Yanchep’s Sharon Conley recognised at Two Rocks Australia Day event I Australian Rural & Regional News

Around 650 breakfasts – cooked and served by volunteers – were eaten at the 2023 Australia Day event in Two Rocks this morning.

At around 10:00, Yanchep Two Rocks Community Recreation Association (YTRCRA) president Julie Otremba presented the 2023 Citizen, Youth and Community Group of the Year awards and two outstanding achievement medals.

Yanchep resident Sharon Conley, who is a member of the Yanchep Netball Club, received the YTRCRA Citizen Award.

Sharon joined the netball club in 2018 with her two daughters and quickly started helping out in the club as a parent helper when needed before taking up an assistant coaching position in 2019 and moving into coaching in 2020.

In 2020 she became secretary of the club and continues in that role as well as coaching.

She has worked at the Two Rocks Medical Center for five years at the front desk where she always goes out of her way to help and is especially known to elderly community members.

Sharon also always helped with the P&C at Yanchep Beach Primary School until her daughter graduated last year.

Indigenous teenager Demas Newberry was presented with the youth award after being nominated by the Two Rocks Youth in Emergency Services Cadet unit of which he is a member.

Derek Young, leader of the cadet unit, said in his nomination letter that Demas lived in Two Rocks during the school year.

“We have known Demas since 2016 when he joined our scout group as a cub scout,” he wrote.

“At the age of 11 he became a scout where he soon became a patrol leader, showing leadership potential from an early age.”

The sixteen-year-old Demas shows great enthusiasm and excels in every area.

“Demas also helps out at many local social and recreational events – fun runs and school events as well as events at Sun City Yacht Club.”

He recently participated in national skills week where he placed among the top 5 in his category.

In October last year he represented the cadet unit at the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ youth programs senior cadet leadership camp held near Broome.

“Demas is also involved in peer support at his school.

“He has overcome enormous health challenges in recent years which have sometimes required him to attend meetings in a wheelchair or on crutches.

“We are very proud of this young man and feel his wonderful achievements should be recognized in our community.”

Demas, who sometimes goes home to Jigalong during the school holidays, attends Irene McCormack Catholic College in Butler and told Yanchep News Online he wants to join the army and learn carpentry when he finishes school.

The Yanchep Community Men’s Shed was named Community Group of the Year.

Mrs Otremba said the community men’s shed helped with community projects, teaching skills, keeping members active, helping with mental health and creating a gathering place where members could work together, chat and be involved.

Kerry Barnard from Yanchep received one of the two outstanding achievement medals handed out at the breakfast.

Kerry is president of the Yanchep Beach Primary School P&C, an administrator for the Mum in Yanchep Facebook page, supports the charity Dandelions WA and helps co-ordinate the Yanchep Farmers Markets.

After Covid-19, she organized events such as comedy nights and bingo for adults and discos for children and also coordinated the YBPS Foundation Fete in 2021.

Kerry works hard to support local businesses and bridge the gap between community and family.

Tom Darcey, who has lived in the Yanchep and Two Rocks area for 44 years, received the second outstanding achievement medal.

Mrs Otremba said Tom had worked as a volunteer for the Yanchep Two Rocks Community Bus for many years.

Even before the community bus existed, he drove people to the shops or doctors in Two Rocks.

She said he was the longest serving community bus driver.

This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on January 26, 2023.