Businesswoman Janine Cullen has been named Wollongong's Citizen of the Year in recognition of her work as a volunteer and for charity.
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Ms Cullen, a veteran Illawarra board member who runs a communications firm, was lauded at the council's Australia Day awards dinner on Thursday night for helping the community through "countless hours of volunteering".
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery, who chaired the committee which selected Ms Cullen for the Citizen of the Year award, said she had been recognised for her work raising money for mental health services and disadvantaged women.
"Janine stood out for her work in the community and especially the organisations she's involved with at present - the Light and Hope mental health foundation which runs a clubhouse for people with mental disorders ... and her involvement with Greenacres Disability Services," Cr Bradbery said.
"Also, it's about recognising the role of women and her engagement in the International Women's Day committee - it's good to be able to recognise a woman as the Citizen of the Year."
Also honoured at the ceremony were young volunteers Michael De Santis and Ashley Heath, and veteran Illawarra medical practitioner Dr Larry Lees.
Despite ill health and numerous medical operations, the 91-year-old had continued to provide medical services and mentoring to mature-aged students, and had come out of retirement three times, the council said.
Four-time Commonwealth Games gold-medal winner Emma McKeon was recognised for her achievement in sport, while Merrigong's Simon Hinton was given the arts and cultural award.
The first award for achievement or innovation went to University of Wollongong's Professor Naj Aziz, for his work in the mining engineering field.
The Illawarra Folk Club won the community group award.