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The spotlight is on Ailiche Goddard-Clegg, Warrnambool theatre stalwart and the recipient of the 2024 Warrnambool Local Achiever Award.

In addition to spending years working to grow and share theatre with the Warrnambool community, Ailiche is also a volunteer board member for Leadership Great South Coast and Beyond the Bell, as well as a former Warrnambool Adult Riding Club committee member.

Ailiche said that she was honoured and humbled by the award.

“Arts are our creative expression and they’re about coming together and expressing ourselves and telling great stories,” she said.

“That’s why theatre and the performing arts are so important for our community.

“I’m particularly proud of the work that we’ve done with the Warrnambool Theatre Company over the last 10 years. We have really embraced mentoring, skill-building, partnerships and bravery.

“We’ve brought the company back in to a really prosperous and strong position. 

“I think that you can gain a lot from volunteering and I really believe in volunteerism in our community. 

“A lot of people say that you are giving back to community, which is of course right, but it’s also gaining such a huge amount.

“You get to connect with a variety of people within these community organisations and I think you get to learn so many new skills and be a part of your community.”

Warrnambool Mayor Ben Blain said that Ailiche was a very worthy winner.

“Ailiche has been president of the Warrnambool Theatre Company for the last seven years and during that time, she has led a massive expansion in the company's partnerships, facilities, community events and performances,” he said.

“Community theatre in Warrnambool is booming, and it’s a credit to the hard-working people like Ailiche who make it all possible.

“So for her tireless contributions to enhancing creativity and culture in Warrnambool, it is my honour to name Ailiche Goddard-Clegg as the winner of the 2024 Local Achiever Award.”

Tom Richardson has been named Warrnambool Citizen of the Year, Courtney Mathew has been named Young Citizen of the Year and the F Project’s Fabric of Life Festival is the Community Event of the Year.

The winners will be officially recognised at a ceremony at the Lighthouse Theatre on Tuesday January 23 from 6pm. The event will also include a Citizenship Ceremony, where 29 people will take the pledge and officially become Australian Citizens.

All are welcome to attend.