PORTUGUESE stalwart and community volunteer Isabel Faustino took out the major gong at this year’s WA Portuguese Citizen of the Year Awards 2022 on Saturday.
The WA Portuguese Club secretary who has dedicated more than three decades of her life to volunteering at the Club and for its community, was awarded the Community award earlier in the night, before winning the overall Citizen of the Year.
In true form the humble mother of three was in the kitchen ready to serve dessert when the announcement was made.
“I am in shock and also happy to be recognised for my work,” Isabel said.
“And I will continue to serve our community, the club and its members until the day I die.”
Honorary Consul of Portugal in Perth John DaSilva said the awards night, now in its fourth year, had been a wonderful success and was a great way to celebrate the community and the Portuguese culture.
“We have amazing members of our community doing incredible things and this is one way to recognise them,” he said.
“The Portuguese local culture provides a sense of identity for its residents,” he said.
“This identity facilitates common understandings, traditions and values and contributes to building a sense of local identity and solidarity, this night is a fantastic way to highlight this.”
Other winners included Portuguese Language School teacher Nelia Conceicao, who won the culture and arts category, Alvaro Basilio (business), astrophysicist Dr Elisabete Da Cunha (profession), soccer coach and former Perth Glory player Gary Faria (sport) and musician Rodrigo Prazeres (youth category).
The night also included performances by the Wadumbah Aboriginal Dance Group and Sydney-based Fado artists Tony Latino, Carlos Da Silva and Manuel Iria.
The awards, which started in 2019 was founded by the Horary Council of Portugal Perth John DaSilva and is a joint initiative of the Portuguese Community Council of WA, the WA Portuguese Club and the Portuguese Social Club of Perth.
