Nominations Set To Close For LGBTI Community Awards
Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 6:19PM 
Members of NSW’s LGBTI community have just a few days left to nominate people and organisations for a 2013 Honour Award.
Now in their seventh year, the Honour Awards is an annual event which recognises people or organisations that achieved outstanding success within the LGBTI community or have provided excellent service or made a significant contribution to the LGBTI community. The Awards is also a gala fundraising event for LGBTI community initiatives supported by leading LGBT community charity Aurora and by ACON, NSW’s leading LGBTI health and HIV/AIDS organisation.
Nominations for the Awards close at 5pm on Wednesday 28 August. Nominations can be submitted in six categories covering the business, health, education, community, legal, political, media and cultural sectors. For the first time, this year’s Awards include a Young Achiever category to recognise contributions and achievements of LGBTI people under 30 years of age. Nominations are free and can be submitted on the Honour website (www.honourawards.com.au). There is also a range of gifts and prizes to be won.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the Honour Awards are all about helping the good work in our community get the recognition it deserves. “I encourage community members to nominate people or organisations they think deserve to be Honour-ed and get their friends and associates to do the same. The people or organisations don't have to be high profile - the Honour Awards are about recognising achievements and contributions of all shapes and sizes.
“For example, a journalist or entertainer could be nominated for the Media/Arts/Entertainment Award for raising awareness about issues affecting the LGBTI community. A doctor, researcher of political activist could be nominated for the Health & Wellbeing Award for services to people with HIV. A cultural group could be nominated for the Community Organisation Award for providing an outstanding service to the LGBTI community. And any of the above people could be nominated for the Community Hero Award.”
Aurora Chair Adam Niewand says the Honour Awards provide a valuable opportunity to pay tribute to people and organisations that are making a difference in the lives of LGBTI people in NSW. “The Honour Awards are all about celebrating how people from all walks of life are helping or inspiring others in our community,” Mr Niewand says. “As a community, it’s important that we acknowledge and celebrate the people and organisations who are making a difference in the lives of others through direct action or by providing inspiration.”
This year’s awards will be presented at a gala ceremony and cocktail party at The Ivy in Sydney on Thursday 19 September. Three finalists from each category will join a host of government, media, entertainment and community personalities for a fabulous night of fun and festivity. Guests will also be able to bid on a range of amazing silent auction items including: a luxury holiday for two to South Africa; a luxury Byron Bay holiday; diamond jewellery; art; furniture; and 5-star dining, accommodation and entertainment packages.