2021 : THE HILLS ’ YEAR IN REVIEW
The Hills Shire is home to over 183,000 residents . We endured lockdowns thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and business and the vulnerable in our community suffered immensely . But we endured the difficulties by standing together as a community . Here are some of the memorable community members and events that marked our editions in 2021 .
JANUARY
• Australia Day honours went to : Citizen of the Year , Chris Cleary and James Brice ; Senior Citizen of the Year , Janice Sanders ; Youth Citizen of the Year , Tian Yi Wong See ; Environmental Citizen of the Year , Sue Martin .
• One of our Finest was Chris Cleary from StreetMed , who was awarded Inspirational Woman of the Year 2020 and Health Inspirational Woman of the Year 2020 by Rotary NSW .
• Pratibha Bhanushali , of Brighter Stellar , a mental health support service , made a difference with her dedication to fundraising and community events . FEBRUARY
• 142,000 doses of the Pfizer – BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Australia and were administered .
• Upgrades start for Castle Hill Library and the Pioneer Theatre and Community Centre .
• Youth Ambassadors Hayley and Anthony got behind Mayor Michelle Byrne to promote Clean Up Australia Day .
• Shaun Dodds was named our finest for the month for his dedication to basketball and developing sporting school programs .
• Lunar New Year of the Ox .
• Facebook blocks all Australian news websites from sharing news content on its social media platform , preventing any Facebook user from sharing news content from any Australian-based news websites ( later overturned ).
Australia Day Awards
MARCH
• The Women ’ s March 4 Justice took place across Australia , following revelations of sexual harassment in Federal Parliament .
• An intense rain bomb impacts north western Sydney causing widespread major flooding to suburbs close to the Hawkesbury River , especially Wisemans Ferry , Lower Portland , Cattai and Glenorie with homes evacuated and roads cut or washed away . Castle Hill Showground was a designated evacuation centre . Clean up efforts were coordinated .
• The JobKeeper wage subsidy ends .
Clean Up Australia Day
APRIL
• The first Australian died from thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome ( TTS ), after vaccination with the Oxford – AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine .
• Council announces Julie Charlton as one of our newest Hills Shire Youth Ambassadors .
• Anzac Day was observed at homes across the city .
• Major concrete works on the bases and walls of the outdoor pools completed and building structure works commenced at the Waves Aquatic Centre upgrade .
• James Brice , joint Hills Citizen of the Year , starred as one of our finest .
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8 ISSUE 79 // JANUARY 2022 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT