Churchill Australia Day Awards 2025

Australia Day 2025 was held at the Civic Space below the town hall where an anticipatory crowd gathered to hear and honour those who had been chosen to receive awards. The morning was fine and sunny. The Churchill & District Lions Club had set up the area with chairs. Bill Rowley was entertaining the crowd with many Australian songs. The Lions were cooking up their well-loved egg and bacon sandwiches, plus sausages and onions with orange juice to wash it down.

Lion Bill Hurenkamp introduced the proceedings, welcoming guests Martin Cameron our local MP and Leanne Potter our local ward councillor. A welcome to country was given. The 1st Churchill Scouts did the flag raising. Pastor Cathie Halliwell from the Co-Operating churches said prayers for our country.

Martin Cameron spoke and acknowledged that Australia Day means different things to different people. It is a time to celebrate how lucky we are to be raised or to become a citizen of this country where we have safety, especially in Latrobe City. If we love the country we live in that keeps us safe. There are so many things we can do and achieve in Australia. Martin expressed a “Well done” to Bill, Reg and the Lions for their organisation of the day.

Leanne Potter said any day that brings community together is good. Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate those unsung heroes who volunteer and make our communities so supported.

Reg Grisotto then read out the words describing the characteristic and achievements of the award recipients.

Laurie Marks Churchill Citizen of the Year

Laurie Marks is a highly regarded community leader, a proud Aboriginal man, and passionate about promoting Aboriginal culture. He shows great strength and support to his family and community and has a strong passion for sport, which he sees as a gateway to bridging the divides across communities and across the generations.

Laurie has always lived on the land of the Gunai Kurnai people and has strong ties to the Lake Tyers Trust in East Gippsland, where he was raised as a child with his mother and extended family. He also has ties back to Wotjobaluk nation in Western Victoria

Laurie started work with the Latrobe Shire in grounds and lawn maintenance in 1979, a position he held for 16 years.

Laurie then became one of Victoria’s first Aboriginal bail justices and sports youth worker

Laurie is currently attached to the Inner Gippsland Proactive Policing Unit as an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, a position he has held since 2005 when he was one of the first to be recruited as an Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer. This came about as a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths. Today he is Victoria Police’s longest serving Aboriginal Community Liaison Officers. Laurie is a highly valued member of the Inner Gippsland Proactive Policing unit. One of Laurie’s most significant achievement has been delivering more than 120 cultural awareness training sessions to police across Gippsland.

He is also a past chair of the Del Cha (Dhelke Dja) which is a family violence reference group, and the past chair of LAJAC and a member of RAJAC.

Laurie has a strong passion for sport. As a talented fast bowler Laurie was selected in the Australian Aboriginal Cricket team which toured England in 1988, Laurie has played and coached cricket and soccer with many clubs around the Latrobe Valley. He currently serves as the Budjeri Napan Chair which is a community organisation which promotes sport within Aboriginal communities, a position he has held for 15 Years.

Laurie has always been engaged in the Churchill community whether it is through sports or attending schools, sporting clubs talking about kids in sports or through supporting junior cricket.

Laurie has achieved much but his proudest achievement is his marriage to Meagan and his three children

Well Done Laurie you are a great community person and a most worthy

Churchill Citizen of the Year and great Australian.

Laurie responded by thanking the Lions. He also said it was an honour to receive the award.

Bailey Robson Hazelwood North Primary

Bailey was nominated by his school Hazelwood North Primary School where he attended and completed year six last year. Bailey was nominated by the school for his commitment to his education, respect for school values, his compassion for giving of his time to assist and help other students and his leadership qualities.

Bailey is a confident well-spoken, very likable young man who was Blue House Captain last year. Bailey is someone who gets on well with others and is a role model for other young people,

Bailey likes school, his favorite subject being science. He enjoyed helping out at school. Bailey loved attending school camp, where he enjoyed canoeing and nature walks. He also helped with some of the sick kids during the camp. Bailey appreciated the work that the teachers did to help him through school and is looking forward to attending Lavella College next year, but it is sport that is his main interest with soccer as the game.

