Ian J. Cooper Awards for Access and Inclusion 2024 – Nominations

Published on 23 September 2024

Bellingen Shire Council is calling for nominations for the Ian J. Cooper Award for Access and Inclusion. These awards, held every two years, recognise individuals, groups, and businesses that have made significant efforts to enhance access to their services or premises or foster inclusion for people of all abilities.

Named in honour of the late Ian 'Mini' Cooper, a passionate advocate for disability access and awareness, the awards reflect his tireless work to improve inclusion. Ian, who was born at Bellingen District Hospital in 1954 and attended Bellingen High School, was well known for championing disability rights locally and beyond. His legacy includes his advocacy efforts, such as lodging complaints to improve access at the Coffs City Cinema and Coffs Harbour Court House. Ian’s mother, Margaret Cooper, still lives in Bellingen and is proud of her son’s enduring impact.

Disability touches many lives, with nearly 4.5million Australians (1 in 6 people) experiencing some form of physical or non-physical disability, whether visible or invisible. The Ian J. Cooper Awards celebrate the ongoing efforts within our community to create a more inclusive environment for everyone. These awards honour Ian’s legacy by recognising the variety of ways people contribute to making Bellingen a place where everyone can live, work, and participate fully.

Previous award recipients include Riverside Holiday Park, Dorrigo’s Old Gazette Theatre, Urunga Library, Community Transport, YMCA, North Beach Holiday Park, Bellingen High School, Lifehouse Pantry, Urunga Neighbourhood Centre, Marg Hopper, Raleigh Hall, and the Accept Difference Campaign.

Nominations can be submitted by any member of the Bellingen Shire community, whether on behalf of a group, business, or service, or by the organisation itself. The winners will be announced in December during a celebration aligned with the International Day of People with Disability.

Nomination forms are available at Bellingen, Urunga, and Dorrigo libraries, the Bellingen Shire Council Administration Centre, and on the Bellingen Shire Council website.

Completed forms can be submitted in person at these locations or via email to council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au.

Nomination forms must be submitted by Monday 11 November 2024, 11:59pm.

Further information can be obtained from Council’s Community Planning Officer, on 6655 7300 or by emailing community@bellingen.nsw.gov.au