Australia Day Committee chairman Marcus Hanney said it was a complete coincidence that carried on right across the board on a national level with the recognition of Rosie Batty as Australian of the Year for her campaign against family violence. “It just happened that way,” he said. “I think it shows that women do a lot in the community. “I think it shows that Australia is about equality for everyone too... It doesn’t matter what sex, age, creed or religion. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you are willing to give it a go, it’s there for the taking, it’s the traditional Australian ‘fair go’.”

Margaret Grasnick’s service to the community during the past 40 years included with the Bush Fire Brigade/Rural Fire Service, Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society, the Uniting Church, Wellington Cancer Council, Westhaven, Maranatha House, Girl Guides and Quota International. Mrs Grasnick said she was honoured to receive the award and that she felt there were many other deserving people in the community.

Her granddaughter Elizabeth Morley also received a community service award. Mrs Grasnick’s daughter Susan Morley, said she was very proud of the way her mother had been such a positive role model for the whole family.

The 2015 Senior Citizen of the Year, music teacher Marlene “Chick” Jones, was recognised for her tireless work instilling in children a love of music, not just in the classroom, but in her spare time. She was also recognised for her work with the CWA, Red Cross, visits to Maranatha and Bellhaven, and volunteering as an organist at the Catholic and Uniting churches. “It’s very important teaching children to create their own feeling for music,” she said, describing music as a universal language. Councillor Anne Jones was awarded an Order of Australia Medal. “This Medal of the Order of Australia does not just belong to me,” she said. “It belongs to all those who have supported me over this time and in particular the people of Wellington''