KAPUNDA’S Ross Vogt has been presented the highly-regarded Mayor’s Inspiration Award, at Light Regional’s Australia Day event.

In announcing the accolade, Mayor Bill O’Brien said Mr Vogt, 97, has given a lifetime of community service to Kapunda and the wider South Australia.

“Ross has contributed so much of his life to the production and development of many parts of Kapunda and tourism in general,” he said.

“Suffice to say Ross is a true Aussie spirit and an inspiration to all of us and reflects the virtues of volunteering service to others.”

Having lived in Kapunda his entire life, he has been the driver of numerous projects, including the museum, town playground, swimming pool and the Pines Conservation Reserve.

Mr Vogt is the third to receive the Mayor’s Inspiration Award, which is decided at Mayor O’Brien’s discretion.

Past recipients are former Xavier College principal the late Lynn Martin in 2020, and Pinery fire survivor Terry Lee and Brevet Sergeant David Byrne who jointly received one in 2019.

Light Regional’s Australia Day event was this year held at Greenock Centenary Park and also saw the presentation of several Australia Day awards, a citizenship ceremony for nine new Australian Citizens and a shared breakfast with the public.

Citizen of the Year was awarded to Megan McWaters, Young Citizen of the Year to Poppy Brady, Award for Active Citizenship to Lindsay Mullins, Community Event of the Year to Greenock Wanderlust 2020 and the award for Community Project of the Year to the Kapunda Mural Town project.