The 2008 Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Award for a person of 25 years or older is Mr Ross Campbell.  

Those who know Ross will be aware that he is passionate about his music and other activities he has been involved with.   

Ross, is 72 years of age and has been a resident of the district for 51 of those years.  Ross is a local primary producer and has farmed at Yornup for the past 49 years. 

Ross was born in Perth, he moved to Bridgetown in 1956 from Wokalup to take up a position with the Department of Agriculture.

 He has served his community in many voluntary roles since 1956 and has been involved in the following:

 Warriors Football club as a player

• Bridgetown Mens Hockey Club
• Yornup Tennis Club
• Yornup Badminton Club
• Bridgetown Basketball Association as a player and President
• Bridgetown Tennis Club as a player and President – Easter Tournament Director for 3 years
• Farmers Union – Yornup Branch President and then later the WA Farmers Federation where he was also President.  He remains an active member
• Fire Brigade Captain – Yornup for many years and after 49 years is still associated
• Bridgetown Bowling Club
• Bridgetown Golf Club
• Local Examiner for Bridgetown and surrounding districts for teaching and examining swimming
• Ross was awarded a Commonwealth Certificate of Thanks for his services to the Royal Life Saving Society
• Represented Bridgetown-Greenbushes Shire in the South West Games as a Veteran swimmer
• Yornup Hall Committee – President for many years
• He has been involved with the music for the fund raising dances for 26 years, being 6 years with Mrs Ivy Tomelty and then his own band
• Taught and instructed many musical instruments to both young and old
• Plays on a regular basis at church services and regularly sets up his sound system for use within the Shire for such occasions as ANZAC Day, Australia Day, Carols by Candlelight and many more occasions
• Is a very keen bagpiper and has played on many occasions around the district for may and varied functions for the past 35 years

The 2008 Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Award for a Person Under 25 Years of Age is Jodie Watson.   

Jodie is an all-round community minded young person.  When the Shire with Sharen Francesconi ran the YAC group Jodie was an active member and often initiated projects for the YAC participants.

 Jodie was a member of the Repertory Theatre’s Youth Group (Ouch) and also appeared in several of the regular theatre performances.  Besides being an accomplished violin player she is also a good student and has gained a place at Curtin University where she will be studying next year.

 Jodie has been doing routine office work (after school) for her mother on a regular basis but this year she is working full time in the Westpac Bank.  For several years she has helped the Agricultural Society and the Lions Club on show day and for the last twelve months has become a full Agricultural Society Council member.  Jodie has worked hard to both promote the show and to persuade the Show Committee to include features which they hope will encourage younger community members, like herself to get more involved.

 Jodie has helped the Blackwood Women’s Group with their fund raising efforts for both the Blackwood House and the new St John Ambulance building.

 In addition to the above activities Jodie has also found time to tutor younger students in maths when they need help.

 The 2008 Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Award for a Community Group or Event is the Henri Nouwen House Committee.   

 This Committee of eleven local people does an outstanding job in keeping this not-for-profit social/emotional support agency going and has done so for the 15 years of its history.

 Their commitment to keeping the organisation well funded and supported through their own efforts is amazing.

 The Committee has demonstrated active citizenship and enhancement of community life by:

• Fundraising for this not-for-profit organisation that supports people in crisis in our community.
• Managing the Henri Nouwen House facility to support the community’s people in crisis.