Peter Cox – Citizen of the Year

Nhulunbuy had its fair share of celebrating Australia Day with different sports and social activities, highlighted by the annual awarding ceremony held at the Town Hall organised by the Nhulunbuy Corporation.
This year’s awardees were Peter John Cox, Citizen of the Year, Scott Whelan and Mitchell Putland, Young Citizen Award, Garma Festival, Community Event of the Year, and Daniel Colaway received his Australian Citizenship.
Citizen of the Year Peter John Cox was hailed for his continuous selfless contributions to the community.
“I was pleasantly surprised last week when told that I had been awarded the Nhulunbuy Citizen of the Year Australia Day Award for 2007,” Peter said.
Peter is the incumbent president of Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club Inc (NRSFC) since 2003, and instrumental in many projects which benefit the community and other organisations.
Among Peter’s initiatives were providing logistics and event coordination to the Darwin Symphony Orchestra’s trip to Nhulunbuy in 2004, Gove Yacht Club car park lighting where he instigated the implementation of new heavy duty security lighting to enable safe access to GYC’s car park and boat ramp, as well as organising funding and grant application, design, engineering, construction and installation of the club’s community signage.
In accepting his award, Peter acknowledged his wife for her support when he was carrying community service work.
“I could not have been involved with these community activities at this level without the support and love of my wife Bernice and I share this award with her.”
Peter was the force behind organising several auctions where proceeds were used to purchase much needed equipment for the hospital.
He was the brain behind numerous grant applications to organise juniors and ladies fishing clinics aimed at promoting family oriented activities for the community, the boat ramps at Perkins and Yacht Club, grants for marine radio repeater on Bromby Islands, for a defibrillator for St John Ambulance, for spinal boards for air meds, secured grants to provide for a much needed safe, vessel to shore patient transfer facility.
Peter is a pillar in fishing clubs being secretary of the Northern Territory Game Fishing Association since 2005, and representing the NT at the Recfish Australia conference in October 2006.
“It is always a priviledge and enjoyable to contribute with so many different events and activities we are able to experience here in Nhulunbuy. Participating in community service is very rewarding and I would encourage everyone to become involve in any community event, group or club as any contribution is always appreciated by the organisers and participants alike”.
Peter also liaised for community feedback with Dhimurru in regards to their sea-country plan, he acted as a representative for local recreational anglers during the Dhimurru Sea Country Management Plan Development Workshops.
He coordinated government approvals and procurement of resources for construction of the artificial reefs in Gove Harbour.
Peter is into promoting sustainable recreational fishing through consultation with the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of NT and NT Fisheries.
He has developed and implemented fish size and bag limits through NRSFC, and assists fisheries research concerning gene-tags, throughout the East Arnhem Land.
Peter humbly accepted the award and shared it with all the members of the NRSFC.

maureen neil
arafura times