By Ewen McRae
Brimbank’s finest were recognised on Saturday with the annual Australia Day awards, including the announcement of the citizen and young citizen of the year.
Citizen of the Year Senada Bosnic Ekic has spent 15 years volunteering in the community after settling in the area as a refugee in 1999.
Her work has centred around the Bosnia and Herzegovina communities, and linking them to the broader Brimbank community – whether it be in her role as president of Kud Dukat Bosnian folklore group, or as a presenter at 3ZZZ Radio.
She also established ‘reach out link’, a small private business where she is a community support worker, and volunteers at St Albans Community Centre.
Hue Man Dang was named the Young Citizen of the Year for her work as a community leader and role model.
Among her achievements, she was a participant in the Joan Kirner Young and Emerging Women Leaders Program, received a University of Melbourne Peer Student Network’s Outstanding Individual Leadership Award and a YMCA Youth Parliament Best Speaker Award.
Brimbank mayor Lucinda Congreve acknowledged the impact of both award winners on the community.
“This year’s recipients have delivered exceptional benefits for the Brimbank community,” she said.