Bailey played soccer for Churchill United Soccer Club and now at Gippsland United where he plays in the Metropolitan league, as centre defense, all as team Captain. Bailey has achieved much as a soccer player and his team has won many league titles. Bailey plays with confidence, works hard, is ambitious, and is determined to develop as a player and encourages his teammates to play better, is a confident well-spoken, very likable young man, Bailey is someone who gets on well with others and is a role model to other young people and likes hanging out with friends. He also likes being with his family and has just completed a trip around Tasmania in the family’s caravan.

Bailey is excited by the challenges that lie ahead and is determined to do well in his future academic studies, at the same time continuing to develop his soccer skills.

Bailey is a young man who knows where he wants his life to go, and is determined to succeed. He likes to do things his way and is reliable. Give him a job and he will do it. He has great support from his family and is a very worthy Australia Day award recipient .Well done Bailey.

Rory Fraser- Matthews Churchill Primary

Rory was nominated by his school Churchill Primary School. Rory was a Year 5 student last year and will be a school Vice Captain this year, Rory is looking forward to Year 6 this year and is very committed to his education, has great respect for school values, and always makes time to assist and help others, helping out with the school’s buddy system.

Rory lives with his Nan and Pop. He is confident, polite, and well-spoken; a role model for other students.

Rory is an active member of the school community, participating in school events and helping out whenever he can, whether it is helping other children in the class or playground, such as with the Buddy System. He is a popular and respected student.

Rory loves his sport and has played lots of different sports including Aussie Rules football, soccer, cricket and even giving archery a go. Robin Hood watch out, Rory is coming. Of all the sports he has played it is soccer that he loves best, and is playing for Churchill United where in 2023 he won the Clubs Best and Fairest Player award in the Under 11’s. Last season his side won the Night Championship beating the season's top side.

Just like at school, Rory helps out at home and really enjoyed helping his Pop building a shed. He enjoys listening to music and playing with his dog Buddy

Rory is a determined young person; inclusive, helpful, willing to help when needed and always strives to do his best to succeed in everything he does.

A worthy Australia Day award recipient. Congratulations Rory.

Bella Watson Churchill North Primary

Bella was nominated by Churchill North Primary School where Bella completed Year six last year. Bella was a school Vice-Captain and was recognised by the school for her commitment to her education, her respect for school values, helping out around the school and helping out with the Kids after School care program.

Bella loves school, learning new things and being helpful in the classroom. Her favorite subjects are arts and writing

At the end of year school awards Bella received the Good Citizen Award for going out of her way to help other students, being a behavior role model, encouraging other students to keep trying, and helping teachers in and out of the classroom.

Bella has two other siblings and is the middle child. Bella loves being outdoors and is an active member of the 1st Churchill Scout group, She loves going on camps and enjoys being with her fellow Scouts learning to be creative and learning new leadership skills and qualities.

At home Bella likes crafts, crocheting and sewing. She enjoys hanging with her friends and loves being outdoors. She is a kind, compassionate young person who is always willing to help out others and contributes to her school community by assisting in school activities and assisting teachers when required.

A worthy Australia Day award recipient. Great work Bella.

Hunter Yacoup Lumen Christi

Hunter was nominated by Lumen Christi Catholic School where he is a popular member of the school community. He was nominated by the school because of his commitment to his education, his compassion, and giving of his time to assist and help others.

Hunter has two brothers, is a polite young person who likes playing sports, and being active and involved. Hunter plays and loves competing in football for the Churchill Football and Netball Club and cricket for the Churchill Cricket Club.

Hunter is a very happy and creative person, helpful at home with mowing the lawn putting the bins out and keeping the house clean. Hunter likes to be involved whether it is at school, at home or at sports,

Hunter likes being with his friends, especially playing sport and being involved with team sport and doing his best for the team.

Hunter is always willing to help and assist others who need help, in class for the teachers when required, and looks out for the younger junior students.

Hunter is a definite role model to other students in the way he conducts himself at school not only academically but also for his care and desire to help others whether at school or away from school or playing sports. He has a strong will to do well and make a difference.

Congratulations Hunter. A worthy Australia Day award recipient.

Following the awards and photo taking of proud families, the Lions breakfast was ready for eating.

A happy time of community gathering and chatting was a special part of the day.