WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER
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Radio personality Marty Haynes has entertained Wollongong listeners on his breakfast show for more than a decade.
During this period he has also contributed greatly to the community, the highlight being his efforts in helping raise almost $3.2million in the Illawarra through the Camp Quality Convoy for Kids.
Wollongong City Council has named Mr Haynes the 2013 Wollongong Citizen of the Year to recognise the i98FM Radio host’s tireless fund-raising efforts and contribution to the city.
Mr Haynes said the award was a real honour.
‘‘You don’t do these things for these awards. I’m in a position where I can help,’’ he said.
‘‘2012 was incredible. To see that amount of people out on the streets for Camp Quality is very touching ... and to get an award like this is very humbling because I have a great team around me and we all work so well together, we respect each other, we’re all going in the one direction for the one cause.’’
Having first started Convoy in Canberra in 1997, Mr Haynes was instrumental in setting up Wollongong’s Camp Quality Convoy for Kids in 2004.
The following year organisers were ‘‘overwhelmed’’ with the $52,000 raised during the inaugural event.
‘‘The rest is history. It has virtually doubled every year,’’ he said.
Receiving a double lung transplant in 2009 inspired the 2013 Young Citizen of the Year Jessica Sparks to bigger and better things.
The dedicated volunteer has founded Sparking Life, an organisation aimed at increasing organ and tissue donation rates.
She also won 16 medals for NSW in sports, including badminton, volleyball and athletics at the Australian Transplant Games.
Wollongong City Gallery volunteer Elspeth McCombe has won the Cultural Award for 2013, while the Red Point Artists Association won the the Community Award for the Port Kembla Billy Cart Derby.
Mecenzi Howard, who has won various medals representing NSW in boccia, received the inaugural Sports Award.