The Australia Day committee will consider nominations between now and January 26 when it will present awards to the category winners.

“The committee agrees we have a very strong field this year,” committee member and Maitland City Council finance and administration group manager Graeme Tolhurst said.

The nominees are service club members, volunteers, coaches and historians – all committed to making Maitland a better place.

The nominees include a strong field of young residents, under the age of 19, and junior citizens (under 12 years).

Maitland City Choir founding member Heather Russell-McLaren and Cr Steve Procter approached the schools, which garnered a strong field.

“There’s been a real push this year in the young 

citizen and junior citizen categories,” Mr Tolhurst said.

“It just goes to show you the talent we have in Maitland and the number of people who are willing to stand up.”

The Australia Day Ceremony will recognise each nominee when it names the winner of each category.

“The committee have deliberated long and hard and are near to making their determination,” Mr Tolhurst said. “The ceremony is an important opportunity to acknowledge people who go the extra mile.”

Keep reading the Mercury to learn about the nominees as we count down to Australia Day.

CITIZEN OF THE YEAR  NOMINEES: Alex Threadgate and Alex Malam, Barbara Cameron, Christine Lantry, Gloria Butler, Chris Vollmer, Johnny Gibson, Kerrie Alcorn, Kevin J Short, Lance Murray, Noel and Paula Davis.

YOUNG  CITIZEN OF  YEAR NOMINEES (under 19): Andrew Marselos, Callie Bercini, Courtney Addison, Matthew Pender, Olivia Dawson, Todd Nelson, Hannah Wheeler, Kiarra Tilden, Brooke Sweetman.

JUNIOR CITIZEN OF YEAR (under 12): Ellen Sharman, Jessica Jean Kowalski, Krishna Nagarajan, Mackenzie Young, Will Avery.