The City of Cockburn has added five new recipients to its coveted list of Australia Day Community Citizen of the Year Award winners.
The impressive 2021 line-up includes two-time winners of the Active Citizenship (Group or Event) – the Cockburn Chinese Community Association Incorporated – and joint winners of the overall title, husband and wife team Dan Robinson and Louise Keep.
Dan and Louise were named the City’s joint Community Citizens of 2021for their instrumental role in the development of the City of Cockburn’s successful Youth XLR8 Motocross program.
As President of the Henderson-based Coastal Motorcycle Club (CMC), Dan, and the club’s First Lady, Louise, have spent countless volunteer hours giving young people an opportunity to become involved in motorsport, to ride motorbikes legally and safely, and to gain a sense of community support and belonging through XLR8.
The awards were presented by Mayor Logan Howlett at the City’s annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony where 80 new Australian citizens pledged their commitment to our country on the 72nd anniversary of Australian Citizenship.
Mayor Howlett said the City’s annual Australia Day Community Citizen of the Year Awards recognised the individuals and groups that made a difference through their inspiring actions and dedicated service.
“Our recognition of these people, who reflect positive Australian characteristics, is integral to fostering community pride and an important thread in the fabric of the Australian story,” Mayor Howlett said.
“In particular, this year’s global pandemic posed some steep challenges for many in our community, especially volunteers, as social distancing and other restrictions threatened to make helping others harder than ever.
“But in most cases, this only provided the impetus for outstanding examples of citizenship in Cockburn, and our current crop of winners are exemplary examples of an unfailing dedication to serving their communities, regardless of the challenge.”
This year’s winners are:
- Community Citizen of the Year – Overall: Dan Robinson and Louise Keep
- Community Citizen of the Year – Youth (under 25 years of age): Layne Dixon
- Community Citizen of the Year – Senior (over 65 years of age): Jean Bruce
- Active Citizenship – Group or Event: Cockburn Chinese Community Association Incorporated
Dan Robinson and
Louise Keep provided significant resources needed to establish and maintain the XLR8 program which would not have come into existence without their work and support.
XLR8 was piloted across 2019/2020 and officially launched in November 2020.
A successful partnership between CMC, City of Cockburn youth workers and WA Police, it enabled 13 vulnerable young people aged 14-18 from the Cockburn area to learn safe motorbike riding and maintenance techniques, as a reward for attending school regularly and staying out of trouble.
Dan’s tireless work on the program included encouraging participants, coordinating training of youth workers delivering the program, ensuring the safety of the track, attending every weekly training session and coordinating the facilities to be available for police and youth workers to continue the program.
Louise adopted the key role of organising events and administration for the club at the same time as caring for the couple’s three young children.
Layne Dixon (19) is a marketing student, blogger, sportsperson and disability advocate who is passionate about enhancing community life.
She lives with cerebral palsy but doesn’t let it stop her chasing her goals. She blogs regularly on her own website as well as social media pages about her life with cerebral palsy, issues within the disability community and stories of para-athletic achievements.
Layne is currently completing a traineeship in communications and marketing with the Perth Festival, and sits on many committees including the Cockburn Youth Advisory Collective, the Youth Disability Advocacy Network and Cerebral Palsy - Achieve.
Layne has been involved in athletics since 2016, has broken under-18s and under-20s Australian records in the sport of seated throws, and has twice represented WA at a national level. She hopes to one day represent Australia at the Paralympic Games.
Jean Bruce has been an active supporter of the homeless and vulnerable community members in Cockburn and Fremantle for many years.
She collects and donates food, clothing and essential sanitary items to various charitable organisations and also volunteers her time to distribute donated items directly to those in need.
Despite being diagnosed with a rare cancer in March 2020 and undergoing major surgery, Jean continued this work while receiving weekly chemotherapy treatment, actively accepting and distributing donations and even collecting beanies and wool for the St John of God cancer unit where she was receiving treatment.
Four legged friends are not forgotten by Jean who collects and distributes donations to feed family pets in need or animal companions in the homeless community. Jean is also involved with Native ARC, collecting and donating towels, blankets and knitted jackets for native animals in care.
By actively promoting causes close to her heart through social networking, Jean collects and directs donations in a meaningful way. She has become well known as "Jean Genie" in the Cockburn area and beyond for her achievements and dedicated commitment.
Since its formation in 2018, the
Cockburn Chinese Community Association (CCCA) has fostered successful relationships, integration and social cohesion between the Chinese and broader Cockburn community.
The CCCA and its volunteer members connect the Chinese community in Cockburn with services, and promotes community involvement by organising events, training and workshops.
By organising events in 2020 including a dance festival, and Long Table Lunch and Multi-Cultural Festival, the CCCA was able to donate event profits to Rebound WA, the Salvation Army, and bushfire relief funds.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCCA sourced and donated face masks when most in need, and performed an important communication role to ensure the local Chinese community remained informed, safe and supported.