Tireless advocate, ‘gem’ honoured

Busselton and Dunsborough’s top citizens were recognised on Australia Day for their contributions to the community.

Busselton’s Jackie Fraser was awarded the Australia Day Council of WA community citizen of the year award, while Allen Scott was named the senior community citizen of the year.

Ms Fraser was recognised for her advocacy for cystic fibrosis in the South West and Australia wide.

Over the past four years, Ms Fraser has campaigned for several revolutionary drugs to be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and has raised funds for research into a cure.

She has had several social media posts go viral and her story has inspired many events which have helped raise $80,000 for Conquer Cystic Fibrosis.

Mr Scott was rewarded for his work with various organisations over the past 25 years and praised for being a “real-life community gem”.

Mr Scott is a passionate volunteer for the Busselton RFDS Fundraising Team, the Busselton Historical Society, the Probus Club of Vasse and Busselton Hospital’s Auxiliary volunteers, who operate the hospital’s kiosk.

At the Naturaliste Gratitude Awards, presented by the Dunsborough Progress Association, Mark Fisher, John Glasspool, Shaz Barratt and Llewyn Green were recognised for their tireless community work.

City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said the ceremonies provided the perfect opportunity to acknowledge people who helped make Busselton and Dunsborough such great places to live.

“The City of Busselton is blessed to have so many volunteers who lend their time and expertise to a great variety of worthwhile causes — be they charitable, environmental, sporting or recreational,” he said.