City of Newcastle’s Community Group of the Year Award recognises a local group that has made significant contributions towards enhancing their community. This year the 2021 Community Group of the Year was awarded to Hamilton Business Association on Wednesday 20 January alongside the City of Newcastle 2021 Citizenship Awards.

The award recognises significant contributions that community groups and other non-profit organisations make to the welfare of people, the quality of life, the arts, science, engineering, the environment or other fields of endeavour in our community.

The selection was made by the City of Newcastle Award Panel who recognised Hamilton Business Association’s commitment to the betterment of the Hamilton community, and the association’s renewed sense of purpose to attract people to Beaumont Street and surrounding area.

Hamilton Business Association Chair, Janice Musumeci said that the association was honoured to have won the award.

“We are thrilled that our work and the assistance of our local community volunteers has been recognised. We love our Hamilton community, and this award has given us the encouragement to continue our work within the precinct to support local business to promote and beautify our area as a go to destination for Newcastle locals and visitors,” Janice said.

The award panel also noted Hamilton BIA’s efforts to work closely with the City of Newcastle during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure local businesses protected the community, as well as the association’s involvement in securing a new home for Newcastle Men’s Shed after four years without a dedicated space.

This is among several other projects the Association has initiated, including Fashion on the Footpath, which involved 12 Hamilton fashion retailers holding their own short pop-up fashion shows and the ongoing completion of the street art installations by Rebecca Murray.

In 2020 they also launched the Live Spots project to create ambient music for the city, the

Business Beat partnership with Newcastle Police Command, their ‘12 Days of Christmas’ initiative to help local businesses promote the diverse industry options available, and the collaborative Business Support Hub to help businesspeople who have an idea or a challenge to access free services.

IMAGE | Hamilton Business Association Board & Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.