--- title: "Looking to the Future with Optimism on Australia Day: Mayor Statham" description: Lithgow City Council Mayor Maree Statham is looking to the future with optimism and hope on Australia Day 2023. image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Cute%20Koala%20in%20Sydney%2c%20Australia.jpeg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Hope](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/hope) # Looking to the Future with Optimism on Australia Day: Mayor Statham “Australia Day 2023 is a day to reflect, respect and celebrate the Australian spirit and the best of this vast country; our mateship, our sense of community, our resilience; and looking to the future with optimism and hope.  Australia Day is also a day when we can acknowledge the contributions of local people and organisations to the Lithgow community by presenting the local citizenship awards." So said Lithgow City Council Mayor Maree Statham. What makes you optimistic? [![Please Take Our Positive Leadership Survey](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/724536b5-ff18-46f4-8533-f2f78db121b9.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/724536b5-ff18-46f4-8533-f2f78db121b9) The Lithgow Coty Council Young Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to Christian Broome for his work with young people, including the youth drop-in space and Lithgow Youth Council. The Open Citizen of the Year Award was awarded to Kay Adams for her voluntary work, including with Lithgow Quota, Wallerawang CWA and Can Assist. The Young Volunteer of the Year Award was awarded to Lauren Trounce for her voluntary work with Hoskins Uniting Church and Lithgow Musical Society. The Open Volunteer of the Year Award was awarded to Bill Evans for his many years of work with Lithgow Lions Club and Lithgow Bellringers at Hoskins Memorial Church. The Service to the Community Award is for organisations that aim to enrich the lives of the people in the Lithgow area and was awarded to Lithgow Bellringers, who have been ringing the bells at Hoskins Memorial Church since 1999. The Heritage Conservation Award is for an individual or an organisation that has made a significant contribution to the preservation of the heritage of the Lithgow LGA. This award was given to Donna White for her work with Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum over many years. The Outstanding Event of the Year Award recognises the significant contribution that special events make to our region and was awarded to the Ear to the Ground Community Festival held at Zig Zag railway in November 2022 as a community response to the Black Summer bushfires. [![Read more on Infectiously Optimistic Leadership](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/ffd39deb-8f7d-4475-98ca-5ce974726926.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/ffd39deb-8f7d-4475-98ca-5ce974726926) [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Victoria](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/victoria) , ###### [Happiness](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/happiness) , ###### [Policy](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/policy) , ###### [Optimism Gap](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/optimism-gap) #### [Heading in the Right Direction?  Australia’s States and Territories?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/heading-in-the-right-direction-australias-states-and-territories?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/heading-in-the-right-direction-australias-states-and-territories?hsLang=en) ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [India](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/india) , ###### [Divide Between Personal and National Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/divide-between-personal-and-national-optimism) , ###### [Sweden](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/sweden) , ###### [France](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/france) #### [Are We Heading in the Right Direction?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/are-we-heading-in-the-right-direction?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/are-we-heading-in-the-right-direction?hsLang=en) ###### [Australia](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/australia) , ###### [Farmers](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/farmers) #### [Optimism with Dirt on Its Boots](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/optimism-with-dirt-on-its-boots?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/optimism-with-dirt-on-its-boots?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? 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