotary Club of Mobilong in 1999 and a Four Avenues of Service Award in 2008, one of only four times this award has been given to a member of Mobilong Rotary Club.

Graham has also been a volunteer of Zoos SA at Monarto Zoo since 2001. He was awarded Most Professional Tour Guide in 2004. Graham was also the Australia Day Nominee for Citizen of the Year by the Rural City of Murray Bridge in 2005 and a nominee for the Australian of the Year Awards in 2006.

 

Westpac Large Business Award

Winner – Adelaide Mushrooms

Adelaide Mushrooms is a local South Australian family company well known within the fruit and vegetable Industry, not only in South Australia, but nationally.

Owned by the Schirripa family and currently run be the four brothers Roy, Frank, Douglas and Brian Schirripa, the business was commenced by their father, Rocco, in the early 1930s after he immigrated from Italy. Five members of the “next generation” now also work in the business.

More importantly it has made its name as a leader within the mushroom industry over the past 27 years in quality, service and consistency in the market place.

Adelaide Mushrooms now boasts the most high tech farm in Australia, and arguably in the world today, with its latest development at Monarto, at a cost in excess of $50m. Growing over 120,000 kg of fresh mushrooms each week for 52 weeks a year, Adelaide Mushrooms services the retail trade in South Australia and in every other state of Australia.

 

Westpac Small Business Award

Winner – Coorong Wild Seafood

Coorong Wild Seafood has its processing facility at Meningie, South Australia. It is located near the Coorong where the Lakes and Coorong Commercial Fishery operates. Therefore the seafood supply chain is very short and maximises the quality of the fish brought to the premises.

As an owner-operator, Glen Hill supplies the majority of the fish to the processing factory run by his wife Tracy. They also purchase fish from several other fishermen, who meet the Hill’s high quality standards. This provides the fishermen another outlet for their catch, enabling them to maximise their returns, especially over the winter period when mullet is plentiful and prices are lower in the markets.

Coorong Wild Seafood has a workforce of eight. The business has expanded with value-added products to its filleted fish range, which ensures it has work all year round for their employees.

 

Department of Trade and Economic Development Innovation Award

Winner – Murray Bridge Racing Club

 

Viterra Sports Award

Winner – James McRae

James McRae is a World Champion and Olympic rower. McRae grew up in Murray Bridge, where he rowed for the Murray Bridge Rowing Club.

McRae competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the men's quad scull. He began his international career by competing with Matt Bolt in the double scull at the 2005 Junior World Rowing Championships.

In October 2009 McRae was awarded life membership of the Murray Bridge Rowing Club for being the club's most successful rower and 1st Olympian since the Murray Cods of 1924.

Since the Beijing Olympics McRae has undertaken a number of public speaking and promotional events. In April 2010 McRae took part in an 'Active April' event involving Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio personalities Tony McCarthy and John Kenneally.

 

Hames Sharley Sustainability Award

Winner – Pike River Luxury Eco Villas (2011 Telstra Hall of Fame inductee) 

The new Pike River Development, Pike River Luxury Villas, has completed another two luxury villas in 2011, now with a total of three villas that deliver quality, luxury and sustainable gateway accommodation within the Riverland region of South Australia.

Pike River guests and visitors are able to view, taste and explore all that the Riverland has to offer from within a sustainable and environmentally friendly luxury development.

The grid solar farm provides enough power to not only run the development but to power up to an additional eight local homes, providing guests with a clear picture of community value adding and sustainable practices. 

Pike River has also developed a support for individuals and groups interested in Solar power through Sunfarm Services Australia, offering advice and help to people interested in installing systems at a residential and community scale. 

 

StatewideSuper Tourism Award

Winner – Mallee Park

Mallee Park was launched in July 2008 by David Hancock, who has a passion for the outdoors. His dream was to create an adventure park where the whole family could switch off the computers, re-engage as a family, have some fun in the fresh air, and share in his love of the Mallee Bush.

Starting with ten All Terrain Vehicles, Mallee Park now has over 30 current model 150cc quad bikes, in 400 acres of unspoiled Mallee. The park provides safe family fun for all age groups, and now attracts over 80 riders every weekend.

Mallee Park’s aim is to offer visitors a unique way to explore the bush. This is achieved by constantly striving to do our best. They offer a safe environment, their staff are all fully trained and are with the riders the whole time. Not only does this ensure the riders have a good time, it also ensures that safety policies are always met.

 

Adelaide Event & Exhibition Centre Youth Award

Winner – Emily Grace Michael

At 22 years of age, Emily Michael already has nearly a decade of experience in working with people with a disability. She has dedicated her life to further developing her skills, knowledge and passion to increase awareness of issues within the disability industry, and highlight the need to diversify the skills of young people choosing a career path in disability services.

As Respite Coordinator at Murray Bridge disability support organisation Community Lifestyles Inc, Emily manages respite support for more than 60 children and adults. Emily's ambition and determination has led her to achieve outstanding results for those living in regional and remote areas of the Murraylands.

Already making a substantial impact on more than 300 people within the Murray Bridge community, Emily will continue to diversify her skills through further education and intends to continue working in the Murraylands region to inspire other young people and positively impact those around her.