Published on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 at 10:45:22 AM
Katherine Town Council is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Australia Day Citizenship Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to our community. The awards were presented during a special ceremony held at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre (GYRACC) on Friday, 24 January. The ceremony also included a citizenship ceremony, where Mayor Lis Clark welcomed 13 new Australians to the Katherine community.
Citizen of the Year: Karl Kratschmer
Karl Kratschmer has been recognised for his dedication to the Katherine community as Unit Officer of the Katherine Volunteer Unit for Northern Territory Emergency Services (NTES). Since joining NTES in 2011, Karl has demonstrated exceptional commitment through deployments interstate and intrastate, often in challenging conditions.
Karl has also contributed to the Unit's capabilities by securing grants for training and equipment, representing the unit on the Local Emergency Committee, and working to increase volunteer engagement through local media initiatives. His leadership extends to his active involvement in NTES committees and the NTSES Volunteer Association, advocating for the needs of Katherine's volunteers.
Beyond NTES, Karl's community contributions include his work with the Greyhound Rehoming Association Northern Territory (GRANTwhere he served as Treasurer and helped rehome greyhounds across the region from 2018 to 2022
Young Citizen of the Year: Rupert Trembath
Rupert Trembath, a veterinarian at Katherine Vet Care, has been honoured for his exceptional contributions to veterinary services in Katherine. Rupert is in the process of taking over his family's practice and is working toward establishing an Equine Surgery facility, which will significantly enhance veterinary services in the Northern Territory.
Since returning to Katherine in 2021, Rupert has also played a pivotal role in the local and regional cattle industry, gaining his private pilot's licence in 2022 so he can reach further into the region, and over the last four years, has pregnancy-tested over 400,000 cattle.
Community Event of the Year: Katherine Multisport Club – Katherine Ultra Challenge 2024
The Katherine Multisport Club has been recognised for the success of the 2024 Katherine Ultra Challenge. This annual event provides a significant economic boost to the town and strengthens community spirit and engagement through volunteerism and local business involvement.
The Ultra Challenge showcases Katherine positively, attracting participants and visitors who leave with lasting memories of their experience. The event is a testament to the dedication of the small but passionate volunteer team, who also organise other popular activities, including the Katherine Running Festival and mountain biking races.
Katherine Town Council congratulates Karl Kratschmer, Rupert Trembath, and the Katherine Multisport Club on their well-deserved recognition. Their contributions embody the values of community spirit, service, and excellence that make Katherine a wonderful place to live and work.
Each year, Katherine school are also invited to nominate a student who displays outstanding citizenship qualities, including a sense of fair play, generosity of spirit, concern for others, cultural understanding, and a positive attitude. This year’s award recipients were:
- Kooper Sauer – Katherine South Primary School
- Swaran Lachaiya – St Joseph’s Catholic College, and
- Taitt Green – St Joseph’s Senior Catholic College
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