Top Gun Matt Hall Named Lake Mac Ambassador For 2024

Lake Macquarie City Council

Mayor Kay Fraser with some of Friday night's winners.jpg

Red Bull Air Race World Champion and successful Lake Mac businessman Matt Hall is flying high after taking out the city's top civic honour at an award ceremony on Friday night.

Hall was named Lake Mac Ambassador at a gala evening at Belmont 16s, taking the reins from 2023 winner and cancer researcher Professor Matt Dun.

"I'm a Lake Macquarie guy through and through and I'm super-proud of our city," he said.

"I bring international guests over all the time and I take them up in the plane or the helicopter and show them the lake and they just can't believe it."

The former RAAF Top Gun pilot was unable to attend Friday's ceremony due to Red Bull commitments at this weekend's Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.

But in a taped acceptance speech, Hall said he grew up in Lake Macquarie "hanging out at Morisset Park on waterskis and paddleboards back in the 80s".

He later joined the RAAF and served with distinction at home and on deployment overseas.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser commended the 52-year-old for competing in eight Red Bull Air Race championships, culminating in his win in the competition's final year in 2019, and continuing to run Matt Hall Racing from Lake Macquarie Airport.

"Beyond that, Matt supports many charitable causes and tirelessly champions Lake Macquarie and what our city has to offer," Cr Fraser said.

"He has served his country and his home city with distinction, and I know he will continue to fly our flag wherever he can in his new role as Lake Mac Ambassador."

Teenager Sophie Berude was named Young Citizen of the Year for the second year running for her continued work raising money for John Hunter Children's Hospital.

The leukemia survivor has raised more than $40,000 over the past seven years and was recognised as 'One to Watch' at this year's NSW Women of the Year Awards.

Hunter Mountain Bike Association took out the Community Group of the Year award for its work making the Awaba Mountain Bike Park one of Australia's premier mountain-biking destinations.

The group played a key role in securing this month's successful AusCycling MTB National Championships for Lake Macquarie.

ABC presenter and author Scott Bevan was named Lake Mac Artist and Creator for 2024.

Bevan's enchanting book, The Lake, charts his journey around Lake Mac aboard a kayak, as well as its colourful history and characters.

"I'm a writer, and often I turn water into words, then in turn I turn words into an expression of my love of where I am, where I live," Bevan said.

"And for me, the lake is very much at the centre of that – in a physical and geographical sense, but somewhere much deeper in my heart and my soul, and very much flowing through the words that I write."

Cr Fraser congratulated all the night's winners and finalists, selected from a record pool of nominees.

"These are people and organisations doing wonderful things for Lake Macquarie," she said.

"The Lake Mac Awards are an opportunity to give them the recognition and appreciation they so richly deserve."

Lake Mac Awards 2024 Winners

Category

Winners

Lake Mac Young Sports Star

Outstanding performance in junior sports

  • Sienna Eve – Joint winner
  • Saffron Shiels – Joint winner
  • Zachary Tait – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Sports Star

Outstanding performance in sports

  • Jennifer Enderby
  • Shaun Swadling – Highly Commended
  • Christine Tylee – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Sports Leader

Outstanding contribution to sporting life in Lake Macquarie City

  • Nathan Swadling

Lake Mac Artist and Creator

Demonstrating excellence in the field of arts and creative production

  • Scott Bevan

Lake Mac Creative and Performing Arts Leader

Outstanding demonstration of leadership and contribution to the arts

  • Louise Wilkinson
  • Trish O'Hearn – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Young Citizen Award

Outstanding demonstration of leadership, skills and community contribution

  • Sophie Berude
  • Emma Walsh – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Senior of the Year Award

Outstanding demonstration of leadership, skills and community contribution

  • Pam Wellham
  • Dawn Lambert – Highly Commended
  • Annette McEwan – Highly Commended
  • Lorraine McKenzie – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Ambassador

Outstanding contribution to the Lake Mac community

  • Matt Hall

Lake Mac Community Group of the Year

Outstanding community contribution

  • Hunter Mountain Bike Association
  • Repair It Lake Mac – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Community Event of the Year

Outstanding event in Lake Macquarie

  • Morisset Lake Macquarie Show
  • Tiny Forest Community Planting – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Volunteer of the Year

Outstanding community contribution

  • Anna Noon
  • Vina Chubb – Highly Commended
  • Pam Wellham – Highly Commended

Lake Mac Environmental Leader

Outstanding contribution to the Lake Macquarie environment

  • Repair It Lake Mac

Lake Mac Outstanding Contributor with Disability

Outstanding achievement or contribution by a person with disability, including physical, neurological or psychological barriers

  • Susanne Jenkins
  • Nathan Parker – Highly Commended
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