Pictured above: Cate Pemberton. Photo courtesy Townsville Bulletin
Townsville’s most outstanding citizens have been recognised for their efforts with today’s Australia Day Award livestream.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the winners exemplified what it meant to go above and beyond for the community.
“We have a hard time picking our Australia Day Award winners each year because the quality of nominees is always so high.
“It’s with great pleasure that I announce that Douglas Millican as the Citizen of the Year for his work with Northern Queensland Legacy. Douglas works tirelessly to represent Legacy in his community and volunteers countless hours to this important cause. Congratulations Douglas,” Cr Hill said.
“Young Citizen of the Year Kate Pemberton has made the city proud with Kate’s Campaign for Change, giving care packs to help people in need across Townsville. Kate is a shining example of how young people in Townsville can strive to make their friends and family proud while giving back to the city.
Kate Pemberton started a grassroots movement in 2017 called “Kate’s Campaign for Change” with the aim of donating a range of Care Packages to assist those who are in need and at risk within our local community. Relying solely on donations and the assistance of volunteers, The campaign uses Facebook as a means of giving the local community a way to help each other. There are currently 1800 people who follow the activities, many of whom are active participants in the campaign.
Kate’s Campaign for Change allows locals to collect, and donate unused toiletries, preloved goods, cash and gift cards. It also gives locals a space to volunteer their time to the communities most vulnerable. A network of drop-off points have been established to make it easy for everyone to donate goods. The Care packages are then distributed to local not-for-profit organisations so that they can be utilised in conjunction with the range of assistance that the organisations have on offer. Kates Campaign for change has been featured on national television programme Sunrise. In addition to Kate’s campaign, she also volunteers her time at the Good Shepheard Nursing Home and Townsville Women’s centre. Kate stands by the ethos that “each one of us can make a difference, and together we can make change”.
Congratulations Kate on receiving the 2022 Young Citizen of the Year.
