By KATIE DE VERTEUIL
Noosa’s Allan Hazell was given quite a shock last week when he was named winner of the Above and Beyond Award at the Local Government Managers Australia Queensland (LMGAQ) Awards for Excellence.
The Building and Plumber Branch Manager at Noosa Council competed against a wide range of entrants from across the state for the title.
The Above and Beyond Award category is the only Award for Excellence that recognises an individual and his or her efforts in enhancing the council’s reputation and is awarded to a recipient who the judges believe has enhanced the experience of the council’s customers, improved the council’s service delivery and improved their workplace environment.
Completely unaware he would be receiving the award, Allan was nominated by his colleague Martin Drydale, Director of Infrastructure and Planning at Noosa Council.
Martin had made the nomination based on the time and effort Allan continuously contributes to improving service to residents and saving the council, and therefore ratepayers, money.
Allan has worked at the local council for the past 20 years, 17 of which he has been in a managerial role.
He described the award as “pretty overwhelming” and something which, while he was honoured to receive, he believed it should have been given to the whole team.
“I thought I was going on the bus to Brisbane to fill a seat so when they announced my name I was quite overwhelmed and embarrassed,” Allan said humbly.
“While my name is on the award it really is the whole team that is deserving.
“Everything we do is a team effort.”
