Paul Irwin top citizen

Golfer Tegan Hancock, 17, is Richmond Valley 2012 Sports Person of the Year.

Jay Cronan

Paul Irwin

Byron Bay surf lifesaving coach Paul Irwin was awarded the Citizen of the Year award last Thursday at the Byron Shire Council Australia Day Awards.

Irwin trains board and ski sess- ions four times a week at the club.

He helped lead the club to back-to-back victories at NSW Country Surf Lifesaving Championships at South West Rocks earlier this month and trained competitors in the Queensland Masters and Australian Surf Lifesaving Titles in 2011.

Irwin has also been instrumental in the upgrade of the Byron Recreation Ground and the construction of the Suffolk Park Sports Field.

Jacqueline Freney

Skennars Head paralympic swimmer Jacqueline Freney was named Sports Person of the Year at the Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards.

The 19-year-old has overcome difficulties experienced by cerebral palsy and took out three bronze medals at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.

She was also a recipient of the NSW Young Athlete with a Disability Award in 2010.

Jacqueline currently has her sights set on the London Olympics.

Christopher Cook

Christopher Cook picked up the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work in setting up the Sailability on the Northern Rivers.

The organisation teaches sailing to disabled people.

Cook had a successful career as a disabled athlete, winning a number of Australian and World Championships in sailing.

Christine Warren

At the Richmond Valley Australia Day Awards Christine Warren won the Youth of the Year Award (Surf Lifesaving).

Casino Cavaliers

Casino Cavaliers took out the Sports Team of the Year award after winning back-to-back finals in the LJ Hooker League cricket competition.

Lachlan Allen

At Lismore City Council Australia Day Awards, Lachlan Allen picked up the Junior Sports Person award after representing Queensland and Australia in Under-13s baseball.

He was named the Most Valuable Player for Queensland at the National Under-14 titles in Perth earlier this month.

Hannah Britton

Hannah Britton received a Junior Sports Person of the year award for her efforts in swimming.

She won five gold medals at Combined High Schools level and five gold and one silver at All Schools level.

Hannah is profoundly deaf and has represented Athletes with a disability at National level.

Other Lismore City Council junior sport awards included Jack Pinchin (rugby union and athletics) and Jade Cook (Boxing) while the Senior Sports Award went to Matthew Tickle (karate).