Community service wins SA nomination

A university lecturer and long-serving mayor in Adelaide's southern suburbs, Felicity-ann Lewis (Felicity-ann), is South Australia's nominee for Australian of the Year.

Dr Lewis was recognised for her work in local government, her dedication to Aboriginal reconciliation and for her efforts to help with the settlement of migrants and refugees.

She has served as mayor of the City of Marion for the past 14 years and is the president of the Australian Local Government Association.

Dr Lewis said she was surprised to be named South Australian of the Year and treasured the fact she was even nominated.

"It's nice to be acknowledged, and I'd like to thank everyone who has been involved with my work," she said.

Among her more recent achievements, Dr Lewis helped raise $100,000 towards Australia's first memorial recognising the wartime service of indigenous soldiers.

The memorial was unveiled in November, and she described it as long overdue.

"We are coming up to 100 years since the beginning of the first world war and we have had Aboriginal people serving right back then without even citizenship," she said.

"We've got awards for donkeys and dogs and all sorts and we haven't acknowledged our first Australians and what they have contributed."

In nominating her for Australian of the Year, organisers said Dr Lewis' actions, as much as her words, encouraged people to make their communities the best they could be.