State MP Richie Williamson presented Seniors Local Achievement Awards in Casino today, Wednesday, April 23 to Bill Evans, Elaine Trustum, Darryl Clifford and Laszlo Biro.
IndyNR.com has included information about the awardees based on the comments from the person who nominated them for the award.
Bill Evans
Bill has been a member of the local volunteer rescue squad for the past 40 years.
He is also a life member of the local military museum and historic society. Bill has spent over half his life serving his community.
Bill dedicated his award to his wife Kay to acknowledge her unwavering support throughout the past decades.
Elaine Trustum
Elaine supports her granddaughter Millie Trustum in fundraising for childhood cancer. Elaine is a retired nurse who worked in Campbell Hospital in Coraki and Casino Memorial Hospital for 50 years. She is a member of the Coraki CWA.
In 2020, Elaine and her husband donated a cow and calf to be auctioned for The Kids Cancer Project, raising more than $3600.
Elaine has knitted hundreds of Barbie outfits and made hundreds of tote bags from animal stock feed bags raising about $2000 each year for the project.
Elaine cooks dozens of sponge cakes, slices and biscuits and helps to arranges raffle prizes from local businesses. The morning tea raises more than $7000 each year.
Laszlo Biro
Laszlo spends much of his time raising the profile of Cassino Art Gallery together with the local artistic community.
Laszlo worked with the Richmond Valley Council and Beef Week Committee to secure funding for the Kids Beef Week Competition that encouraged children to submit paintings.
Laszlo’s unselfish approach to the task of raising the profile of the gallery directly contributed to positive change at the gallery throughout 2024.
He helped to create a sense of belonging and connection within the community, for all those who have engaged with the exhibitions he organised at the gallery.
Laszlo appreciates that it is the strength of the established networks and relationships that enable communities to flourish.
An example of this is the Clarence Gets Creative exhibition held at the gallery where inmates from the Clarence Correctional Centre were able to share their art works with the community. Laszlo worked closely with the team from the Correctional Centre to curate this showcase.
Darryl Clifford
Darryl has been a Legatee with Far North Coast Club for 30 years and has assisted many widows and children through some very difficult times.
Darryl has been a member of the Casino RSL Sub Branch for 50 years, joining on his return from Vietnam. He has held the position of treasurer and assistant treasurer during this time. He currently holds the position of assistant treasurer.
Darryl was one of the people who pushed to obtain the unused Casino Drill Hall which is now known as the Northern Rivers Military Museum. Darryl gives his time two days a week at the museum.
Darryl is a Justice of the Peace and cares very much about his community.
Congratulations to the award recipients.