Gawler's Australia Day Award recipients for 2022 officially received their plaques at a breakfast and ceremony event held at Princes Park on January 26.

The official proceedings, which took place inside the Gawler Sport and Community Centre under COVID-safe protocols, were livestreamed to guests watching outside, but also to those viewing the event online via social media.

In case you missed it, below are the acceptance speeches from all of this year's worthy awardees.

Gawler's Australia Day 2022 Award Recipients

Gawler Citizen of the Year – Ian McDonnell

Growing up in Liverpool in the UK, Ian relocated to Australia with his family in 1960. He later moved to Elizabeth, working in a variety of jobs including as a service station attendant, sewing machine mechanic and boiler attendant.

Ian enjoyed a stint in radio throughout the early 1980s, working at 5PBAFM where he wrote and presented documentaries as well as music programs.

But it was in 1998 where his association with Gawler began, first volunteering at the Gawler Elderly Centre.

In 2010, Ian put together a slideshow of some of Gawler's historic buildings, however more were required – and so the Gawler History Team, a passion of the late Mr Brian Thom, was born a year later in May 2011.

The team, of which Ian sits on the executive committee, continues to preserve Gawler's history via the www.gawlerhistory.com website.

Gawler Young Citizen of the Year – Ethan White

Ethan attended school in Gawler and has been a staunch and active advocate of the town for many years.

As a teenager, Ethan created the 'Off The Couch with Ethan' initiative whereby he encourages and motivates others to get involved with their community.

The early success of his show now sees him enjoy a regular programming slot on Channel 44 where he continues to promote the Gawler district, and tourism generally, to a wider South Australian audience.

Ethan, along with his parents, are now also supporting and producing material for groups and businesses within the town.

Gawler Corporate Citizen of the Year – Dr Naomi Rutten

Naomi is a mental health GP in Gawler whose main interest focuses on the education, prevention and healing of developmental and complex trauma.

She spent her youth growing up in rural Victoria and has always had a passion and desire to help people, with her dream being to help break the cycle of trauma and eradicate it.

Naomi is a member of the Gawler & District Youth Worker Network and in 2019 also helped to establish the Student Wellbeing Hub at Gawler & District College for secondary students.

In March 2020, she also established the Gawler Mental Health Collaborative and accompanying Facebook page where local businesses involved in the care of those experiencing mental health conditions have the opportunity to communicate.

Recently, Naomi developed and introduced the 'Safe Connections Group' which provides a safe place and time for Gawler people who are living with mental illness to meet and support each other.

Gawler Community Group of the Year – Gawler Quilting Circle

The Gawler Quilting Circle (GQC) was first formed in 1986 and has had a strong membership over the years.

One of the undertakings of the group was the formation of the Gawler Textile Art Weekend (GTAW) in 1999.

The group has just completed the coordination of the 12th GTAW that is held every two years and brings many visitors from all across South Australia to Gawler.

The GQC always donates any profits from its quilting exhibition to charity and this year the beneficiaries were Concordia CFS and Fred's Van.

In the past, donations have been given to Northern Domestic Violence Group, Gawler Youth project, Blue Light Disco and Dyslexia Australia (local chapter).

The members of the GQC also hold several community quilting days each year and have a retreat in Mannum every January where quilts are made and then donated to local community groups in need.

Gawler Community Event of the Year – Spring Back to Gawler

The Spring Back to Gawler event was held in September and October 2021 by the Zonta Club of Gawler.

The event included a Chill Out Family Fun Day and Market at the Gawler Sport and Community Centre and Princes Park; a Cyber Safety Youth Expo; a Community Kids 'Paint A Mask' Art Workshop and a 'Men's and Mates' breakfast in conjunction with the Gawler Light Rotary Club.

Spring Back to Gawler was created to provide "stimulus and confidence" for the pandemic-weary Gawler community and help locals find some joy despite the ongoing hardship of COVID-19.

'SPRING' is an acronym for 'Stimulating Promoting Reconnecting Inspiring Networking Generating', which described the event perfectly.