NSW Governor presents Gunnedah's Dominic Goodwin-Hauck with prestigious citizenship award

Dominic Goodwin-Hauck was presented the 2021 Tom Harvey Award for Citizenship from the Australia Youth Trust by the NSW Governor the Hon Margaret Beazley on Monday.

The Tom Harvey Award is named after the late inaugural Chairman of the Australia Youth Trust and recognises the outstanding contribution of a young Australian citizen between the age of 15 and 30 years. The award carries a prize of $2000.

The 25-year-old from Gunnedah was nominated by the Clontarf Foundation - an organisation which helps young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island men gain self-esteem and confidence during years 11 and 12.

Since becoming involved with Clontarf during his time at Oxley High School, Tamworth, Dominic has volunteered with many organisations in his local community of Gunnedah.

He has spent hours at the Gunnedah Shire Library helping children develop crucial literacy and numeracy skills by hosting the Junior Brain Games program and also volunteered at the local Salvation Army where he teaches music to both children and adults.

He said it was a great honour to receive the award in front of a family and peers and "a packed room" of people.

"It makes me happy to help others but also just being able to make someone's life a bit better at the same time is the best part about it really," he said.

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Dominic currently works with the elderly through GoCo Gunnedah, offering companionship and keeping their minds stimulated while they socialise, something he finds particularly rewarding.

"The most rewarding thing I've done is working with the elderly at GoCo - every Monday when I go it's the highlight of my week," he said.

Recently he started work as a Student Learning and Support Officer at Gunnedah High School, assisting indigenous children to make it through to HSC, or to secure employment opportunities after school.

Passionate about music, and heavily involved with Gunnedah Conservatorium, its community choir and live shows, Dominic is studying for a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of New England in Armidale.

His dream is to become a music teacher, and he aims to switch to a Bachelor of Education after the first Trimester. The $2000 scholarship money will help him with university costs.

In 2020 he was named Gunnedah's Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day awards ceremony for donating so much time to multiple organisations in Gunnedah on a weekly basis including GoCo, the library and the conservatorium.

He has also been involved with the Rotary Club of Gunnedah where he has developed leadership and teamwork skills.