Drug Aware Ignite Basketball featured heavily in this year’s prestigious Premier’s Australia Day Active Citizenship Awards presented by the City of Armadale.
Ignite’s Nicole Elliot and Javeena Miller won the over 25s and under 25s categories respectively while former Armadale councillor June MacDonald accepted the Community Group or Event Award on behalf of Armadale Neighbourhood Watch.
Ms Elliot has been an Armadale resident for more than a decade and has worked with at-risk young people while raising two girls of her own.
She has been involved with the Drug Aware Ignite Basketball Program in a variety of roles, most notably for making home-cooked meals for up to 60 young people every Saturday night.
She also works with the Department of Child Protection and is an employee of South Coastal Aboriginal Health where she implemented a health check booth program.
Ms Miller, 18, has worked with the Ignite program since she was 15, starting first as a participant before eventually graduating and being employed as a member of staff.
In 2014 she won the Drug Aware Ignite Junior Coach of the Year Award following an exceptional season.
Neighbourhood Watch brings community members together by encouraging neighbours to get to know each other and has adapted programs to suit different cultures.
Armadale mayor Henry Zelones praised the winners for their work for the community.
About 20,000 people from around Perth converged on Minnawarra Park on Tuesday for the city’s Australia Day celebrations.
Heavy showers earlier in the afternoon did little to dampen the mood of families who enjoyed activities like cricket and water slides to entertainment from local musicians and national legends The Badloves.
The rain did impact the fireworks however, causing a technical issue and 15-minute delay.
Punters didn’t mind with everyone sticking around for the spectacular display.
